News
August 1, 2013
After more than three decades serving the legal profession, Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Kay Spalding Robilio will retire at the end of this month.“My heart is full of gratitude for the opportunity to serve for these 30 years,” Robilio said. “It has been rewarding and affirming and I have…
July 25, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission has released an extensive study showing that attorneys in Tennessee are providing more free and reduced-rate legal services to those in need.The report shows that in 2011 the number of hours that attorneys in Tennessee volunteered their…
July 23, 2013
JudgeM. Keith Siskin, of Division III of the Circuit Court for Rutherford and Cannon counties, has introduced a new website for the Court.Judge Siskin said that the new website is part of his ongoing effort to make the court more open and accessible to the public. The website allows members of the…
July 23, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has issued an order soliciting comments regarding proposed changes to Supreme Court Rule 31: Alternative Dispute Resolution.The Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission filed a petition July 15, 2013 requesting the Court amend ten sections of the rule. The Court has…
July 15, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice initiative provides several informational videos for both the general public and attorneys on a variety of legal topics. These videos now include closed captioning to make the guidance accessible to even more people.The videos review topics for the…
July 10, 2013
The Third Judicial District welcomed its newest judge today, a day after Gov. Bill Haslam appointed Douglas T. Jenkins of Rogersville as chancellor.Criminal Court Judge John F. Dugger, Jr. performed the swearing in of Judge Jenkins.Judge Jenkins, 45, has practiced in the Law Office of Douglas T.…
July 10, 2013
Williamson County General Sessions Judge Al Nations has announced he will retire at the end of September. “I am incredibly grateful to the citizens of Williamson County for the opportunity to serve the community for 18 years as a judge and 25 as a school teacher and administrator,” Judge Nations…
July 9, 2013
A new documentary highlighting the history of the Tennessee State Capitol was released earlier this month by Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office.Created by the staff of the Tennessee State Library and Archives, it is the first part of a project that eventually will include a virtual tour of the…
July 5, 2013
Memphis Criminal Court Judge Chris Craft was recently recognized by the Tennessee Lawyer’s Assistance Program as the group’s JAG Judicial Volunteer of the Year.This is the first year of the award, which was presented at TLAP’s annual retreat at Montgomery Bell State Park.The Judicial Assistance…
July 1, 2013
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Janice M. Holder recently was honored by her alma mater University of Pittsburgh for her leadership and dedication to the legal needs of Tennesseans throughout her career.The school presented her with its 225th Anniversary Medallion, which was commissioned in 2012 by…
June 29, 2013
The Judicial Nominating Commission met on June 27 in Chattanooga, June 28 in Nashville, and June 29 in Jackson to hold public hearings and conduct interviews of candidates for the upcoming Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals and Court of Appeals vacancies.After interviewing a total of 35 candidates…
June 29, 2013
Memphis attorney Glenn Wright was appointed by Gov. Bill Haslam to the 30th Judicial District Criminal Court opening.Wright was one of three names submitted in late March to Haslam for the opening created by the death of Judge W. Otis Higgs in February.Wright has been a lifelong resident of the…
June 28, 2013
The Judicial Nominating Commission met on June 28, 2013 in Nashville, Tenn., to hold a public hearing and conduct interviews of candidates for the upcoming Court of Appeals vacancy in the Middle Grand Division.After interviewing the 10 candidates and conducting several rounds of voting, the…
June 28, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled 4-1 today that a defendant in a health care liability action must act in a timely manner to assert that the claim is prohibited because it was filed too late by the plaintiff.Plaintiff Eddie C. Pratcher Jr. filed a medical malpractice lawsuit in December 2000,…
June 27, 2013
Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Richard H. Dinkins spoke recently to a dozen participants in the Nashville Bar Association High School Internship Program.Judge Dinkins, who has participated in the program for several years, hosted lunch and invited the students into the court chambers, where he…
June 27, 2013
The Judicial Nominating Commission met on June 27, 2013 in Chattanooga, Tenn., to hold a public hearing and conduct interviews of candidates for the upcoming Court of Criminal Appeals vacancy in the Eastern Grand Division.After interviewing the candidates and conducting a vote, the commission has…
June 27, 2013
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today appointed Mike Faulk as circuit court judge for the Third Judicial District, replacing Judge Kindall T. Lawson, who retired effective June 1. “Mike will bring vast experience to the bench,” Haslam said. “He has served his state well in the past, and I know he will…
June 26, 2013
After more than 17 years and many firsts, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Janice M. Holder will make August 31, 2014, her last day with the state’s highest court.Justice Holder announced that she is retiring at the end of her current term and will not seek re-election in the August 2014 judicial…
June 24, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that state criminal charges pending against Michael Shane Springer must be dismissed based on his multiple transfers between federal and state correctional facilities, a violation of the Interstate Agreement on Detainers (IAD).The IAD is an agreement among…
June 24, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that Williamson County attorney Walter Ray Culp, III is not entitled to reinstatement of his law license, which was suspended in 2006 after he pleaded guilty to the crime of attempted extortion in federal court.The Supreme Court suspended Mr. Culp from…