News
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…
Supreme Court Rules Tossing Murder Weapon in Plain View Near Crime Scene Not Tampering With Evidence
June 20, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld a Memphis man’s conviction for first-degree murder, but reversed his conviction for tampering with physical evidence.Ledarren Hawkins fatally shot Jerome Ellington during a gang fight in a parking lot in Jackson, Tennessee. As he fled the scene, he tossed the…
June 20, 2013
Chancellor Jerri S. Bryant, of the 10th Judicial District, was sworn in Friday by Chief Justice Gary Wade as president of the Tennessee Judicial Conference. Bryant, of Athens, has been a judge since 1998.The change in the conference’s leadership, including installation of new officers, took place…
June 19, 2013
The Judicial Nominating Commission will consider ten applicants when it meets later this month in Jackson to select nominees for the upcoming vacancy on the Tennessee Court of Appeals Western Section.The opening is the result of Court of Appeals Judge Alan E. Highers informing Gov. Bill Haslam that…
June 18, 2013
The Tennessee Bar Association honored Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Janice M. Holder with the group’s Justice Frank F. Drowota III Outstanding Judicial Service Award.Justice Holder was recognized for her service with lawyers’ assistance programs and access to justice issues. She serves as the…
June 14, 2013
The Judicial Nominating Commission met on June 14, 2013 in Johnson City, Tenn., to hold a public hearing and conduct interviews of candidates for the Chancery Court vacancy in the 1st Judicial District.After interviewing the candidates and conducting a vote, they have submitted the following three…
June 14, 2013
Forest A. Durard, Jr., has been appointed by Governor Bill Haslam as Circuit Court judge in the 17th Judicial District.“Forest brings valuable experience to the bench from a career that includes both the public and private sectors,” Haslam said. “I know he will serve the citizens of the 17th…
June 12, 2013
Three judges, one magistrate and 21 attorneys have applied to fill anticipated 2014 vacancies on the Tennessee Court of Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals.The openings are the result of announcements by Court of Appeals Judge Patricia Cottrell and Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Joseph Tipton…
June 11, 2013
Nashville School of Law’s 20th annual Recognition Dinner honored individuals with decades of service to the legal community as well as the entire Nashville community.
Retired Judge Barbara Haynes was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award; Supreme Court Attorney Marshall Davidson…
June 10, 2013
The AOC is seeking qualified vendors to submit a proposal to analyze the current indigent claims payment business processes and make recommendations that may lead to the re-engineering of these processes where needed. The proposal should also include the development and…
June 7, 2013
Driving Under the Influence cases will take priority in a single court under an innovative plan implemented by the Davidson County trial courts this week.The 18 trial court judges approved a plan effective October 15 that transfers first-, second- and third-offense DUIs, as well as all other driver…
June 4, 2013
Nashville, Tenn. – Court of Appeals Judge Alan E. Highers has notified Gov. Bill Haslam that he will not seek re-election when his term expires August 31, 2014.The decision creates a vacancy in Western Section of the Court of Appeal as of September 1, 2014. Due to the June 30, 2013 expiration of…
May 30, 2013
The Supreme Court and Administrative Office of the Courts held a luncheon in honor of retiring state Budget Office Director Bill Bradley.The luncheon was held at the Supreme Court building in Nashville and included all five members of the Tennessee Supreme Court as well as members of the AOC staff.…
May 30, 2013
The Administrative Office of the Courts has received 5 applications for the seat on Judicial Nominating Commission created by the death of commission member Elizabeth T. Collins.The comment period is now open and the Administrative Office of the Courts invites public comment regarding the…
May 30, 2013
Knox County Circuit Court Judge Deborah Stevens was sworn in Wednesday, May 29 by Gov. Bill Haslam in Knoxville. The ceremony was a formality, as Judge Stevens was officially sworn in and began performing her duties in March for the 6th Judicial District.The…
June 14, 2013
The Judicial Nominating Commission met on June 14, 2013 in Johnson City, Tenn., to hold a public hearing and conduct interviews of candidates for the Chancery Court vacancy in the 1st Judicial District.After interviewing the candidates and conducting a vote, they have submitted the following three…
May 28, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in Cookeville and Nashville this week as part of the SCALES Project – Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students.The students spend time prior to the day in court learning about the court system and the specific facts of the case they…
May 24, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that Knoxville attorney Herbert S. Moncier must pay the costs incurred prosecuting the disciplinary proceeding that resulted in his one-year suspension from the practice of law in Tennessee.On June 1, 2011, the Supreme Court assessed costs totaling $22,038.32…
May 24, 2013
Nashville, Tenn. – The Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for the judicial vacancies on the Court of Appeals and the Court of Criminal Appeals. The vacancies will be created September 1, 2014 when the terms of Judge Patricia J. Cottrell and Judge Joseph M. Tipton expire.…
May 24, 2013
Court of Appeals Judge Patricia J. Cottrell and Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Joseph M. Tipton have notified Gov. Bill Haslam that they will not be seeking retention in the August 2014 election.The announcements create vacancies on the two appeals courts as of September 1, 2014 and the Judicial…