News
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…
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…
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…