News
May 16, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction of a man serving a life sentence for the 2006 first degree premeditated murder of his girlfriend.On April 16, 2006, Prince Adams was at his mother’s residence in Shelby County and then left with Ohrdra Flowers in her automobile. Two days later…
May 14, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has issued an order that will require electronic submission of all interpreter invoices as well as compensation claims for attorneys representing indigent clients.The Order changes several existing Supreme Court rules effective July 1, 2013, and requires that “all claims…
May 13, 2013
Justices of the Tennessee Supreme Court gathered earlier this month in Johnson City to participate in a special dinner and awards ceremony hosted by Legal Aid of East Tennessee. “Dinner with the Tennessee Supreme Court” was served May 1 at The Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City.
Chief Justice Gary R.…
May 10, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has denied a request by the Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR) to amend Tennessee Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4.In an Order issued May 10, the Court said, in part, that " The current version of RPC 8.4(d) and Comment [3] are virtually identical to the version…
May 10, 2013
After 25 years on the bench, Chancellor G. Richard Johnson has announced he is retiring, effective June 30. He sits in the Chancery Court in the 1st Judicial District, which serves Carter, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties.Chancellor Johnson submitted his letter of resignation to Governor…
May 10, 2013
The Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for the judicial vacancy in the 1st Judicial District Chancery Court (Carter, Johnson, Unicoi and Washingtoncounties). The vacancy is being created by the retirement of Chancellor G. Richard Johnson, effective June 30.Any interested…
May 9, 2013
In a unanimous opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that a medical malpractice claim brought by a Williamson County couple against a county hospital must be dismissed because it was filed too late.Walton and Phyllis Cunningham brought their son, Phillip, to Williamson Medical…
May 7, 2013
The East Tennessee Women’s Leadership Council has announced that Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee will be the recipient of the Lizzie Crozier French Women’s Leadership Award in recognition of her ongoing dedication to the principles so strongly demonstrated by the award’s namesake.The…
May 3, 2013
In a unanimous opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court today reversed a decision by the Court of Appeals, which had ruled that federal law prevented a claim for the disabling injuries a passenger received when thrown from a shuttle bus in Memphis.In 1998, a concrete truck collided with a bus used to…
May 1, 2013
Attorney Rob Philyaw officially become Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Wednesday.An investiture ceremony was scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 1 at the Hamilton County Juvenile Court building, 1600 E. 3rd St., Chattanooga, according to the…
April 30, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has sent a dispute between a Memphis law firm and a former partner and paralegal back to the trial court to determine whether arbitration is appropriate.The law firm of Glassman, Edwards, Wyatt, Tuttle & Cox, P.C. filed a lawsuit against B.J. Wade, a former partner,…
April 25, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that the Court of Appeals has the authority to review a Shelby County trial court’s decision to void a $912,160 arbitration award and to require the parties to conduct a second arbitration.William Smythe invested thousands of dollars in certain bond funds…
April 25, 2013
Criminal Court Judge Steven Sword is conducting arraignments via video teleconference, saving both time and money.See the complete story at WBIR.com
April 24, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has denied a petition seeking to amend the Rules of Professional Conduct relating to attorney advertising.The Tennessee Association for Justice filed the petition in May of 2012 requesting changes to Supreme Court Rule 8 Sections 7.1 and 7.2In its Order, the Court stated…
April 24, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court today upheld the trial court’s award of compensation to a Memphis-area nurse who sustained injuries when she fell at the health-care facility where she was working.In August 2009, Marta Vandall was walking in the hallway at Allenbrooke Nursing & Rehab in Memphis when…
April 19, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction and death sentence of Nickolus L. Johnson for the 2004 murder of Officer Mark Vance of the Bristol Police Department. The Court also affirmed several other lower court rulings regarding the trial.In the unanimous opinion authored by Justice…
April 19, 2013
In a unanimous opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court today affirmed but modified the drug conviction of a Davidson County defendant after determining that the evidence was insufficient to support a conviction for possession with intent to sell cocaine found in the residence of a co-defendant.Bobby…
April 19, 2013
In a unanimous Opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court today ordered a new trial for a Gibson County man after determining that statements he made during a police interrogation should not have been used as evidence at trial because the prosecution failed to prove that the defendant understood and…
April 16, 2013
Elizabethton attorney Stacy Street has been appointed by Governor Bill Haslam as Criminal Court judge in the 1st Judicial District. Street takes the seat held by Judge Lynn W. Brown, who retired March 31.Judge Street will be sworn in at 1:30 p.m. Thursday by Criminal Court Judge Robert Cupp at the…
April 15, 2013
The Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct has issued a public reprimand to Judge James McKenzie of Rhea County.Judge McKenzie’s reprimand is the result of his conduct in two incidents in late 2012, one concerning comments made regarding an attorney appearing in Judge McKenzie’s courtroom and another…