News
March 11, 2013
Ten attorneys have applied to fill the Criminal Court vacancy in the 30th Judicial District, which serves Shelby County. The vacancy was created by the death of Shelby County Criminal Court Judge W. Otis Higgs in late February.The Judicial Nominating Commission will hold a public meeting at 9…
March 8, 2013
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee recently was honored by the University of Tennessee College of Law's Reynolds Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta. The annual Judges Reception was held on February 28, 2013 at the Neyland Stadium skybox in Knoxville.Justice Lee addressed…
March 8, 2013
The Judicial Nominating Commission met on March 8, 2013 in Shelbyville, Tenn., to hold a public hearing and conduct interviews of candidates for the Circuit Court vacancy in the 17th Judicial District. After interviewing the candidates and conducting a vote, they have submitted the following three…
March 8, 2013
Tennessee's newest circuit court judge was sworn in this week in Knox County.Judge Deborah C. Stevens received the oath from Knox County Juvenile Court Judge Tim Irwin in a ceremony at the city county building.For more details and photos, see the…
March 6, 2013
More than 50 lawyers, paralegals, judges, court clerks, and administrative staff of pro bono legal clinics gathered in Nashville recently to discuss strategies for pro bono legal clinics.The Pro Bono Legal Clinic Seminar was sponsored by the Access to Justice Commission with the support of the…
March 4, 2013
Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Frank G. Clement joined other state and local officials last week for Read Me Week 2013, a week-long event highlighting the importance and fun of reading. Judge Clement visited Shwab Elementary School in Nashville and read to third graders in the Reading Room.…
February 26, 2013
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has appointed Deborah C. Stevens of Knoxville as Circuit Court Judge for the 6th Judicial District in Knox County following the retirement of Judge Wheeler A. Rosenbalm. “I am pleased to appoint Deborah Stevens in light of her 30-year career,” Haslam said. “She has…
February 26, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has sent a Hamblen County case back to chancery court for a retrial, after ruling that certain evidence regarding a will and a widow’s real estate holding was improperly admitted.A jury verdict invalidated the marriage of Raymond Smallman and Linda Caraway, which…
February 26, 2013
With the retirement of Janice Rawls as Chief Deputy Clerk for the Appellate Court Clerk’s Office in Nashville on March 31st, Mike Catalano, the Clerk of the Appellate Courts, has promoted Lisa Marsh from the position of Associate Chief Deputy Clerk to Chief Deputy Clerk.Ms. Marsh worked for the…
February 25, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated a jury verdict for compensatory damages against Americare Systems, Inc., the management company of Celebration Way, an assisted living facility in Shelbyville. The Supreme Court remanded the jury verdict for punitive damages to the Court of Appeals for…
February 25, 2013
The Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for the Criminal Court vacancy in the 30th Judicial District. The vacancy was created by the death of the Honorable W. Otis Higgs.The 30th Judicial District serves Shelby County.Interested applicants must…
February 22, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that when the Tennessee Department of Labor approves a workers’ compensation settlement and accepts the statistical data form submitted along with the settlement, a court may not later find that the statistical data form is incomplete and set aside the…
February 21, 2013
In a unanimous opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court today sent Brandon Mobley’s post‑conviction case back to the Knox County Criminal Court for further hearings regarding the use of a stun belt during his trial.In 2003, Mr. Mobley shot and killed Joshua Nance and Oshalique Hoffman. He was convicted…
February 21, 2013
In a unanimous Opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court upheld a trial court ruling that termination of a mother’s parental rights was not in the best interests of the children.The Bradley County mother and father were divorced in 2002 and entered into a parenting plan for their two…
February 21, 2013
The Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for the Circuit Court vacancy in the 3rd Judicial District. The vacancy was created by the retirement of the Honorable Kindall T. Lawson effective May 31, 2013.The 3rd Judicial District serves Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins and Greene…
February 20, 2013
The Board of Judicial Conduct has issued a public reprimand against Polk County General Sessions Judge Billy D. Baliles, in response to a complaint filed against the judge.View the Public Reprimand
February 19, 2013
Judge Kindall T. Lawson, Circuit Court Judge in the 3rd Judicial District, has announced his retirement effective June 1, 2013.Judge Lawson has been on the bench since 1996. In addition to his time as a Circut Court judge, he served as Hawkins County General Sessions Judge from 1974-1993.Judge…
February 18, 2013
The Tennessee legal community is mourning the loss of Shelby County Criminal Court Judge W. Otis Higgs, who died suddenly late Friday evening, February 15, 2013.Higgs had worked earlier Friday on the bench, but went home ill. He later collapsed at his East Memphis house, and was taken to a hospital…
February 15, 2013
The Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for the Chancery Court vacancy in the 3rd Judicial District. The vacancy was created by appointment of Chancellor Thomas R. ‘Skip’ Frierson to the Tennessee Court of Appeals.The 3rd Judicial District serves Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins…
February 13, 2013
Chief Justice Gary Wade visited with more than 50 of this year's Legislative interns as they discussed the ins and outs of how the Tennessee judicial system works on Friday, February 8.The more than hour-long conversation included a lengthy discussion about oral arguments in a Tennessee Supreme…