News
December 19, 2012
In a case of first impression in this state, Chief Justice Gary R. Wade wrote on behalf of a unanimous Court that the State can prosecute an unknown suspect by issuing a “John Doe” warrant that lists the suspect’s unique DNA profile.In 1994, a Nashville woman was attacked in her home but was able…
December 18, 2012
The Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for the judicial vacancy in the 1st Judicial District Criminal Court (Carter, Johnson, Unicoi and Washingtoncounties). The vacancy is being created by the retirement of Judge Lynn W. Brown, effective March 31.An interested applicant…
December 17, 2012
Judge Lynn W. Brown, Criminal Court Judge in the 1st Judicial District, has announced his retirement effective at the end of March.Judge Brown has been on the bench since 1988. In addition to his time as a Criminal Court judge, he served as special judge for two terms on the Tennessee Court of…
December 17, 2012
The 3rd and Church Health Care clinic in downtown Nashville has made a $1000 donation to the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program.The clinic provides a variety of healthcare services to downtown employees, residents and visitors, including members of TLAP. The clinic donates $1 for every B-12 it…
December 17, 2012
Assistant District Attorney Lila Statom was sworn in Monday morning as General Sessions Judge, Division IV, in Hamilton County.Governor Bill Haslam appointed Judge Statom to fill a vacancy created by Judge Ronald W. Durby, who is taking leave from the court."It is my desire to faithfully serve the…
December 14, 2012
The Judicial Nominating Commission met in Knoxville today to review the eight applicants for the Third Circuit Court vacancy in the 6th Judicial District, Knox County. The vacancy was created by the retirement of the Honorable Wheeler A. Rosenbalm effective January 1, 2013.After holding a public…
December 12, 2012
The Administrative Office of the Courts is now accepting applications for a seat on the Judicial Nominating Commission as a result of the retirement of commission member Theresa Lee.The position on the commission will be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor to an unexpired term that ends on June 30…
December 11, 2012
Sharon E. Guffee will be sworn in as Williamson County’s first Juvenile Court judge on Wednesday, Dec. 12. Supreme Court Justice Cornelia A. Clark, a native of Franklin, will administer the oath at 2 p.m. at the historic Williamson County Courthouse.Guffee has served as a Juvenile Court referee and…
December 7, 2012
The Tennessee Supreme Court building celebrated its 75th anniversary this past week, with the first public display of the original handwritten Tennessee Constitutions, the opening of the Judiciary Museum and a reunion for members of the judiciary and their staffs who have worked in the building…
December 7, 2012
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Janice Holder, who also serves as the Court's liaison to the Access to Justice Commission, spoke to about 200 attorneys in Nashville Friday, including Attorney General Bob Cooper, as part of a TBA Continuing Legal Education program.“Ethics and Professionalism, The…
December 6, 2012
Access to Justice Commissioner and Dean of the University of Tennessee College of Law Doug Blaze has been named the 2012 recipient of the Deborah Rhode Award.The award is given each year by the Association of American Law Schools to a dean or faculty member who has made an “outstanding…
December 6, 2012
Melinda Rigsby was sworn in Monday as a new magistrate at Davidson County Juvenile Court, filling the position that created by the appointment of Sophia Brown Crawford as judge. Rigsby is a 1977 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, where she earned her bachelor of science degree in…
December 5, 2012
Sandy Garrett, a 20-year veteran of the Tennessee Supreme Court Board of Professional Responsibility has been named chief disciplinary counsel of the organization.“Sandy’s record of service to the legal profession and the public through her work with the BPR makes her uniquely qualified to step…
December 4, 2012
The Tennessee Supreme Court has launched two in a series of online videos for the public and lawyers as part of its Access to Justice Initiative.The two videos are designed to provide pro bono lawyers with the necessary skills to take on cases that may be outside of their day-to-day practice area.“…
December 3, 2012
Tennessee State Library and Archives staff will carefully move all three versions of the original handwritten Tennessee state Constitutions to the Supreme Court building Tuesday, December 4 in preparation for a five-day public display.The meticulously preserved documents will be removed from a…
December 3, 2012
In a unanimous opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals and reinstated the trial court’s judgment that denied a husband’s request for transitional alimony to cushion his adjustment to single life.The case involved Patricia Carlene Mayfield and Phillip Harold Mayfield, who…
November 29, 2012
The 75th Anniversary Celebration of Nashville Supreme Court Building provides a rare opportunity for the public to see the handwritten Constitutions of Tennessee for one week only as part of the opening of the Tennessee Judiciary Museum.To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the building that houses…
November 27, 2012
In a unanimous opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed the three-year sentences for Christine Caudle by applying the abuse of discretion standard of review recently adopted in State of Tennessee v. Susan Renee Bise.In February of 2010, Caudle pled guilty to felony charges of reckless…
November 26, 2012
An investiture ceremony for Judge M. Keith Siskin, Division III Circuit Court Judge for the 16th Judicial District will be held 3 p.m. Friday, November 30 at the Rutherford County Courthouse on the Square.Judge Donna Scott Davenport will administer the oath of office. Siskin fills the vacancy…
November 26, 2012
The Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for the Chancellor vacancy in the 8th Judicial District Chancery Court (Campbell, Claiborne, Fentress, Scott and Union counties). The vacancy was created by the death of Chancellor Billy Joe White on November 20.Interested applicants…