Circuit Court Judge Cornelia Clark of Franklin was selected Tuesday by the Tennessee Supreme Court as the state’s new administrative director of the courts. Clark was chosen from among 62 applicants for the position.
“We had an exceptional pool of applicants and the three finalists were outstanding, which made the Court’s choice difficult. We believe Judge Clark is best qualified to lead the Administrative Office of the Courts and help us guide the state court system into the new millennium.” Chief Justice Riley Anderson said.
The director oversees the Administrative Office of the Courts in Nashville, prepares and manages a $65 million budget for the judicial branch of state government and provides support to 178 judges and approximately 472 court personnel across Tennessee. Additional responsibilities include strategic planning, policy implementation, judicial education, court automation and serving as liaison to the executive and legislative branches.
An eight-member search committee including judges and the president of the State Court Clerks’ Association narrowed the list of 62 applicants to the three finalists. Anderson said the position attracted applicants from across Tennessee and 15 other states.
Clark who earned degrees from Vanderbilt University, Harvard University and the Vanderbilt University School of Law, taught in public and private high schools in Georgia before entering the practice of law in Williamson and Davidson counties. She also served as Franklin city attorney and has taught at the Vanderbilt School of Law since 1990. Clark was appointed by Gov. Ned McWherter in 1989 as circuit judge for the 21st Judicial District and was elected in 1990 and 1998.