The investiture ceremony of Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Jill Bartee Ayers will be livestreamed at 9 a.m. on Monday, August 30. Judge Ayers was unanimously confirmed to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals – Middle Section during a joint session of the General Assembly on April 12. The livestream of the ceremony can be viewed on the TN Courts YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/TNCourts/featured
During the investiture, Governor Bill Lee will provide remarks and ceremoniously administer the oath of office. Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer, Supreme Court Justice Roger Page, and Chief Justice Jeff Bivins will speak and Dr. Greg Glover of the First Presbyterian Church of Clarksville will provide the invocation.
“Judge Ayers is a great addition to the Court of Criminal Appeals,” said Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge John Everett Williams. “She is smart, has the right experience and background, and adds to the Court’s diversity. We are so pleased she has joined the Court, and I look forward to working with her on the extremely important business before the Court.”
Judge Ayers was appointed by Governor Lee on January 12, 2021, after being one of three candidates out of 11 applicants that was recommended to the governor by the Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments. She previously served as a circuit court judge in the 19th judicial district, which covers Montgomery and Robertson counties. She presided almost exclusively over criminal cases, including over 50 jury trials.
Earlier this week, Judge Ayers, Judge Norma McGee Ogle and Judge Kristi M. Davis were the first all-female bench to hear an appellate court case in state history. Currently, there are eight female appellate judges in Tennessee state courts.
The vacancy on the Court of Criminal Appeals – Middle Section was created by the retirement of the Honorable Thomas Woodall, effective December 31, 2020.