Governor Phil Bredesen named two appointments to the 30 th Judicial District’s Criminal Courts, announcing Shelby County attorney Paula Skahan to fill a position in the Division 1 Criminal Court, and Assistant Shelby County Public Defender W. Mark Ward to fill a position in the Division 9 Criminal Court.
Skahan will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Bernie Weinman. Ward will fill a vacancy created by Judge J.C. McLin, who was appointed by Bredesen in September to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, Western Division.
“Paula Skahan and Mark Ward have extensive experience working in the Shelby County court system. Over the years, these individuals have demonstrated through their work that they have the knowledge, the skill and the integrity to serve Tennesseans with honor as Criminal Court judges in Shelby County,” Bredesen said. “I congratulate them on these milestones in their careers and appreciate their service to the state of Tennessee.”
Paula L. Skahan has practiced law for 19 years. For the last 15 years, she has worked in private practice, specializing primarily in criminal defense law. During that time she was assigned a number of high profile capital murder cases. From 1987 to 1989, she worked as an assistant district attorney in the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office. From 1986 to 1987, she served as an assistant public defender in the Shelby County Public Defender’s Office. She was also appointed to serve as Special Judge in the Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Courts approximately 40 times since 1990.
“I am honored to have been chosen by Governor Bredesen to serve on the Shelby County Criminal Court bench,” said Skahan. “I can assure the people of Shelby County that I will serve this position with honor and integrity, and I am committed to being fair to everyone who participates in the judicial system.”
Skahan, 44, holds bachelor’s degrees in English and French from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Memphis State University. She is a member of the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, serving on its Board of Directors since 1990, and is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. She is also a member of the Association of Women Attorneys and the Memphis Bar Association.
W. Mark Ward has practiced law for 25 years. Since 1997, he has worked as an assistant public defender in the Shelby County Public Defender’s Office and as an adjunct professor at The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Ward also worked in private practice for 16 years, primarily in criminal defense law, while serving as a part-time public defender in Shelby County.
From 1979 to 1981, he was a law clerk in the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. In 2000, he litigated the high profile case of Rogers v. Tennessee, which he argued before the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. He is the author of Tennessee Criminal Trial Practice, published by West Publishing Company, and teaches criminal procedure at The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.
“I am honored by the Governor’s confidence in me and I look forward to serving in this capacity and serving the people of this state,” said Ward. “I’d like to continue the tradition of integrity that former judges have brought to the criminal court bench in Shelby County.”
Ward, 44, holds a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement and earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Memphis State University when he was 22-years-old. He also holds a master’s degree in religion from Memphis Theological Seminary and a master’s degree in criminal justice from The University of Memphis. Ward is a member of the Memphis, Tennessee and American Bar Associations, and the Tennessee and National Associations of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He was chair of the Tennessee Bar Association Criminal Justice Section in 1995 and 1996. In 1998, he was awarded the Tennessee Bar Association’s Public Service Attorney of the Year Award and the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Robert W. Ritchie Award for outstanding service.
(12/07/2004)
State Supreme Court Appoints Two New Senior Judges, Reappoints One
The Tennessee Supreme Court has appointed two new senior judges, bringing the number statewide to seven. Senior judges are former trial and appellate court judges who may be assigned on a temporary basis to any state court.
In addition to giving senior judge status to Circuit Court Judges Jon Kerry Blackwood, of Somerville, and Donald P. Harris, of Brentwood, the Supreme Court reappointed Senior Judge James L. Weatherford, 73, of Lawrenceburg. He has served as a senior judge since 1997 and was a Circuit Court judge for 19 years.
Blackwood, 57, will retire from his 25th Judicial District Circuit Court position effective Dec. 31 and become a senior judge Jan. 1. The 25th Judicial District includes Fayette, Hardeman, Lauderdale, McNairy and Tipton counties. Blackwood was appointed to the bench in 1985 by Gov. Lamar Alexander and has won election three times. He received a BS degree from Tennessee Technological University and a law degree from Memphis State School of Law. Before becoming a judge, he was in the private practice of law and served as an assistant district attorney. Blackwood said he and his wife, Julia, will move to Blount County after he becomes a senior judge.
Harris, 58, will continue to serve as a Circuit Court judge in the 21st Judicial District, including Williamson, Perry, Hickman and Lewis counties, until he assumes senior judge status Jan. 17. Harris earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Tennessee. He served as Municipal Court judge in Franklin in 1980-81 and has been a Circuit Court judge since 1986. His wife, Gayle, is coordinator of the district's drug court program.
Other senior judges are Allen Wallace of New Johnsonville, William Inman of Morristown and J.S. (Steve) Daniel and Jerry Scott, both of Murfreesboro.
Gov. Phil Bredesen will appoint Circuit Court successors to Blackwood and Harris. Information on the process for filing the vacancies is available on the court system website at www.tsc.state.tn.us.