Circuit Court Judge William B. Acree, Jr., has been elected president of the 178-member Tennessee Judicial Conference (TJC), which includes all state appellate and trial court judges.
Acree, who serves the 27th Judicial District, succeeds Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr., of Maryville. Acree’s district includes Obion and Weakley counties.
“It is a great honor to have been chosen by my colleagues to lead our Judicial Conference,” Acree said. “While it is somewhat daunting to follow the outstanding leadership provided by Judge Thomas, I am looking forward to the challenge.”
Other new TJC officers include Chancellor Carol L. McCoy of the 20th Judicial District, who has become the first woman president-elect of the conference. McCoy will succeed Acree as president in June 2009.
Criminal Court Judge James C. Beasley, Jr., of the 30th Judicial District is the new TJC vice president; Criminal Court Judge Mark Ward of the 30th Judicial District was elected secretary; and Circuit Court Judge Roy Morgan, Jr., of the 26th Judicial District is conference treasurer.
Newly elected executive committee members are Circuit Court Judge Robert Jones of the 22nd Judicial District; Criminal Court Judge Lee Coffee of the 30th Judicial District; and Chancellor Martha Brasfield of the 25th Judicial District.
The Judicial Conference provides continuing judicial education for judges and a forum for members to share experiences and ideas for the betterment of the judicial system. In addition, a TJC foundation provides scholarships to outstanding law school students.
Acree, of Union City, has served as circuit court judge since 1994. Prior to his appointment, he was in the private practice of law. He has served as a special judge on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, the Tennessee Court of Appeals and the Tennessee Supreme Court Worker’s Compensation Panel, as well as a special master appointed by the Supreme Court. He was a member of the governor’s Task Force on the Use of Enhancement Factors in Criminal Sentencing. In 2003, he was instrumental in starting a successful drug court in the 27th Judicial District. He also served as president of the Tennessee Trial Judges Association.
Acree earned his B.S. and law degrees from the University of Tennessee. He spent two years in the United States Army following his graduation from law school.
He is married to the former Ginny O’Brien and has five children.