Nashville, Tenn. – Twenty-seven Tennessee judges participated in an intensive four-day Judicial Academy this week. Conducted by the Administrative Office of the Courts, Judicial Academy provides training for appellate, trial, general sessions and municipal court judges that have been recently appointed to the bench. This year marks the first time municipal court judges participated in Judicial Academy.
The Judicial Academy was held in Murfreesboro from August 17 – 20. The courses, which were taught by current and former Tennessee judges, covered a wide range of topics such as case management, evidence, search warrants, workplace harassment, judicial ethics, technology in the courtroom and courtroom security. The Judicial Academy also offered courses specific to trial and general sessions judges.
“Judicial Academy helps judges transition from advocate to arbiter,” said Court of Appeals Judge Steve Stafford, who served as dean of the Judicial Academy. “This program gives judges the opportunity to learn about a variety of topics from those who have extensive experience on the bench.”
The following judges participated in this year’s Judicial Academy:
Court of Appeals
John Westley McClarty – Court of Appeals, Eastern Division – Chattanooga
Trial Court
Joseph P. Binkley, Jr. – 20th Judicial District Circuit Court – Nashville
David M. Bragg – 16th Judicial District Circuit Court – Murfreesboro
Tony A. Childress – 29th Judicial District Chancery Court – Dyersburg
John T. Fowlkes, Jr. – 30th Judicial District Criminal Court, Division VI – Memphis
Vanessa Agee Jackson – 14th Judicial District Circuit Court – Manchester
James G. Martin, III – 21st Judicial District Circuit Court – Franklin
Bobby Ray McGee – 6th Judicial District Criminal Court – Knoxville
Russell T. Perkins – 20th Judicial District Chancery Court – Nashville
Lorrie K. Ridder – 30th Judicial District Circuit Court – Memphis
J. Michael Sharp – 10th Judicial District Circuit Court – Cleveland
Philip E. Smith – 20th Judicial District Circuit Court – Nashville
General Sessions Court
John T. Gwin – Wilson County General Sessions Court – Lebanon
Robert L. Headrick – Blount County General Sessions Court – Maryville
Kimberly Hinson – Perry County General Sessions Court – Linden
Patricia Hall Long – Knox County General Sessions Court – Knoxville
Elizabeth D. Rankin – Montgomery County General Sessions Court – Clarksville
Jimmy C. Smith – Obion County General Sessions Court – Union City
John W. Whitworth – Benton County General Sessions Court – Camden
Lee Wilson, Jr. – Shelby County General Sessions Court – Memphis
Municipal Court
Keta J. Barnes - City of Smyrna Municipal Court
Laura M. Crawford – City of Copperhill Municipal Court
Laurie D. Jewett – City of Brentwood Municipal Court
Steven D. Qualls – City of Monterey Municipal Court
Eugene "Gene" Rogers – City of New Market Municipal Court
Dwaine B. Thomas – City of Tellico Plains Municipal Court
Melissa Thomas Blevins – City of Kimball Municipal Court
Judicial Academy is held every two to three years for recently appointed and elected judges. The last Judicial Academy was held in August 2006. All elected or appointed judges since that time were encouraged to attend.