Council Accepting Applications For Two Openings on the Eastern Section of the Court of Criminal Appeals

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is now accepting applications for two imminent vacancies on the Eastern Section of the Court of Criminal Appeals after the Honorable Norma McGee Ogle and the Honorable D. Kelly Thomas, Jr. elected not to file declarations of candidacy for retention in the August 2022 election. 

Any interested applicant must be a licensed attorney who is at least 30 years of age, a resident of the state for five years, and a resident of the Eastern Section. Applicants must complete the designated application and submit it to the Administrative Office of the Courts by 12:00 p.m. CST on February 8, 2022. The application is available on the judicial resources page of tncourts.gov, located here: http://tncourts.gov/administration/judicial-resources

Pursuant to State of Tennessee Executive Orders No. 87 (September 17, 2021) and No. 95 (January 24, 2022), the Council will hold a single virtual hearing for both vacancies via Zoom on March 3 and March 4, 2022. The hearing will be livestreamed for public viewing to: www.youtube.com/user/TNCourts

Interested individuals may attend the livestream in the Eastern Section at the Tennessee Supreme Court Building in Knoxville located at 500 Main Street, Knoxville, TN 37902 to watch and/or speak in opposition to any applicant. Visitors who want to attend the live stream hearing at the Knoxville Supreme Court Building must check-in with security for admission to the building.

Interested individuals who want to attend the hearing remotely via Zoom to verbally address the Commission to express their opposition concerning an applicant must contact Ceesha Lofton at the Administrative Office of the Courts either by email at ceesha.lofton@tncourts.gov or by calling 615-741-2687 by 4:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 so that the necessary electronic accommodations can be made for participation in the livestream.

If you require an accommodation or have special needs because of a disability, or if you have questions or need additional information, please contact Ceesha Lofton or Rachel Harmon at 615-741-2687.