News
November 7, 2008
The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld the death and prison sentences imposed on Devin Banks of Memphis for killing a friend and severely wounding a second man who was left for dead in the driveway of his home during a robbery.Banks was convicted of premeditated murder, murder during the…
November 10, 2008
James G. Martin III appointed to fill position in Tennessee’s 21st Judicial DistrictNASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen has appointed James G. Martin of Franklin, Tenn., to fill the vacancy on the Tennessee Circuit Court, 21st Judicial District, Division II. The 21st Judicial District is composed of…
November 13, 2008
The normally staid look and feel of the Chancery Courtroom in Hamblen County will turn festive Saturday, Nov. 15, with the addition of balloons, cookies and toys for a special Adoption Day ceremony creating new families for three children and four parents.The adoption of a baby boy from Russia by…
December 8, 2008
December 5, 2008Remarks by Chief Justice Janice M. Holder Supreme Court of TennesseeAs many of you already know, the Supreme Court of Tennessee has designated access to justice as a strategic priority this year and in the years to come. On behalf of the Supreme Court, I thank you for joining us…
February 17, 2009
The Tennessee Supreme Court has adopted a provisional rule for the appointment of guardians ad litem (GAL) in cases involving the custody of children, whether or not those cases involve a divorce. A guardian ad litem is a person appointed to represent the interests of a child or an adult with…
March 11, 2009
From the desk of Governor Bredesen, March 11, 2009 NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen has appointed David E. Durham of Lebanon, Tenn., as criminal court judge in the 15th Judicial District. The vacancy was created by the death of Judge J.O. Bond in December. The 15th Judicial District is composed…
March 13, 2009
Oath of Office to be Administered by Governor Phil BredesenGovernor Phil Bredesen will administer the oath of office to Justice Sharon G. Lee in a formal investiture ceremony on Friday, March 20, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in the Supreme Court courtroom in Knoxville. This ceremony is open to everyone.…
March 23, 2009
Governor Phil Bredesen recently named attorney Philip Smith to the Bench of the Circuit Court for the 20th Judicial District in Tennessee, comprising Davidson County. Governor Bredesen will perform the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, March 30th at 2:30 p.m. in the Old Supreme Court Chambers at the…
April 1, 2009
On Friday, April 3, 2009, the Tennessee Supreme Court will adopt three amendments to the rules governing the practice of law that will encourage more lawyers to volunteer to provide pro bono legal services to Tennesseans who need legal assistance but cannot afford it. These new rules are in…
April 3, 2009
The Tennessee Supreme Court today announced the creation of a new statewide Access to Justice Commission to help address the growing civil legal needs crisis in Tennessee. The ten-member Commission is chaired by Margaret Behm, a Nashville lawyer with Dodson Parker Behm & Caparella, PC who has…
April 7, 2009
Lorrie K. Ridder To Fill Vacancy In The 30th Judicial DistrictNASHVILLE - Governor Phil Bredesen today appointed Lorrie Ridder of Memphis, Tenn., to the Tennessee Circuit Court for the 30th Judicial District, Division IV. Ridder will fill a vacancy created by the death of Judge Rita Stotts in…
April 9, 2009
Judge John A. Turnbull has announced his resignation, effective June 15, 2009, as Circuit Court Judge in the 13th Judicial District (Clay, Cumberland, Dekalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, and White counties). Judge Turnbull was first appointed to the bench in August of 1989. He received his legal…
May 4, 2009
NASHVILLE - The Administrative Office of the Courts is pleased to announce the addition of Laura Click as public information officer for the Tennessee Court System. Click comes to the AOC from the Department of Finance and Administration where she served as the communications director for Project…
May 13, 2009
Nashville, Tenn. - The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of Marlon Duane Kiser for the first degree premeditated murder of Hamilton County Deputy Sheriff Donald Bond. Kiser shot Deputy Bond several times with a high-powered assault rifle when Bond interrupted Kiser’s arson…
May 21, 2009
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Cornelia Clark spoke to the graduates of the 21st Judicial District Drug Court on May 21. The 21st Judicial District Drug Court, which covers Williamson, Hickman, Perry and Lewis Counties, helps non-violent drug offenders recover from substance abuse.Graduates of the…
May 27, 2009
On May 27, 2009, the Tennessee Supreme Court brought the SCALES program to Tennessee Boys State for the seventh consecutive year. SCALES, which stands for Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students, is a Tennessee Supreme Court initiative designed to educate high school students about the…
May 29, 2009
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee spoke to hundreds of high school juniors at both the 2009 Boys State and Girls State programs.On May 27, she addressed more than 600 students at Tennessee Boys State, which was held at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville. During her remarks, she shared…
June 5, 2009
During the recent graduation season, Chief Justice Janice Holder and Justice Gary Wade addressed hundreds of Tennessee students during their commencement addresses.On May 23, Chief Justice Holder addressed the graduates of Nashville School of Law. In her speech, Chief Justice Holder applauded the…
June 8, 2009
On June 4, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee addressed more than 80 women at the East Tennessee Regional Economic Summit for Women. The event, which was held at Maryville College, was geared to help women learn about reaching their financial goals for their businesses and personal lives.…
June 11, 2009
In a formal investiture ceremony on June 5, David E. Durham was sworn in by Gov. Phil Bredesen as the criminal court judge for the 15th judicial district, which is comprised of Jackson, Macon, Smith, Trousdale and Wilson counties. Durham was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the death of…