News
September 8, 2022
Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge John Everett Williams will lie in state on Monday, September 12 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Nashville Supreme Court Building, located at 401 7th Avenue North, Nashville. Judge Williams passed away unexpectedly on September 2 at the age of 68.…
September 6, 2022
The Tennessee Supreme Court has two cases set for its September 7, 2022 docket. The cases will be heard in Knoxville, Tennessee, beginning at 9:00 a.m., EDT. The cases will be livestreamed to: https://www.youtube.com/user/TNCourts/featured…
September 4, 2022
The Tennessee Judiciary is mourning the loss of the 20th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Phil Smith, who passed away unexpectedly September 4 at the age of 62. Judge Smith became the presiding judge of the 20th Judicial District on September 1, 2022. He was first appointed to the bench by…
September 2, 2022
The Tennessee judiciary is mourning the loss of Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge John Everett Williams, who passed away on September 2, 2022, at the age of 68. He was appointed to the court by Governor Don Sundquist in November 1998, and was retained in elections in 2000, 2006, 2014 and…
September 1, 2022
Tennessee jurists from Mountain City to Memphis, from Supreme Court justices to general sessions judges, began new eight-year judicial terms today, September 1, 2022. The judges were elected or retained during the August general election. The previous judicial term ran from September 1, 2014 to…
August 31, 2022
The Nashville Business Journal recently honored Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle with its Best of the Bar Lifetime Achievement Award. Chancellor Lyle, who retires from the bench today, was first appointed Chancellor for the 20th Judicial District in 1995. She was instrumental in starting the Business…
August 31, 2022
The Tennessee Supreme Court recognizes Attorney General Herbert Slatery III, who was appointed for an eight-year term in 2014, for his public service to the State of Tennessee. General Slatery’s term ends August 31, 2022, and the Supreme Court has named Jonathan Skrmetti as his successor.“The…
August 30, 2022
Today, the Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated a sentence for a now-repealed criminal offense. The Court held that a person who commits an offense that is later repealed must be prosecuted under the law in effect when the offense was committed, unless the legislature says otherwise.Marvin Maurice…
August 25, 2022
A long-time fascination with judges and the courtroom led Hamilton County Circuit Court Judge Jeff Hollingsworth to the bench in 2006.“By the time 2006 rolled around, I had been trying cases in criminal courts for almost 30 years and I was fascinated by the judges I appeared in front of,” said…
August 23, 2022
On August 31, 11th District Criminal Court Judge Don Poole will hang up his judicial robe and enter retirement. After 17 years on the bench and three decades practicing law, it won’t be easy.“I’ve enjoyed being a judge. I’m going to miss being a judge,” said Judge Poole. “People ask about my…
August 22, 2022
The Tennessee Supreme Court has appointed a new Reporter to the Advisory Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure. Jeffrey Usman, who was recently appointed by Governor Lee to the Court of Appeals, has served as the Reporter. Lynn Zehrt, professor at Belmont University College of Law,…
August 18, 2022
In a lawsuit by a well-known record producer challenging Nashville’s laws restricting home-based businesses, the Tennessee Supreme Court today vacated the previous court decisions. Noting that Metro Nashville had recently amended the law to make it less restrictive, the Supreme Court decided the…
August 10, 2022
The Tennessee Supreme Court has selected Jonathan Skrmetti to serve as the state’s next Attorney General and Reporter.From 2018 to late 2021, Skrmetti was the Chief Deputy Attorney General in the Attorney General’s Office, where he managed approximately 160 attorneys in 15 litigating divisions and…
August 8, 2022
Today, the Tennessee Supreme Court held formal interviews in a public hearing for the six applicants for Tennessee’s new Attorney General and Reporter.“The applicants were all remarkable, experienced, and gracious in their answers during a robust interview process,” Chief Justice Roger A. Page said…
August 5, 2022
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today to consider three candidates for a criminal court vacancy in the11th Judicial District, which covers Hamilton County. This vacancy was created by the confirmation of the Honorable Tom Greenholtz to the Court of Criminal Appeals – Eastern Section.After…
August 4, 2022
The Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Bus has now offered free legal services to clients in all three grand divisions - East, Middle and West Tennessee.“The Justice Bus is a unique opportunity to bring legal services to people where they are,” said Savannah Quintero, Pro Bono Coordinator/Staff to…
August 2, 2022
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today to consider five candidates for a criminal court vacancy in the Sixth Judicial District, which covers Knox County. This vacancy was created by the confirmation of the Honorable Kyle A. Hixson to the Court of Criminal Appeals – Eastern Section.After…
August 2, 2022
Tennessee appellate courts recently livestreamed their 1,000th case, greatly improving accessibility and transparency in the court system. While the Tennessee Supreme Court began video recording oral arguments in October of 2018, these recordings were posted several days to weeks later. The first…
August 1, 2022
The Tennessee Supreme Court will begin a public hearing on August 8, 2022, that will include formal interviews of the six applicants for Attorney General and Reporter. Under the state constitution, the Tennessee Attorney General and Reporter is appointed by the state Supreme Court and serves an…
July 29, 2022
The Tennessee Supreme Court has received six applications for the state's Attorney General and Reporter position. The applicants are:Donald Q. Cochran, Jr.…