Justice Holder is just the third woman ever to serve on the court. That is not the only thing that sets her apart from the other four members; she has a Black Belt in Karate. She enjoys a number of outdoor physical activities as well, including scuba diving, horseback riding, boating on the Mississippi River, bicycling and even roller-blading. When she has time, she likes to play golf. Justice Holder was born Aug. 29, 1949, in Canonsburg, PA. She graduated with highest honors - summa cum laude - from the University of Pittsburgh and earned a law degree from Duquesne University School of Law. She served as a senior law clerk for a U.S. District Court judge (a very prestigious job for young lawyers) before beginning a 13-year career in the practice of law. She has won many honors, both as a lawyer and as a judge.
In 1990, Justice Holder was elected Circuit Court Judge for the 30th Judicial District in Memphis, where she still lives, and was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1996. She was elected to the court in 1998 for an eight-year term. Justice Holder was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court on September 2, 2008.
Justice Cornelia Clark, who is known as “Connie” to her family and friends, enjoys spending time with her family, being active in her church and community and reading when she is not working as a judge. Her favorite books include the Harry Potter series. Justice Clark’s family tree is unusual because it has very deep roots. She and her family have lived in Williamson County for eight generations, which is a very long time. In fact, the first of her ancestors to settle in Williamson County arrived in the 1780s. Even though Justice Clark graduated from Vanderbilt University and also earned her law degree there, she is a fan of UT women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt because “she sets high standards for those around her, but never higher than the standards she sets for herself.” Justice Clark also is devoted to the Vanderbilt women’s basketball program and is a season ticket holder.
Prior to her appointment by Gov. Phil Bredesen to the state Supreme Court, she was administrative director of the Tennessee court system and, before that, a circuit court judge. Justice Clark believes that education is important. She received a bachelor of arts degree from Vanderbilt University, a master of arts in teaching degree from Harvard University, and a law degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law.
Judge Wade is committed to preserving the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains, which have been damaged by pollution. He co-founded and is past president and chairman emeritus of Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and also contributes his time to many other worthwhile causes. He was born May 31, 1948, in Knox County. He earned his B.S. degree from the University of Tennessee and his law degree from the UT College of Law. He was in the private practice of law for 14 years and served as mayor of Sevierville for 10 years. He was appointed to Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals in 1987, was elected in 1988 and re-elected in 1990 and 1998. Judge Wade was appointed to the Supreme Court May 30, 2006.
Justice Koch was born in Honolulu, HI on Sept. 12, 1947, and attended Trinity College in Hartford, CT where he earned his B.A. degree. He received his law degree from Vanderbilt University and an LL.M. from the University of Virginia. In addition to his responsibilities on the Court of Appeals, he teaches Constitutional Law at the Nashville School of Law and was an adjunct instructor at the Vanderbilt School of Law from 1988-95. He worked as an assistant attorney general from 1972-76; senior assistant attorney general in 1976-77; and deputy attorney general in 1977-78. Next, he served as commissioner of the state Department of Personnel and then as legal counsel to Governor Lamar Alexander. He was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 1984 and was elected to the court later that year. He was re-elected in 1990 and in 1998. He was named to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2007.
When not performing her appellate court duties, Judge Lee enjoys spending time with her two daughters, Sarah and Laura. They enjoy boating, attending University of Tennessee football games and traveling. Judge Lee was born on December 8, 1953, in Knoxville. She graduated from the Webb School of Knoxville in 1971. She received a degree with high honors in accounting from the University of Tennessee College of Business in 1975. In 1978, she earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. She practiced law in her home town of Madisonville for 26 years until she was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals in 2004. She is the first woman to serve on the Court of Appeals, Eastern Section, since the court was created in 1925. Before becoming judge on the Court of Appeals, she served as judge for the town of Madisonville; attorney for Monroe County; city attorney for the town of Vonore; a family mediator; and was privileged to represent and assist many people in her community with legal problems. She was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court in October 2008.
Western Section
Judge Farmer likes activities that help him stay physically fit, especially walking, running, working out in a gym and playing golf. But he also enjoys reading when he is not busy with his work as a judge. He was born Dec. 6, 1940, in Springfield, MO and earned his B.B.A. degree from the University of Memphis in 1963. Three years later, he graduated from the University of Memphis School of Law, passed the test the state requires to become a lawyer (called the Bar Examination) and joined the U.S. Army Reserve. He worked for Union Carbide Corp. from 1966- 68 and then practiced law in Jackson until 1986. He was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals in 1986 and was elected later that year. He was re-elected in 1990 and 1998.
Judge Lillard takes very seriously her duties as a Court of Appeals judge, but her first priority is being mom to her children, Brooke and Scott. She enjoys roller-blading with them, even though it once resulted in a broken wrist. According to Brooke and Scott, she has many talents, including the ability to “arch one eyebrow like the Rock.” Judge Lillard was born July 9, 1957, in Memphis and graduated from Columbia Central High School. She earned a B.S. degree in engineering from the University of Memphis, graduating magna cum laude. She earned her law degree from the University of Memphis School of Law. She was a law clerk for a federal court judge (a very prestigious position) and then practiced law in Memphis, becoming the first female partner in a large firm. In 1995, she became the first woman to serve on the Tennessee Court of Appeals when she was appointed by the governor. She was elected to the Court of Appeals in 1996 and re- elected in 1998.
Judge Stafford was born September 2, 1956, in McKenzie, TN. He likes activities such as running and snow skiing. He enjoys reading in his spare time. Judge Stafford attended high school in Greenfield, TN and college at the University of Tennessee at Martin. He earned his Law Degree from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, AL. Judge Stafford is very involved with church and civic activities. He also enjoys spending time with his family. He practiced law in Dyersburg from 1983 until 1993. In 1988, be was elected Dyersburg City Judge and served in that job until 1993. He was appointed Chancellor in June 1993 and elected in 1994. He was re-elected in 1998 and 2006. He was appointed to the Court of Appeals in June 2008.
Middle Section
When she is not busy with her responsibilities as a member of the Court of Appeals, Judge Cottrell likes to relax by reading books. She was born Jan. 15, 1947, in Memphis and graduated in 1965 from East High School where she was a National Merit Scholar. She earned her B.S. degree with honors from the University of Tennessee and her law degree from the UT College of Law. After completing her formal education, she worked as an assistant attorney general and then as director of the Public Law Institute at the UT College of Law. She also was assistant director for the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission; deputy attorney general; and director of law for Nashville and practiced law before her 1998 appointment to the Tennessee Court of Appeals. She was elected to the court in 2000 for an eight-year term.
Court of Appeals Judge Frank G. Clement, Jr., is known as "Captain Frank" to a group of his friends. During the fall or winter they charter a large sailboat in the Virgin Islands, Grenadines or Bahamas and sail for a week. The friends live and sleep on the boat and go to different islands every night. During the rest of the year, he enjoys playing golf and playing with his two dachshunds - Moose and Bear. But, Judge Clement also likes to do chores such as working in his yard (but he doesn't like to mow) and doing home improvement projects. His childhood was special because his father, Frank G. Clement, served three terms as governor of Tennessee. Judge Clement has many fun and interesting memories of living in the Executive Residence while his father was governor. Before his appointment to the Court of Appeals, Judge Clement was a circuit court judge in Davidson County where he also had practiced law. He earned a bachelor's degree in education from Memphis State University and then a law degree from the Nashville School of Law.
Judge Bennett has a number of varied interests. He is a baseball fan and roots for the New York Yankees. He enjoys science fiction, particularly Star Trek, and has met a number of his favorite sci-fi actors and authors. Judge Bennett has a black belt in tae kwon do. He has a strong interest in history and is a member of the Tennessee Historical Society. He is a past president of the Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society and has authored several historical articles. Before his appointment to the Court of Appeals on September 18, 2007, Judge Bennett was the Chief Deputy in the Tennessee Attorney General's Office. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1979 with a major in history and he received his law degree from Vanderbilt University in 1982. He was born in Dickson County, Tennessee.
Judge Dinkins was born on August 30, 1952, in Nashville and graduated from Central High School in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1970. He graduated from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, in 1974; and received a law degree from Vanderbilt University in 1977. Judge Dinkins practiced law for twenty-six years before he was appointed Chancellor (Judge) of the Davidson County Chancery Court. After four and one half years as Chancellor, he was appointed as Judge of the Tennessee Court of Appeals. Judge Dinkins is a member of the Board of Trustees of the First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, and has been involved in many other professional and civic organizations. However, the thing he most likes to do is coach his son’s baseball and basketball teams, something he has done for about eight years. He is a lifelong fan of the Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians.
Eastern Section
Traveling, reading and working in his garden are among the activities Judge Franks enjoys when he can find time away from his Court of Appeals duties. He was born May 28, 1930, in Savannah, TN and attended the University of Tennessee-Martin and the University of Maryland. He earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950-54. In 1970, he became a Chancery Court judge (called a chancellor) where he remained until he was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals in 1978. He was elected later that year and re- elected in 1982, 1990 and 1998.
Judge Susano enjoys watching almost all sports and is a fan of Notre Dame football (which is his alma mater) and reading non-fiction books. He was born on March 24, 1936 in Knoxville. In 1958, he earned a Ph.B. accounting degree from the University of Notre Dame and enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served for two years. He received his law degree in 1963 from the University of Tennessee. His legal career has included serving as assistant district attorney general in Knox County and 30 years in the private practice of law. He was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals in 1994, was elected the same year and re-elected to an eight-year term in 1998.
Judge Swiney enjoys outdoor activities, especially hiking and playing golf, as well as spending time with his wife and two children, Gabe and Eli. He was born May 25, 1949, in Sarasota, FL, but attended college in Tennessee. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1971 with a B.S. degree, earned an M.S. degree in 1974 and his law degree in 1978. For the next 20 years, he practiced law in Knoxville where he continues to serve as an adjunct professor at the UT College of Law. He was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals in 1999 and was elected in 2000.
Western Section
Judge Williams is a man of many talents and interests. Besides serving on the Court of Criminal Appeals, he has owned horses, raced motorcycles and cars and is learning to fly airplanes. He also is a master magician and enjoys performing for local schools and charities. But his favorite outside activities are hunting and fishing with his son. He was born on Nov.11, 1953, in Milan and graduated from Huntingdon High School. He earned his B.S. degree in criminal justice from the University of Tennessee at Martin and his law degree in 1981 from the Cumberland School of Law. He spent 17 years in the private practice of law in Huntingdon, where he also has been active in civic and charitable activities. He was appointed to the Court of Criminal Appeals in 1998 and elected in 2000.
Judge Glenn is interested in promoting the arts and is active in organizations serving that cause, including Theatre Memphis, the National Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis and the Memphis Arts in the Park Festival committee. He was born Oct. 3, 1942, in Chicago and attended Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville. He earned his B.A. and law degrees from Vanderbilt University before being chosen for a law clerk position with a U.S. District Court judge in Memphis. He was an assistant district attorney general for 11 years and then practiced law until 1999 when he was appointed to the Court of Criminal Appeals. He was elected in 2000. Judge Glenn also has been an instructor at Harvard Law School since 1986.
Born July 10, 1947, in Trenton, Tennessee, Judge J.C. McLin is a 1965 graduate of Rosenwald High School. Knowing that he wanted to someday be a judge, he kept his focus on the goals that he had set for himself. Now holding several degrees, each was considered as a stepping stone to his ultimate goal. First, he attended Owen College in Memphis where he earned an Associate of Arts Degree; next, he attended Lane College in Jackson where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree, followed by a Master Degree in Education. from the University of Tennessee in Martin. He earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and also a graduate of the National College of District Attorneys in Houston, Texas, and of The National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada. After becoming a lawyer, he had the opportunity to visit Scotland Yard and the Old and New Bailey courtrooms in London. Judge McLin likes to travel with his family and enjoys tranquil and peaceful surroundings. In his spare time he also continues to serve in the community. His father and mentor, Rev. Henry McLin, ordained him on October 21, 1984. Presently, he is an associate minister at his church and an active member of the Baptist Ministerial Association. Since service is a key ingredient in Judge McLin=s life, it is not surprising that he is the founder of the Information Assistance and Monitoring (I.A.M.) program. The program consist of volunteer lawyers and is designed to provide ex-felons with information regarding obtaining employment skills and the re-entrance to society. He has worked as an Assistant District Attorney from 1975-90; private practice of law from 1990-99; and was elected as a Criminal Court judge in 2000. He was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, Western Division, September 2004.
Judge McMullen balances her duties as a Court of Criminal Appeals judge with being a wife and a mother. When she is not drafting opinions, she is at a t-ball game or dance lesson for her children, Reese and Zoe. Judge McMullen was born February 23, 1971, in Nashville and graduated from John Overton High School. She earned a B.S. degree in Political Science from Austin Peay State University, graduating magna cum laude. She earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1996. She was a law clerk for the Honorable Joe G. Riley on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. She then became an Asst. District Attorney and later an Asst. United States Attorney in Memphis, Tn. In 2008, she became the first African American woman to serve on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals when she was appointed by Governor Bredesen.
Middle Section
Judge Welles also can be called Lt. Col. Welles because that is the rank he holds in the Tennessee Army National Guard. Judge Welles was born July 10, 1948, in Memphis. He graduated from Dresden High School and earned his B.S. degree at the University of Tennessee at Martin. In 1974, he received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in Knoxville. He practiced law in Dresden for 13 years and also served as a part-time assistant attorney general. He became chief clerk for the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1977 and later served for seven years as legal counsel to the governor. He was appointed to the Court of Criminal Appeals in 1994, was elected to the court later that year and re-elected in 1998.
Judge Smith has shared his time and knowledge about courts and the law with thousands of young Tennesseans through their classroom teachers. For five years he taught about the court system and law at professional development sessions across the state for hundreds of high school teachers as part of the Tennessee Supreme Court SCALES Project, an acronym for the Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students. When he is not involved in his Court of Criminal Appeals duties, or as a volunteer with the SCALES Project, he enjoys fishing and lifting weights. Judge Smith was born Dec. 9, 1953, in Etowah. He graduated from McMinn Central High School, where he played baseball, and in 1975, he received his B.A. degree from the University of Tennessee. He also earned his law degree at the U.T. College of Law. His legal career has included serving as assistant attorney general and deputy attorney. He was appointed to the Court of Criminal Appeals in 1995, was elected in 1996 and re-elected in 1998.
Judge Woodall uses his time outside of work to help others. He is a leader in the Dickson County Habitat for Humanity organization, which builds new houses for families who need the assistance. He also donates his time to other charities and civic organizations, including the Dickson Help Center and the American Heart Association. He was born April 28, 1955, in Nashville where he also graduated from Battle Ground Academy. Judge Woodall earned his B.S. degree from Tennessee Tech and his law degree from the University of Memphis. He practiced law in Shelby County and Dickson and was an assistant district attorney general. He was appointed to the Court of Criminal Appeals in 1996 and was elected in 1998.
Music is an important part of Judge Wedemeyer’s life. He plays the trumpet and his wife is a professional harpist. But he also enjoys waterskiing and whitewater canoeing when he is not busy with his work as a judge. He was born May 23, 1951, in Nashville. Judge Wedemeyer graduated from Oak Ridge High School and then attended Vanderbilt University, graduating with a B.A. degree in 1973. He earned his law degree in 1976 from the University of Memphis School of Law. For 13 years he was in the private practice of law before becoming a Circuit Court judge. In 2000, he was appointed to the Court of Criminal Appeals and was elected later in the year.
Eastern Section
Judge Tipton was born March 9, 1947, in Birmingham, AL, but he received his education in Knoxville. He graduated from the Webb School of Knoxville, earned his B.S. degree at the University of Tennessee and his law degree in 1971 from the UT College of Law, where he later served as an adjunct professor. He was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals in 1990, was elected in 1992 and re-elected to an eight-year term in 1998.
Judge Witt has many different outside interests, including antique British cars, wood-working, playing piano and fly-fishing. His family, which includes four children, is his top interest though. Judge Witt was an exceptional student, having graduated first in his class from Tennessee Wesleyan College in 1970 and again when he graduated in 1973 from the University of Tennessee College of Law. He was born Oct. 23, 1948, in Knoxville and graduated in 1966 from Madisonville High School. He practiced law and also served for three years as Monroe County Juvenile Court judge. He was appointed to the Court of Criminal Appeals in 1997 and was elected in 1998 to an eight-year term.
Judge Ogle and her family have a goal - they hope to visit every major league baseball park in the nation. She is an avid baseball fan (especially the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves) and each summer the family attends a game at a different park. When the season is over, she enjoys reading books by Southern authors and playing with her dog Sally. Judge Ogle was born Sept. 9, 1952, in Lawrenceburg. She earned her B.S. degree in 1974 from the University of Tennessee and her law degree in 1977 from the UT College of Law. She was in the private practice of law for 19 years, serving eight years as Pigeon Forge city attorney. She was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals in 1998 and was elected in 2000.
Judge Thomas has lived in East Tennessee at the foot of the Smokies since his birth February 17, 1952. A Maryville High School graduate, he finished his education at the University of Tennessee College of Law. In August 1990, Judge Thomas was elected Circuit Judge for Blount County, Tennessee. November 16, 2006, Governor Phil Bredesen appointed him to the Court of Criminal Appeals, Eastern Section. Thirty acres, two horses, dogs and cats keep him and his wife busy. Skiing, golf and trips to the beach (any beach) are his favorite past-times. Judge Thomas is active in Blount County and is currently chair of the Boys and Girls Club Advisory Board.