News
May 23, 2023
In an opinion released today, a majority of the Tennessee Supreme Court held that the trial court in a healthcare liability action appropriately declined to require a defendant physician to opine on the defendant nurse-midwife’s performance outside of the physician’s presence.
In 2014, a child…
May 22, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is currently accepting applications for three newly established state court judicial positions in the 13th, 19th, and 22nd Judicial Districts. The new judicial positions were created by the Tennessee General Assembly through Public Chapter No. 396, enacted…
May 19, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court today reversed the termination of the parental rights of two parents whose infant son suffered multiple rib fractures while he was in their custody. The Court held that, under Tennessee law, the evidence did not support the trial court’s finding that the parents’ failure…
May 18, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court has appointed former Judge W. Mark Ward as a senior judge for a term of four years, effective June 1, 2023. Judge Ward previously served as a criminal court judge in the 30th Judicial District from 2004 to 2022.
Under Tennessee Code Ann. § 17-2-302, the Supreme Court…
May 17, 2023
In an opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court unanimously held that a trial court’s voluntary dismissal order in a governmental tort liability action could not be altered or amended because an amended complaint filed by the plaintiff rendered it of no legal effect.
Plaintiff George…
May 15, 2023
John Crawford, Education Manager for the Administrative Office of the Courts, received the 2022 Public Service Award at the Tennessee State Clerks of Court Education Conference.
Crawford was presented with a certificate that reads: “In recognition of an awesome job of dedicated service for the…
May 15, 2023
In an opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court upheld the forgery convictions and sentences of five defendants that collectively filed more than 100 fraudulent financing statements on the Secretary of State’s website.
Defendants Ronald Lyons, James Michael Usinger, Lee Harold Cromwell,…
May 11, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court today upheld the premeditated first-degree murder and aggravated robbery convictions of Kemontea Dovon McKinney (“Defendant”) for the killing of Jonathan Outlaw in Robertson County. The Court found the Defendant’s statements to detectives were voluntary, as was the…
May 9, 2023
The American Bar Association Business Law Section has appointed Davidson County Chancellor Anne C. Martin as a Business Court Representative for 2022-2024. Chancellor Martin was selected, along with one other judge in the United States, as a judge who presides over a court consisting primarily of…
May 8, 2023
The Board of Judicial Conduct issued a Public Reprimand for Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Melissa Boyd. Read the public reprimand here.
May 5, 2023
In an opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court extended its previous holdings with respect to civil defendants in Parrish v. Marquis, 172 S.W.3d 526, 531 (Tenn. 2005), and Himmelfarb v. Allain, 380 S.W.3d 35 (Tenn. 2012), and held that a criminal defendant can pursue a claim…
May 2, 2023
The Open Meetings Act, an inside look at investigative journalism, and covering state and local government were just a few of the topics that drew Tennessee news reporters to the annual TBA Reporters Workshop. The workshop was held April 28-29, in Nashville and served as an opportunity for state…
April 20, 2023
Joseph Byrd has joined the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts as the lead attorney for the newly created Indigent Services Team. In his new role, Byrd will manage the team that oversees the indigent representation program, which provides court-appointed attorneys in certain types of…
April 18, 2023
Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee appointed Jamie Brooks as chancellor for the 7th Judicial District to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Chancellor Nichole Cantrell. Chancellor Brooks' appointment is effective immediately.
“Jamie is a highly qualified attorney who will bring…
April 12, 2023
Davidson County Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway was named the 2023 Nashville ATHENA Traditional Recipient at the 33rd Annual Nashville ATHENA Awards & Scholarship Program ceremony, held on March 31 at Nashville’s Music City Center.
According to nashvillecable.org, “This prestigious award…
April 5, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission (ATJ), which offers much-needed access to civil legal services to communities in need, is celebrating Help4TNMonth. Help4TNMonth is an annual celebration held during the month of April. Its purpose is to offer Tennesseans free assistance with…
April 4, 2023
At a recent graduation ceremony of the Monroe County General Sessions Veterans Court, special guest Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee was on-hand to congratulate the graduates and receive the George P. Thomas Memorial Award for her contributions to the program.
In accepting the award,…
April 4, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court has three cases set for its April 5, 2023, docket. The first two cases will be heard in Jackson, Tennessee, beginning at 9 a.m., CDT. The final case will be submitted on briefs. The cases will be livestreamed to the TNCourts YouTube page at: …
April 3, 2023
The Tennessee judiciary is mourning the loss of former Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice William Muecke Barker, who passed away on April 3, 2023, at the age of 81. Former Chief Justice Barker was from Chattanooga and spent 25 years on the judicial bench, 10 as a justice on the Tennessee Supreme…
March 30, 2023
The Tennessee Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Executive Committee has issued the following statement:
It is with overwhelming sadness that we write this statement in response to the tragic events in Nashville on Monday.
Children who went to school on Monday, and…