News
March 13, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued an Order stating all Tennessee courts will remain open during the coronavirus outbreak, but suspending all in-person judicial proceedings through March 31, 2020. Chief Justice Jeff Bivins declared a state of emergency for the judicial branch, which follows…
February 28, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of a healthcare liability statute after removing a phrase from the provision that the Court considered unconstitutional as violating the separation of powers clause of the Tennessee Constitution because the phrases removed all discretion from…
February 28, 2020
This is Part Two of a story about the history, legacy, and continued impact of Tennessee's historically African American bar associations. You can read Part One here.Thirtieth Judicial District Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins is one of those who credits the Ben F. Jones chapter of the National Bar…
February 27, 2020
This is Part One of a story about the history, legacy, and continued impact of Tennessee's historically African American bar associations. You can read Part Two here.
For nearly 90 years now, Tennessee’s historically African American bar associations have been working to fulfill a number of vital…
February 26, 2020
In an opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court answered three certified questions from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, holding that Tennessee’s statutory cap on noneconomic damages in civil cases does not violate the Tennessee Constitution. …
February 25, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court today affirmed the convictions of Alexander Vance despite the trial court’s error in admitting testimony at trial regarding a non-testifying co-defendant.Mr. Vance and another co-defendant, Damonta Meneese, were tried jointly for the murder of Stephen Milliken. A…
February 24, 2020
The three current female justices of the Tennessee Supreme Court —Justice Cornelia Clark, Justice Sharon G. Lee, and Justice Holly Kirby—were joined on stage with the three former female justices—Judge Martha Craig Daughtrey, Former Justice Penny White, and Former Chief Justice Janice Holder— for…
February 24, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued execution dates for Bryon Lewis Black and Pervis T. Payne. Mr. Black's execution is set for October 8, 2020 and Mr. Pervis's execution date is set for December 3, 2020.Mr. Black was convicted of the 1988 murders of Angela Clay, and her daughters Latoya Clay…
February 19, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court has clarified that the language of Tennessee’s burglary statute allows its application to a criminal defendant who enters a retail store from which the defendant has been previously banned and commits a theft.The defendant, Abbie Leann Welch, was indicted for misdemeanor…
February 14, 2020
The Supreme Court held today that the Board of Professional Responsibility failed to prove that an attorney, James S. MacDonald, violated any Rules of Professional Conduct, resulting in the dismissal of the disciplinary allegations against him.This disciplinary matter arose out of Mr. MacDonald’s…
February 10, 2020
Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on February 11, 2020. The details of the cases are as follows:Vickie S. Young, Individually and as Administrator of the Estate of Randall Josh Young, Deceased v. First Cardiology PLLC, et al – In this healthcare…
February 7, 2020
Tennessee Supreme Court has affirmed the one-year suspension of Georgia attorney James A. Dunlap, Jr., from the practice of law in Tennessee.Mr. Dunlap had been admitted to practice in Tennessee for the limited purpose of representing a client in an administrative appeal before the Administrative…
January 29, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that a criminal trial court lacks authority to partially vacate its own order dismissing criminal prosecutions once the order becomes final. In 2012, the Shelby County Criminal Court filed a final order dismissing criminal prosecutions against Carl Allen…
January 28, 2020
In a wrongful death case out of Hickman County, the Tennessee Supreme Court today reversed the Court of Appeals and reinstated the trial court’s pre-trial dismissal of the case for lack of proof. The Court clarified that appellate courts may reverse only if the trial court’s decision was not within…
January 22, 2020
Governor Bill Lee appointed five new members to the Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments, which manages the application process, interviews candidates, and makes a recommendation to the governor for vacancies in the Tennessee appellate courts, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, or the…
January 15, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court set two execution dates today. The Court set an execution date of June 4, 2020 for Oscar Franklin Smith, convicted of the 1989 murders of Judith Lynn Smith (age 35), Chad Burnett (age 16), and Jason Burnett (age 13) in Nashville. View the Order here. The Court set an…
January 15, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court announced Larry Bridgesmith has been selected as chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission, and J. Marcus Rudolph and Lori Thomas Reidwill join the Commission. The appointments were effective January 9, 2020.“I am excited to assume this role with…
December 23, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that a person who posted bond for a defendant, known as a surety, remains obligated even if the original charge was driving under the influence second offense and the subsequent indictment was for driving under the influence fourth offense.On October 4, 2015…
December 20, 2019
In an opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated the conviction for presenting a false or fraudulent insurance claim of the defendant, Reuben Eugene Mitchell.In 2011, the defendant applied to Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company for a homeowner’s insurance policy.…
December 5, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that the fair report privilege does not apply to a nonpublic, one-on-one conversation between a newspaper reporter and a detective of a county sheriff’s department, who also served as the public information officer for the sheriff’s department.The decision…