News
June 24, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that state criminal charges pending against Michael Shane Springer must be dismissed based on his multiple transfers between federal and state correctional facilities, a violation of the Interstate Agreement on Detainers (IAD).The IAD is an agreement among…
June 24, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that Williamson County attorney Walter Ray Culp, III is not entitled to reinstatement of his law license, which was suspended in 2006 after he pleaded guilty to the crime of attempted extortion in federal court.The Supreme Court suspended Mr. Culp from…
Supreme Court Rules Tossing Murder Weapon in Plain View Near Crime Scene Not Tampering With Evidence
June 20, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld a Memphis man’s conviction for first-degree murder, but reversed his conviction for tampering with physical evidence.Ledarren Hawkins fatally shot Jerome Ellington during a gang fight in a parking lot in Jackson, Tennessee. As he fled the scene, he tossed the…
June 18, 2013
The Tennessee Bar Association honored Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Janice M. Holder with the group’s Justice Frank F. Drowota III Outstanding Judicial Service Award.Justice Holder was recognized for her service with lawyers’ assistance programs and access to justice issues. She serves as the…
May 30, 2013
The Supreme Court and Administrative Office of the Courts held a luncheon in honor of retiring state Budget Office Director Bill Bradley.The luncheon was held at the Supreme Court building in Nashville and included all five members of the Tennessee Supreme Court as well as members of the AOC staff.…
May 28, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in Cookeville and Nashville this week as part of the SCALES Project – Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students.The students spend time prior to the day in court learning about the court system and the specific facts of the case they…
May 24, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that Knoxville attorney Herbert S. Moncier must pay the costs incurred prosecuting the disciplinary proceeding that resulted in his one-year suspension from the practice of law in Tennessee.On June 1, 2011, the Supreme Court assessed costs totaling $22,038.32…
May 22, 2013
Supreme Court Justice Cornelia Clark addressed the Legal Aid Society staff at their bi-annual meeting May 16. Justice Clark called the employees of the Legal Aid Society the "unsung and 'unplayed' heroes of the ongoing efforts to improve access to justice in Tennessee." She compared the…
May 22, 2013
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Janice M. Holder, who is the Court’s liaison to the Access to Justice Commission, is featured in this week’s American Bar Association’s Center for Pro Bono Exchange Community Profile.In the profile, Justice Holder highlights the Court’s Access to Justice initiative…
May 21, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has issued an Order seeking public comments on a proposed change to Rule 10 of the Rules of The Tennessee Supreme Court.The order cites the comprehensive changes made in 2012 to Rule 10, which sets out the Code of Judicial Conduct.The current proposed change is to what…
May 16, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction of a man serving a life sentence for the 2006 first degree premeditated murder of his girlfriend.On April 16, 2006, Prince Adams was at his mother’s residence in Shelby County and then left with Ohrdra Flowers in her automobile. Two days later…
May 14, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has issued an order that will require electronic submission of all interpreter invoices as well as compensation claims for attorneys representing indigent clients.The Order changes several existing Supreme Court rules effective July 1, 2013, and requires that “all claims…
May 13, 2013
Justices of the Tennessee Supreme Court gathered earlier this month in Johnson City to participate in a special dinner and awards ceremony hosted by Legal Aid of East Tennessee. “Dinner with the Tennessee Supreme Court” was served May 1 at The Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City.
Chief Justice Gary R.…
May 10, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has denied a request by the Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR) to amend Tennessee Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4.In an Order issued May 10, the Court said, in part, that " The current version of RPC 8.4(d) and Comment [3] are virtually identical to the version…
May 9, 2013
In a unanimous opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that a medical malpractice claim brought by a Williamson County couple against a county hospital must be dismissed because it was filed too late.Walton and Phyllis Cunningham brought their son, Phillip, to Williamson Medical…
May 7, 2013
The East Tennessee Women’s Leadership Council has announced that Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee will be the recipient of the Lizzie Crozier French Women’s Leadership Award in recognition of her ongoing dedication to the principles so strongly demonstrated by the award’s namesake.The…
May 3, 2013
In a unanimous opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court today reversed a decision by the Court of Appeals, which had ruled that federal law prevented a claim for the disabling injuries a passenger received when thrown from a shuttle bus in Memphis.In 1998, a concrete truck collided with a bus used to…
April 30, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has sent a dispute between a Memphis law firm and a former partner and paralegal back to the trial court to determine whether arbitration is appropriate.The law firm of Glassman, Edwards, Wyatt, Tuttle & Cox, P.C. filed a lawsuit against B.J. Wade, a former partner,…
April 25, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that the Court of Appeals has the authority to review a Shelby County trial court’s decision to void a $912,160 arbitration award and to require the parties to conduct a second arbitration.William Smythe invested thousands of dollars in certain bond funds…
April 24, 2013
The Tennessee Supreme Court has denied a petition seeking to amend the Rules of Professional Conduct relating to attorney advertising.The Tennessee Association for Justice filed the petition in May of 2012 requesting changes to Supreme Court Rule 8 Sections 7.1 and 7.2In its Order, the Court stated…