News
October 27, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court and the Access to Justice Commission recently celebrated attorneys who performed more than 50 hours of pro bono services over the course of a year.
“Tennessee's always been the volunteer state and the lawyers live up to that motto,” John Farringer, chair of…
October 17, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court held today that a property owner using his home as a short-term rental did not violate homeowner association restrictions requiring that homes be used for "residential and no other purposes." However, the Court also held that the property owner’s short-term rentals…
October 6, 2023
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee formally swore in Justice Holly Kirby as the Supreme Court’s newest Chief Justice on October 4. Joined by her family, colleagues, and friends, Justice Kirby took the oath of office as Chief Justice in the Historic Supreme Court Chambers in the Tennessee State Capitol.…
October 3, 2023
Across the state of Tennessee, many judges are struggling to effectively administer justice in their courtrooms. The state must rely on court-appointed attorneys to provide mandatory legal counsel, but the pool of available attorneys has shrunk considerably.
“Every day we hear from judges who…
October 3, 2023
Nashville, Tenn. The Tennessee Supreme Court has six cases set for its October 4, 2023 docket. The first two cases will be heard in Nashville, Tennessee, beginning at 10:00 a.m., CDT. The next two cases will be heard beginning at 1:30 p.m., CDT. The remaining two cases case will be…
October 2, 2023
Governor Bill Lee will formally swear in Justice Holly Kirby as the Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court on Wednesday, October 4 at 9 a.m. in the Historic Supreme Court Chambers in the Tennessee State Capitol.
Chief Justice Kirby was unanimously elected by the Court for a two-year term,…
September 29, 2023
In a lawsuit against a Davidson County physician, the Tennessee Supreme Court today upheld the trial court’s pre-trial ruling prohibiting the defendant doctor from using evidence that another physician, who was not in the lawsuit, caused the plaintiff’s injuries, because the defendant doctor did…
September 29, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court today held that the 2017 amendment to the probation eligibility statute, Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-303, prohibits defendants who are convicted of vehicular homicide by intoxication from receiving any form of probation.
In August 2020, Ebony Robinson struck…
September 28, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court today reversed a decision of the Court of Appeals that had allowed a lawsuit against an Alabama homebuilder for alleged construction defects in a house built in Alabama to proceed in Tennessee. At issue in the case was the concept of personal jurisdiction, which…
September 28, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court today ruled that the economic loss doctrine applies only to products liability cases and should not be expanded. The doctrine generally prevents a contracting party who suffers only economic losses from recovering additional damages under tort law principles. Because it…
September 22, 2023
Several members of the Tennessee judicial branch recently attended the Court Technology Conference sponsored by the National Center for State Courts. The conference covered the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, access to justice, data management, cybersecurity, and continuity of…
September 8, 2023
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Dwight E. Tarwater received a warm welcome to the bench this week when family, friends, colleagues, elected officials, and the judiciary joined him in Knoxville for his ceremonial investiture by Governor Bill Lee.
Justice Tarwater was confirmed as a Supreme Court…
September 1, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court has two cases set for its September 6, 2023, docket. The first case will be heard in Knoxville beginning at 9 a.m. EDT. The second case will be submitted on briefs. The first case will be livestreamed to the TNCourts YouTube page at: www.youtube.com/@TNCourts/…
August 31, 2023
The Supreme Court has elected Justice Holly Kirby to be the next Chief Justice of the Court. Justice Kirby was unanimously elected by the Court for a two-year term, effective September 1, 2023. She becomes only the fourth woman to serve as the Court’s Chief Justice.
Justice Kirby was…
August 31, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court today rejected a Memphis nursing home’s argument that the trial court could not consider whether a resident with Down syndrome was competent to authorize his brother to act as his agent. The nursing home sought to enforce an arbitration agreement signed on the…
August 31, 2023
Tennessee Access to Justice leaders have established the Justice Frank F. Drowota Trust to provide supplemental funds to direct providers of legal services to Tennessee’s low-income citizens. The Trust was announced at the August 31, 2023, Equal Justice University luncheon sponsored by Tennessee…
August 28, 2023
Hero. Down to earth. Humble. Trailblazer. Encourager. Courageous. Friend.
Those were some of the words used to describe Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee at her portrait unveiling at the Knoxville Supreme Court Building on August 24. The event, sponsored by the Knoxville Bar…
August 24, 2023
The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts will livestream the portrait unveiling and retirement celebration of Justice Sharon G. Lee on August 24 at 3 p.m. EDT/2 p.m. CDT from the Knoxville Supreme Court Building. Justice Lee is set to retire on August 31. She has served as a Tennessee…
July 20, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court issued opinions today in two cases asserting claims under the Health Care Liability Act. In both opinions, the Court held that the plaintiffs could proceed with their vicarious liability claims against the defendant hospitals, which were timely filed, even though the…
July 14, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court today held that the criminal gang-enhancement statute, Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-121, is worded broadly and does not require the State to specify in the indictment a criminal defendant’s gang subset. The statute also does not require the indictment to set…