News
January 19, 2021
While Tennessee courts have remained open and operational over the entire course of the COVID-19 pandemic, their working methods have in many instances changed to account for greater health and safety precautions.A panel of three judges, one from each of the state’s grand divisions, recently…
October 1, 2020
Arguing a case before an appellate court is often a pinnacle moment in any lawyer’s career. Doing it well takes practice, polish, and some inside knowledge into the workings of the appellate courts.A panel of distinguished Tennessee appellate judges provided some insight recently during a…
September 22, 2020
The family of Judge Richard H. Dinkins of the Tennessee Court of Appeals has released a statement regarding his status following his recent heart surgery. They have asked that it be shared with his colleagues:Thank you so much for asking about our father, Judge Richard Dinkins. While undergoing a…
August 14, 2020
Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Richard Dinkins has been named co-chair and Davidson County General Sessions Court Judge Melissa Blackburn has been named a member of a new Policing Policy Commission created by Nashville Mayor John Cooper.
Mayor Cooper explained the goals of the Commission…
August 3, 2020
Judge Kristi Davis was sworn in today as Tennessee’s newest member of the Court of Appeals. She was appointed to the Court by Governor Bill Lee just over 60 days ago.Judge Davis, who has been a circuit court judge in the Sixth Judicial District in Knoxville since 2014, is the second female judge to…
July 14, 2020
The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals and Tennessee Court of Appeals will both continue live-streaming oral arguments this week. Since June, the intermediate appellate courts have live-streamed more than 50 oral arguments to YouTube. The Court of Criminal Appeals has been holding in-person…
June 2, 2020
The Tennessee Court of Appeals will livestream remote oral arguments on June 3 - 4 through the TNCourts.gov YouTube page. The intermediate appellate court began hearing cases using video conferencing in early May and posted audio from those oral arguments on the tncourts.gov website. This is the…
May 28, 2020
Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the appointment of Judge Kristi M. Davis to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Eastern Grand Division to fill the Honorable Charles D. Susano Jr.’s vacancy.“Kristi Davis has an extensive background in civil cases as both an attorney and judge, and she will…
May 13, 2020
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the appointment of former Court of Appeals Judge Brandon O. Gibson as the next Chief Operating Officer for the State of Tennessee. Gibson replaces Butch Eley as COO following Eley’s appointment as Commissioner of Finance & Administration. Gibson…
April 3, 2020
During his 25-year tenure on the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr. won respect and recognition for his well-written opinions and indomitable spirit. The widespread admiration for Judge Susano among Tennessee’s judicial and legislative leaders was evident at a retirement…
March 19, 2020
Former Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Herschel P. Franks, whose 42 years on the bench constitute one of the longest judicial tenures in state history, passed away March 19 at the age of 89.Judge Franks was first appointed to the 11th Judicial District Chancery Court in 1970. In 1978, he was…
February 26, 2020
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments met yesterday and today to consider 16 applicants for the Court of Appeals vacancy in the Eastern Division. After holding a public hearing and conducting public interviews, the Council selected the following applicants:Jerri S. BryantKristi M.…
February 12, 2020
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments has selected February 25 and February 26 as the meeting dates to interview the 16 candidates who have applied for the Court of Appeals opening in the Eastern Division. The meetings will begin at 10 a.m. EST on February 25 and 8:30 a.m. EST on…
February 4, 2020
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments will consider 16 applicants when it meets to select nominees for the Court of Appeals opening in the Eastern Division created by the retirement of the Honorable Charles D. Susano, Jr., effective April 30, 2020.The applicants are: William T. Ailor,…
January 24, 2020
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is now accepting applications for the Court of Appeals vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Charles D. Susano, Jr., effective April 30, 2020.Any interested applicant must be a licensed attorney who is at least 30 years of age, a…
January 6, 2020
After more than 25 years of service, Tennessee’s longest serving State Appellate Judge, Charles D. Susano Jr., has announced he will retire from the bench effective April 30, 2020. In a letter to Governor Bill Lee, Judge Susano said “It has been the highest honor of my life to have served the…
November 7, 2019
Court of Appeals Judge Richard H. Dinkins recently took to the pages of The Tennessean to advocate for public school teachers. Judge Dinkins argues that an essential step to creating equity in Nashville's public school system is to listen to, support, and respect teachers. You can read Judge…
October 18, 2019
The Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct has named Judge Marshall L. Davidson III as its new disciplinary counsel. Judge Davidson will begin serving as disciplinary counsel on January 1, 2020. He currently is the presiding judge for the Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, a position…
July 24, 2019
Judge Carma Dennis McGee was publicly sworn in as a member of one of Tennessee’s highest courts Friday in Savannah at an investiture. Judge McGee, a former 24th Judicial District chancellor, was appointed to the Court of Appeals by Governor Bill Lee to fill the seat of former Judge Brandon…
June 18, 2019
The Nashville Business Journal recognized Former Court of Appeals Judge Lew Conner with its Best of the Bar Lifetime Achievement award. Former Judge Conner served on the Court of Appeals from 1980-1984 and is a partner at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis LLP.Conner has practiced law for more than…