News
April 27, 2018
The Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation this session funding three new judge positions in Tennessee. The new positions will be in the state’s 19th Judicial District, which serves Montgomery and Robertson counties; the 16th Judicial District, which includes Rutherford and Cannon counties;…
March 26, 2018
The Fourth Circuit Court for Knox County is the designated Circuit Court in the Sixth Judicial District to hear divorces, orders of protection, and Juvenile Court matters that are appealed to Circuit Court. A large number of the litigants that come before the Court are pro se, particularly in…
March 26, 2018
Over the course of a career, many attorneys will walk into a courtroom through the main door, take a position behind a counsel table, and advocate zealously for their client by raising objections, questioning witnesses, making motions, and submitting evidence. However, the view and role from behind…
March 20, 2018
Judges from across the state gathered at Montgomery Bell State Park in early March for the first Tennessee Judicial Conference of the year. The five-day conference provided judges the opportunity to participate in continuing legal education (CLE) courses related to relevant issues affecting…
February 16, 2018
The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury issued the FY 2016-17 Tennessee Judicial Weighted Caseload Study on February 14. The study estimated a net deficit of 9.76 judges across the state based on the FY 2017 data. In the map right, the counties in red show a deficit while the counties…
February 15, 2018
Day Reporting Centers, in conjunction with Community Resource Centers, are taking a new approach to rehabilitating convicted offenders within Tennessee by offering established programs that aim to provide necessary skills and resources for participants. These extensive and thorough programs allow…
February 14, 2018
An electrical fire that broke out in September at the Bradley County Courthouse has forced the county offices to conduct business in temporary locations. The Cleveland Fire Department received the emergency call on Saturday morning, September 30th at 9 a.m., when citizens reported seeing smoke…
February 5, 2018
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today appointed James L. Gass of Dandridge as Circuit Court Judge in the 4th Judicial District, filling a temporary appointment that had been made last October. On October 18, Haslam appointed Gass as special judge to fill a temporary vacancy due to the illness of Judge…
January 24, 2018
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam announced he has appointed a steering committee of leaders from federal, state and local governments, industry, academia, environmental advocacy groups and public utilities to develop a statewide plan for future water availability in Tennessee. The plan, TN H2O, will…
January 10, 2018
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today appointed Jennifer S. Nichols of Memphis as Criminal Court Judge for the 30th Judicial District, which serves Shelby County.Nichols, 55, replaces Judge James C. Beasley, Jr., who retired effective December 31.Nichols has been Deputy District Attorney General in…
December 22, 2017
The Tennessee Supreme Court is continuing its highly successful business court docket pilot project as it seeks to provide all Tennessee businesses and citizens across the state with a specialized business court docket, it announced today in a Supreme Court Order. The Order follows recommendations…
December 12, 2017
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam appointed M. Wyatt Burk of Shelbyville as Circuit Court Judge for the 17th Judicial District. He replaces Judge Lee Russell, who has retired. The 17th Judicial District includes Bedford, Lincoln, Marshall and Moore counties.Burk, 35, has practiced with Bobo, Hunt,…
December 11, 2017
Governor Bill Haslam today appointed Kyle E. Hedrick of Chattanooga as Circuit Court Judge for the 11th Judicial District. He replaces Judge W. Neil Thomas III, who has retired. The 11th Judicial District serves Hamilton County. Hedrick and attorney Glenna Ramer have practiced together…
December 5, 2017
Richard R. “Dick” Vance, a circuit court judge in the Fourth Judicial District, passed away on Sunday, December 3, 2017. He was 76. Judge Vance was appointed by former Governor Don Sundquist in 1997. He was re-elected in 1998, 2006, and 2014.Judge Vance was born in Knoxville, earned his bachelor’s…
November 21, 2017
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam today appointed Barry Ross Tidwell of Murfreesboro as Circuit Court Judge in the 16th Judicial District, which includes Rutherford and Cannon counties.Tidwell’s appointment follows the death of Judge M. Keith Siskin in July.Tidwell, 47, has served as Rutherford County…
November 20, 2017
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam today appointed Angelita Blackshear Dalton of Nashville as Criminal Court Judge for the 20th Judicial District, replacing retiring Judge J. Randall Wyatt.Dalton, 46, has served as Davidson County General Sessions Court Judge for Division III since 2006. In that role…
November 6, 2017
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met November 6, 2017 in Memphis to consider four applicants for the Criminal Court vacancy in the 30th Judicial District – Shelby County. The vacancy was created by The Honorable James C. Beasley, Jr. who informed the Governor that he will retire effective…
October 30, 2017
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam appointed Carter S. Moore of Cosby as Circuit Court Judge for the 4th Judicial District, which serves Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties.Moore replaces retiring Judge Ben W. Hooper II. Moore, 35, has been self-employed as an attorney in Cocke County…
October 18, 2017
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today appointed James L. Gass of Dandridge as special judge for Circuit Court in the 4th Judicial District.Gass’s appointment fills the temporary vacancy due to the recent illness of Circuit Court Judge Richard R. Vance. The 4th Judicial District serves Jefferson,…
October 16, 2017
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider four applicants when it meets on Monday, November 6, 2017 in Memphis to select nominees for the Criminal Court vacancy in the 30th Judicial District – Shelby County. The vacancy was created by The Honorable James C. Beasley, Jr. who informed the…