News
December 15, 2023
In recognition of Judge Gina C. Higgins’ exemplary service to the Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP), the Memphis Bar Association (MBA) established The Honorable Gina C. Higgins Endowment Fund. The MBA surprised Judge Higgins when it announced the endowment fund at its annual meeting on December…
December 14, 2023
The Board of Judicial Conduct has issued an Order of Interim Suspension of 30th Judicial District Judge Melissa Boyd. Read the suspension here.
December 1, 2023
The Tennessee judiciary is reflecting on the legacy of the late Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who passed away on December 1, 2023, at the age of 93. Justice O’Connor made history in 1981 when she was the first female appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States. Justice O’Connor was also a…
November 21, 2023
It’s the season of Thanksgiving and several families in Tennessee’s first judicial district are feeling thankful, grateful and blessed as the holiday nears. These families adopted 12 children on November 16 inside Chancellor John C. Rambo’s courtroom.
“National Adoption Day holds a special place…
November 13, 2023
The Board of Judicial Conduct issued a Public Reprimand of 20th Judicial District Chancellor Russell T. Perkins. Read the reprimand here.
October 31, 2023
The Board of Judicial Conduct issued a Public Reprimand for Judge A. Melissa Boyd. Read the reprimand here.
October 27, 2023
On October 6, Judge Ashleigh Travis was sworn in as the seventh judge of the 19th Judicial District by Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Jill Bartee Ayers.
In her remarks, Judge Ayers recalled the time she and her colleagues appointed Judge Travis to the position of child support magistrate…
October 16, 2023
Memphis Circuit Court Judge Valerie L. Smith was recently elected by her colleagues across the state to serve as president of the Tennessee Judicial Conference, which is comprised of all state trial and appellate judges. For the first time in the organization’s history, the president’s…
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…
September 29, 2023
After years of planning, grant applications, hiring, and meetings, the 19th Judicial District has launched a Mental Health Court.
“When I started regularly hearing criminal cases here in the 19th, I noticed that certain defendants were cycling through my courtroom,” Judge Kathryn W. Olita said. “A…
September 25, 2023
The Tennessee judiciary is mourning the loss of retired 20th Judicial District Judge Seth Walker Norman, who passed away on September 25 at the age of 89. Judge Norman served as a criminal court judge in Nashville from 1990 until his retirement in 2018. He is often considered the father of the…
August 31, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today in Franklin to consider four candidates for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 21st Judicial District, which includes Williamson County. This vacancy was created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Michael W. Binkley on September 29, 2023.
After…
August 30, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today in Murfreesboro to consider five applicants for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 16th Judicial District, which includes Rutherford and Cannon Counties. This vacancy was created by the upcoming retirement of Judge J. Mark Rogers on September 1, 2023…
August 30, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court has appointed former Judge D. Kelly Thomas as a senior judge. He replaces current Senior Judge Thomas Wright, who is retiring. Judge Thomas’ appointment will begin September 1, 2023 and is for a term of two years.
Judge Thomas has over 30 years of judicial experience,…
August 29, 2023
The Tennessee Supreme Court has appointed former Judge Vanessa Agee Jackson as a senior judge for a term of four years, effective September 1, 2023. Judge Jackson previously was a circuit court judge in the 14th Judicial District, which includes Coffee County, from 2009 to 2022. In that position,…
August 16, 2023
The Board of Judicial Conduct has issued an interim suspension for Hawkins County Juvenile Judge Daniel Boyd.
See the suspension here.
July 26, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider four applicants when it meets on August 31 in Franklin to select nominees for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 21st Judicial District, which includes Williamson County. This vacancy will be created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Michael W.…
July 26, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider five applicants when it meets on August 30 in Murfreesboro to select nominees for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 16th Judicial District, which includes Rutherford and Cannon Counties. This vacancy will be created by the upcoming retirement of…
July 18, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today, July 18, in Crossville to select nominees for a criminal court judge vacancy in the 13th judicial district, which includes Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, and White counties.. The new judicial position was created by the…
July 12, 2023
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today, July 12, in Clarksville to select nominees for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 19th judicial district, which covers Montgomery and Robertson Counties. The new judicial position was created by the Tennessee General Assembly through Public…