News
November 11, 2019
The Tennessee legal community is mourning the loss of Coffee County General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge Timothy R. Brock, who passed away unexpectedly on Monday, November 11, 2019 while attending a national judicial training in Nevada. He was 62.Judge Brock was first elected as a…
October 24, 2019
Davidson County General Sessions Court Judge Ana L. Escobar will be celebrated as one of YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee’s 2019 Academy for Women of Achievement honorees at an awards dinner in Nashville.The Academy for Women of Achievement was founded in 1992 and “honors women who, through…
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…
October 1, 2019
History was made at the recent Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference in Chattanooga, as Henry County General Sessions Court Judge Vicki S. Snyder became the first female judge to win the conference’s top honor. In another first, a newly-created award was given to Hamilton County General…
April 23, 2019
Five Middle Tennessee judges were recently nominated for the 2019 ATHENA Leadership Awards, which celebrate women who have excelled professionally and who have demonstrated a commitment to bettering their communities and helping others achieve success.The nominees were announced by two…
April 8, 2019
Gerald Webb II, a former assistant district attorney and criminal defense lawyer, was recently sworn in as the newest judge on the Hamilton County General Sessions Court. He is the first African American judge to hold a countywide judgeship in Hamilton County.Judge Webb was sworn in by Hamilton…
March 1, 2019
General Sessions Court judges from across the state recently gathered for a conference in Murfreesboro where they discussed issues related to the opioid epidemic, the effects of vicarious trauma, updates to case law, and more.In his opening remarks on the first morning of the conference, Tennessee…
October 5, 2018
Natural light poured into the serene, bouquet-adorned foyer of the Weaver Domestic Violence Center on a recent Wednesday morning. With its reception desk, comfy chairs and cushy couches, the vibe was more cozy hotel lobby than domestic violence shelter.But a domestic violence shelter is exactly…
September 26, 2018
The 59th Annual Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference was held recently in Franklin. The TGSJC is a statewide organization consisting of 185 General Sessions Court judges from across the state. Speakers at the event included outgoing TGSJC president Judge Denise Andre, Franklin Mayor Dr. Ken…
July 30, 2018
Incarceration can have a negative impact on the mental health of prisoners dealing with mental illness. Mental Health Court seeks to rehabilitate offenders with mental illness by getting them the treatment they need outside of a prison environment. The Tennessean recently took a look at this unique…
November 16, 2017
The 58th Annual Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference was held this fall in Jackson, Tennessee. Judges from across the state gathered together to hear valuable educational sessions such as Criminal Law Updates and Court Room Security. In addition, a judge was recognized with the Judge…
November 14, 2017
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam today appointed Brooklynn M. Townsend as special judge for the General Sessions Court of Polk County.Townsend’s appointment fills a temporary vacancy due to the disability of Judge Billy D. Baliles.“I appreciate Brooklynn Townsend’s willingness to serve in this…
July 11, 2017
The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) annually hosts the world's largest conference on treatment courts and criminal justice reform. With more than 30 tracks and hundreds of sessions, this conference provides the training needed on critical topics affecting local courts. This…
May 11, 2017
Nine people graduated from Davidson County Veterans Court and were celebrated on Monday, May 8, 2017. General Sessions Judge Melissa Blackburn presided over the ceremony, and also presides over the court. Brigadier General Eden J. Murrie, United States Air Force, (Ret.) gave remarks.Across the…
May 11, 2017
Source: Nashville Bar AssociationWith over 355 people in attendance, the Nashville Bar Association hosted their annual Law Day Luncheon on Friday, May 5, 2017—this year centering around the theme The 14th Amendment: Transforming an American Democracy. Court of Appeals Judge Frank Clement…
April 19, 2017
Several general sessions judges attended the International Conference on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Systems Change.The conference, "focused on sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking, human trafficking and elder abuse." Attendees included "law enforcement personnel,…
February 28, 2017
More than 150 general sessions judges from across Tennessee have gathered in Nashville this week to attend the annual General Sessions Judges Conference.
At the conference, judges are attending workshops and continuing legal education events.
General Sessions Court…
February 7, 2017
On Monday, February 6, 2017, seven individuals graduated from Davidson County Veterans Treatment Court. General Sessions Judge Melissa Blackburn presided over the ceremony, and also presides over the court.Across the United States, Veterans Treatment specialty courts are working to meet…
February 3, 2017
From The Commercial Appeal
Bryan Owens committed his first crime when he was 12. He did it for the love of his life: drugs.
"I was smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol," Owens says. "My birth father got me high when I was 6."
By the time he was an adult, Owens was using…
February 1, 2017
Davidson County Drug Court (now Recovery Court) honored six new graduates today, February 1, 2017.
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Cornelia A. Clark was the keynote speaker, and addressed the audience, noting the achievements of each graduate, the journey to overcome their struggles and their…