News
December 11, 2002
The Tennessee Supreme Court has appointed three members to the state Board of Professional Responsibility which investigates complaints against attorneys and disciplines lawyers who violate professional rules.Mark L. Hayes, a Dyer County attorney, was reappointed by the court for a three year term…
December 19, 2002
Property owners whose trees cause substantial damage to adjoining property may be held financially responsible, the Tennessee Supreme Court said Thursday in a unanimous decision providing a new legal remedy for neighbors harmed by encroaching limbs or roots.The ruling, written by Chief Justice…
December 19, 2002
For the first time, Tennessee has certified foreign language interpreters available to assist court users who speak and understand little or no English.The seven interpreters, certified in Spanish, have passed written and oral examinations and a criminal background check as required by Tennessee…
January 6, 2003
The death sentence Gerald Powers received for killing a Memphis woman in1996 was affirmed Monday in a 3-2 decision by the Tennessee Supreme Court, with justices divided over whether trial testimony by the defendant’s wife should have been allowed.In an opinion written by Justice Janice M. Holder,…
January 7, 2003
Attorneys interested in filling a 23rd Judicial District vacancy being created by the retirement of Circuit Court Judge Allen Wallace must apply by the end of the business day Jan. 23 to be considered, Cornelia Clark, administrative director of the courts, said Tuesday. The district includes…
January 10, 2003
The Tennessee Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Court of Criminal Appeals and Appellate Court Clerk's Office will move into this historic United States Post Office Building in Knoxville. In remarks at an open house, Justice E. Riley Anderson thanked the City of Knoxville, Knox County and others for…
January 31, 2003
The Tennessee Supreme Court has denied a post-conviction appeal filed by Stephen Michael West, who was sentenced to death for the 1986 murders of a Union County mother and daughter.In an order filed Friday, the court without comment turned down the application to appeal. The order leaves in place a…
February 12, 2003
Governor Phil Bredesen today announced that George C. Sexton will fill the vacant seat in the 23rd Judicial District. Sexton Judge Sextonis currently General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge for Stewart County and City Judge for Dover and Cumberland City, Tennessee. He is also in solo private…
March 24, 2003
A federal grant is making it possible for Tennessee to join a growing number of states exploring how to improve access to justice for pro se litigants - those doing business in courts without the assistance of lawyers.The Administrative Office of the Courts applied for the $20,000 State Justice…
April 3, 2002
After a judicial career spanning more than three decades, including 23 years on the appellate bench, Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Ben Cantrell of Nashville will retire effective Sept. 1. The 17-member Judicial Selection Commission will meet in August to conduct a public hearing and interview…
April 3, 2003
High school students from Dyer and Lake counties will participate April 10 in a state Supreme Court program designed to educate young Tennesseans about the judicial branch of government.The 300 students and their teachers from three schools will attend a special Supreme Court session at the Dyer…
May 5, 2003
Attorneys from Chester, Henderson and Madison counties who are interested in filling a 26th Judicial District vacancy, created by the April 27 death of Chancellor Joe C. Morris of Jackson, must apply by the end of the business day May 23 to be considered."Chancellor Morris was a respected and…
May 6, 2003
Judicial system officials in Madison County are assessing storm and tornado damage to appellate and trial court facilities to determine when the buildings can reopen, Cornelia Clark, administrative director of the courts, said Tuesday.“The Supreme Court Building, which houses the appellate courts…
May 7, 2003
Trial and General Sessions courts in Madison County will remain closed through the end of the week due to serious tornado and storm damage to the Criminal Justice Complex in Jackson, Circuit Court Judge Don Allen said Wednesday.“There is no power to the building, there is extensive water damage and…
May 8, 2003
Power provided by a generator made it possible Thursday to reopen the Appellate Court Clerk's Office in the Jackson Supreme Court Building while work continues to clean up and repair extensive damage caused by this week's storms and tornados, Deputy Clerk Susan Turner said. The building, which…
May 9, 2003
The number of certified and registered foreign language court interpreters in Tennessee has reached 53, including nine certified in Spanish, 40 registered in Spanish and four registered in Arabic, Portuguese, Dutch and Bulgarian/Russian. The certified interpreters have passed written and oral…
May 12, 2003
Chattanooga attorney Christopher H. Steger has been appointed assistant examiner to the state Board of Law Examiners, which governs the testing and admission of prospective lawyers in Tennessee. Steger, of the Miller & Martin firm in Nashville, is one of 12 assistant examiners who help write…
May 13, 2003
Senior Judge Allen Wallace of New Johnsonville and retired Circuit Court Judge John Murchison of Jackson are hearing Chancery Court cases in Madison, Chester and Henderson counties - the 26th Judicial District. They will serve until a new judge is appointed to succeed Chancellor Joe Morris of…
May 19, 2003
American Legion Boys State delegates from high schools in all 95 counties will participate May 28 in the SCALES Program, an acronym for the Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students. SCALES, a Tennessee Supreme Court initiative, educates young Tennesseans about the judicial branch of…
May 27, 2003
Six Jackson attorneys have applied to fill a vacant Chancery Court seat in the 26th Judicial District, including Madison, Chester and Henderson counties. Applicants hoping to succeed Chancellor Joe Morris, who died April 27, are Linda Warren Seely, Nathan B. Pride, Michael B. McWherter, James F.…