News
January 8, 2004
As one Tennessee judge prepares to hang up his black robe and don a military uniform, another is heading home to Cocke County after a year of active duty, including nearly four months in Mosul, Iraq, helping local officials create a judicial system.Circuit Court Judge Craig Johnson of Coffee County…
January 9, 2004
Governor Phil Bredesen extended the temporary reprieve in the execution of Philip Workman today. The decision to grant this extension was made after consultation with Tennessee Attorney General Paul Summers.The reprieve, originally set to expire on January 15, has been extended for three months as…
January 21, 2004
The Tennessee Supreme Court has rejected jury-related issues raised by Tony Carruthers in an appeal of his three convictions and death sentences for the 1994 murders of a Memphis woman, her son and another man who were buried alive in a cemetery.Carruthers' petition to appeal was denied Tuesday…
January 29, 2004
The public will have an opportunity Feb. 12 to its views on 13 attorneys who have applied to fill a 30th Judicial District vacancy created by the retirement of Circuit Court Judge Robert Lanier, who retired in December after serving 21 years.The state Judicial Selection Commission will conduct a…
February 2, 2004
Disasters with the potential to disrupt - or even shut down - court systems can be as diverse and unpredictable as tornados or unanticipated high-profile cases, such as the 2000 election dispute in Florida, Criminal Court Judge Lillie Ann Sells said.Judge Sells led a local delegation invited to…
February 10, 2004
Prosecutors, public defenders, the Tennessee Bar Association and foreign language interpreters are among groups participating Wednesday when the Tennessee Supreme Court hears arguments concerning proposed changes in a rule governing state-paid indigent defense.The court, which normally limits oral…
February 12, 2004
Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Cheryl Blackburn has been awarded a State Justice Institute (SJI) scholarship to attend a tw0 week course in General Jurisdiction at the National Judicial College in Nevada.SJI Executive Director David Tevelin said the award will cover tuition, transportation…
March 11, 2004
Circuit Court Judge Larry B. Stanley of the 31 st Judicial District, including Van Buren and Warren counties, will serve as a special judge on a workers compensation panel at the request of Supreme Court Justice Janice Holder."I am looking forward to this opportunity to serve with Justice Holder…
March 12, 2004
Tennessee Appellate Court Clerk Mike Catalano has qualified to compete April 19 in the 107 th annual Boston Marathon, the oldest and most prestigious 26.2 mile road race.To be eligible, participants must run qualifying times, based on their ages, at certified marathons. The number of participants…
March 16, 2004
Students from three public and private high schools in Dickson County will hear arguments in two actual Supreme Court cases as participants in a program designed to educate young Tennesseans about the judicial branch of government.The 223 students and their teachers will attend a special Supreme…
April 2, 2004
Circuit Court Judge J.S. “Steve” Daniel of Murfreesboro will step down from the 16 th Judicial District position he has held for 24 years to take senior judge status effective Sept. 1. Retired Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Jerry Scott also has been granted senior judge status effective July 1 and…
May 3, 2004
The state Judicial Selection Commission will meet May 16 in Knoxville to conduct a public hearing and interviews with applicants for a state Court of Appeals vacancy created by the April 2 death of Judge Houston Goddard.The public hearing will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Ballroom, Salons A & B,…
May 4, 2004
Students from four local high schools will participate May 6 in a state Supreme Court program designed to educate young Tennesseans about the judicial branch of government.The 420 students and their teachers will attend a special Supreme Court session at the Blount County Justice Center where…
May 5, 2004
Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Joe Riley will end a 25-year career as a member of the state judiciary July 15 to take on a new role as chief disciplinary counsel for the Court of the Judiciary.Riley, of Lake County, will investigate complaints of judicial misconduct filed against…
May 7, 2004
Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Monte D. Watkins was the recipient of a scholarship from the National Judicial College in Nevada to attend a week-long course in General Jurisdiction with judges from across the country.The jurists shared ideas on courtroom and case management, including cases…
May 21, 2004
In a 4-1 decision, the Tennessee Supreme Court has reversed a Court of Criminal Appeals opinion and ordered a new sentencing hearing for Richard Odom, convicted of the 1991 rape and murder of a Memphis woman, Mina Ethyl Johnson.The majority opinion, written by Justice E. Riley Anderson, said the…
May 24, 2004
American Legion Boys State delegates from high schools in all 95 counties will participate June 2 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…
June 2, 2004
Nashville – Governor Phil Bredesen today announced that Monroe County native Sharon Gail Lee will fill a position on the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Eastern Section. Judge Lee“Sharon Lee brings tremendous experience in both the trial and appellate courts to her appointment on the Tennessee Court of…
June 17, 2004
NASHVILLE — Governor Phil Bredesen today named Mark Gwyn as the new director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.Gwyn, who currently serves as assistant director in charge of the TBI’s Forensic Services Division, will become the eighth director in the Bureau’s 53-year history. He succeeds…
June 21, 2004
Circuit Court Judge John McLellan, III, of Kingsport has assumed the top leadership role in the Tennessee Judicial Conference, which includes all of the state’s 185 trial, senior and appellate judges. He accepted the president’s gavel at the TJC Spring conference in Nashville, succeeding Circuit…