News
March 23, 2020
The Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) is open and ready to assist attorneys who may be facing extra stress and pressure because of the coronavirus outbreak and related closures. TLAP is a free, confidential assistance program providing consultation, referral, intervention, and crisis…
March 19, 2020
Former Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Herschel P. Franks, whose 42 years on the bench constitute one of the longest judicial tenures in state history, passed away March 19 at the age of 89.Judge Franks was first appointed to the 11th Judicial District Chancery Court in 1970. In 1978, he was…
March 18, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that Shelby County firefighter Paul Zachary Moss received sufficient notice of the reasons for his termination to satisfy constitutional due process requirements.While off duty from his job as a firefighter, Moss went to a political rally after consuming…
March 13, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued an Order stating all Tennessee courts will remain open during the coronavirus outbreak, but suspending all in-person judicial proceedings through March 31, 2020. Chief Justice…
March 11, 2020
Longtime Memphis attorney and Access to Justice advocate George T. “Buck” Lewis III was honored recently in Nashville with a special certificate of recognition from the Tennessee Supreme Court. Chief Justice Jeff Bivins, Justice Connie Clark, and Justice Holly Kirby all spoke at a special ceremony…
March 10, 2020
Twelfth Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Justin Angel was recently featured on one of the nation’s most popular podcasts to talk about his involvement in the case of Adam Braseel, a Grundy County man released from prison in 2019 after serving 12 years for a murder he swears he did not commit…
March 4, 2020
The primary elections held on March 3 included a number of judicial races. In many instances these races involve judges who had been appointed to the bench following a judge’s retirement, illness, or death.The winners of these primaries will go on to appear on their respective county general…
March 3, 2020
The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts and Nashville Supreme Court building are closed Tuesday, March 3 because of the tornado in Nashville. The Court of Appeals oral arguments planned for today will be rescheduled. All state offices in Davidson, Wilson, Putnam, Carroll, Benson, Fentress…
February 28, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of a healthcare liability statute after removing a phrase from the provision that the Court considered unconstitutional as violating the separation of powers clause of the Tennessee Constitution because the phrases removed all discretion from…
February 28, 2020
This is Part Two of a story about the history, legacy, and continued impact of Tennessee's historically African American bar associations. You can read Part One here.Thirtieth Judicial District Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins is one of those who credits the Ben F. Jones…
February 27, 2020
This is Part One of a story about the history, legacy, and continued impact of Tennessee's historically African American bar associations. You can read Part Two here.
For nearly 90 years now, Tennessee’s historically African American bar associations have been working…
February 26, 2020
In an opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court answered three certified questions from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, holding that Tennessee’s statutory cap on noneconomic damages in civil cases does not violate the Tennessee Constitution. …
February 26, 2020
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments met yesterday and today to consider 16 applicants for the Court of Appeals vacancy in the Eastern Division. After holding a public hearing and conducting public interviews, the Council selected the following applicants:…
February 26, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission has released its annual report detailing the pro bono legal service reported by attorneys, bar associations, law firms, law schools, legal service providers, mediators, and other organizations. Pro bono is a Latin term meaning “for the…
February 25, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court today affirmed the convictions of Alexander Vance despite the trial court’s error in admitting testimony at trial regarding a non-testifying co-defendant.Mr. Vance and another co-defendant, Damonta Meneese, were tried jointly for the murder of Stephen Milliken. A…
February 24, 2020
The three current female justices of the Tennessee Supreme Court —Justice Cornelia Clark, Justice Sharon G. Lee, and Justice Holly Kirby—were joined on stage with the three former female justices—Judge Martha Craig Daughtrey, Former Justice Penny White, and Former Chief Justice Janice Holder— for…
February 24, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued execution dates for Bryon Lewis Black and Pervis T. Payne. Mr. Black's execution is set for October 8, 2020 and Mr. Pervis's execution date is set for December 3, 2020.Mr. Black was convicted of the 1988 murders of Angela Clay, and her daughters Latoya Clay…
February 19, 2020
The Tennessee Supreme Court has clarified that the language of Tennessee’s burglary statute allows its application to a criminal defendant who enters a retail store from which the defendant has been previously banned and commits a theft.The defendant, Abbie Leann Welch, was indicted for misdemeanor…
February 14, 2020
The Supreme Court held today that the Board of Professional Responsibility failed to prove that an attorney, James S. MacDonald, violated any Rules of Professional Conduct, resulting in the dismissal of the disciplinary allegations against him.This disciplinary matter arose out of Mr. MacDonald’s…
February 13, 2020
A sense of hard-earned joy coursed through a Rutherford County courtroom earlier this month at the scene of a unique adoption hearing.Friends and family who a dozen years before had been united in grief following the senseless murder of Melissa Atkin, were united once more, but this time in…