News
June 26, 2018
The Supreme Court has overturned the decision of a chancery court, which held that an attorney’s license to practice law should be reinstated.Drayton Beecher Smith, II, a former attorney, agreed to disbarment in conjunction with his 2007 guilty plea to federal charges of receipt and possession of…
June 26, 2018
The Appellate Court Clerk’s new electronic filing system will begin operation on July 9, 2018. A quick link on the Appellate Court Clerk’s webpage will provide access to the new system. “We are happy to announce that the Tennessee appellate courts are joining many other states that have…
June 22, 2018
The Tennessee Supreme Court concluded the state’s waiver of sovereign immunity for claims brought against it under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), a federal law intended to provide job security for veterans, does not apply to cases that arose …
June 18, 2018
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is accepting applications for a Circuit Court judge in the 16th Judicial District, which covers Rutherford and Cannon counties. The position becomes effective Sept. 1, 2018. The court was created by Chapter 974 of the Public Acts of 2018.
Qualified applicants…
June 18, 2018
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is accepting applications for a Circuit Court judge in the 21st Judicial District, which covers Hickman, Lewis, Perry and Williamson Counties. The position becomes effective Sept. 1, 2018. The court was created by Chapter 974 of the Public Acts of 2018.
Qualified…
June 15, 2018
In a unanimous opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that when a party to a divorce case violates a statutory injunction and then dies while the case is pending, a trial court may, after considering the equities of the parties, remedy the violation of the injunction.
Under Tennessee Code…
June 12, 2018
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has launched a second round of grants to help make Tennessee’s courthouses safer.
In accordance with Governor Bill Haslam’s budget, the Tennessee General Assembly has appropriated $2 million in funds for court security grants. Last year, similar grants…
June 8, 2018
Nashville, Tenn. – In a case involving dissenting shareholders forced out of a closely held Nashville corporation, the Tennessee Supreme Court has overruled its prior case law and adopted a standard that allows trial courts to use modern methods to determine the “fair value” of the dissenting…
June 8, 2018
The Tennessee Supreme Court has affirmed the suspension of Knoxville attorney Charles Edward Daniel from the practice of law, but modified the probated three-year suspension to include one year of active suspension.
Mr. Daniel made unauthorized deposits of funds from his law partnership…
June 6, 2018
The Tennessee Supreme Court has unanimously held that after the expiration of the one-year statute of limitations, a plaintiff cannot amend her health care liability suit to substitute a health care provider to which the plaintiff had not given pre-suit notice as required by state law.
The…
June 6, 2018
Two laws recently passed by the Tennessee General Assembly have given the state’s judges new tools to help protect victims of domestic violence.One law, SB1796/HB2033, targets cell phones. Judges can now order wireless telephone service providers to grant domestic violence victims control over…
June 4, 2018
The nation’s opioid epidemic has impacted every courthouse in the country, and judges have diligently been working together to develop innovative solutions involving diversion programs, placement of children left in foster care, model plans for pregnant defendants, and more. Led by Tennessee’…
June 1, 2018
The Tennessee Judiciary was well-represented at the 2018 Conference of Chief Justices/Conference of State Court Administrators Southern Region Civil Justice Summit in Little Rock, Arkansas. Chief Justice Jeff Bivins, Justice Holly Kirby, Judge Deborah C. Stevens, Judge Valerie L. Smith and AOC…
May 30, 2018
Lipscomb University will host the Tennessee Supreme Court this week as part of the American Legion Auxiliary’s Volunteer Girls State program, which provides Tennessee’s high school female leaders the opportunity to experience and learn about civic engagement. On Thursday morning, the…
May 29, 2018
The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an Order soliciting comments on proposed amendments to Rule 13, which governs appointment, qualifications, and compensation of counsel for indigent defendants. The proposed rule changes are a result of a $9.7 million increase in indigent defense spending passed by…
May 21, 2018
The Tennessee Supreme Court is scheduled to hold oral arguments before an accomplished group of Tennessee’s high school students at American Legion Boys State. 2018 marks the eighteenth year of this memorable tradition, both for the students and the justices.The Court session is just one…
May 18, 2018
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Cornelia A. Clark has been named the 2018 recipient of the Tennessee Bar Association’s prestigious Justice Frank F. Drowota III Outstanding Judicial Service Award. The Justice Drowota Award is the TBA’s highest award for service to the judiciary and has been given…
May 16, 2018
Ten years ago, the Tennessee Supreme Court made access to justice its top strategic priority, and over the years one thing has become abundantly clear: improving access to legal services in Tennessee is a collaborative effort. In its first-ever annual report, the Tennessee Supreme Court Access to…
May 15, 2018
The 22-year-old man wanted to find a better job, but like many Tennesseans he had a criminal history that kept him stuck in a rut of unsteady, low-wage positions. To make matters worse, the man owed hefty court fees and costs associated with his past offenses. Under Tennessee law, those debts had…
May 10, 2018
The State Justice Institute (“SJI”) has awarded the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (“AOC”) a Curriculum Adaptation and Training Grant to work with the National Center for State Courts (“NCSC”) to develop and implement a training curriculum to assist in expanding business court…