Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts

Press Releases

Supreme Court Concludes Arena Lawsuit Filed By Elvis Presley Enterprises Against Local Government and Memphis Basketball Not Barred by Res Judicata
February 24, 2021
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that a lawsuit filed by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. against the City of Memphis, Shelby County, and Memphis Basketball involving the construction of a 6,...
Tennessee Supreme Court Determines Warrantless Search of Residence was Unlawful and Orders Dismissal of Convictions
February 23, 2021
In a unanimous opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court held the inevitable discovery rule, an exception to the exclusionary rule that applies when tainted evidence would have been...
Tennessee Supreme Court To Livestream Video Conference Oral Arguments February 24
February 23, 2021
The Tennessee Supreme Court has three cases set for its February 24, 2021 docket. The first case will be heard using livestream video conferencing. It is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. CST at: ...
Jackson, Nashville Supreme Court Buildings Remain Closed Thursday
February 17, 2021
The Jackson Supreme Court Building and the Nashville Supreme Court Building will both remain closed on Thursday, February 18, 2021, due to continued inclement weather.  These closures include...
Jackson, Nashville Supreme Court Buildings To Remain Closed Wednesday, February 17
February 16, 2021
The Jackson Supreme Court Building and the Nashville Supreme Court Building will both remain closed on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, due to continued inclement weather.  These closures include...
July 2021 Bar Exam Will Be Virtual
February 16, 2021
The Tennessee Supreme Court today ordered that the July 2021 bar exam be held as a remote, computer-based test because of continued concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. The February 2021 bar exam is...
Jackson, Nashville Supreme Court Buildings Closed February 16
February 15, 2021
The Jackson Supreme Court Building and the Nashville Supreme Court Building will both be closed on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, due inclement weather conditions.  These closures include the...
Supreme Court Issues Order Expanding In-Person Proceedings
February 12, 2021
The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued an Order that will ease the current restrictions on in-person proceedings starting in March. This is the ninth Order the Court has issued related to the COVID...
Tennessee Supreme Court Reverses Termination of Father’s Parental Rights Based on Insufficient Evidence and Legal Errors
February 5, 2021
Today, the Tennessee Supreme Court, based on legal errors and insufficient evidence, unanimously reversed a Shelby County Chancery Court’s decision to terminate a father’s parental rights and...
Board of Judicial Conduct Enters Into Deferred Discipline Agreement With Stewart County Judicial Officer
February 2, 2021
The Board of Judicial Conduct has entered into a deferred discipline agreement with Stewart County Judicial Commissioner Joyce Tomlinson. Commissioner Tomlinson will resign her position before...
Tennessee Supreme Court Decision Analyzes Pre-Suit Notice Requirements of Health Care Liability Act, Application of Comparative Fault Statute
January 26, 2021
In an opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that Tennessee’s Health Care Liability Act (“HCLA”) requires defendants to provide plaintiffs with written notice when plaintiffs sue...
Tennessee Supreme Court Disciplines Nashville Attorney for Unethical Comments on Facebook
January 22, 2021
In a case it called a “cautionary tale,” the Tennessee Supreme Court held for the first time today that lawyers who make unethical statements may receive harsher discipline if they choose to post the...
Appellate Clerk's Office in Nashville Experiencing Phone Issues
January 19, 2021
The Appellate Court Clerk's office is experiencing intermittent issues with its phone system in Nashville. If you are unable to reach the Clerk's office in Nashville by phone, you can reach the...
Tennessee Supreme Court Extends Limits on In-Person Court Proceedings
January 15, 2021
The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued an Order extending the suspension of most in-person hearings to March 31, 2021. Court clerk offices remain accessible, the Order provides a list of...
Tennessee Supreme Court Upholds Money Laundering Conviction Involving Drug Deal; Evidence Insufficient On a Second Conviction
January 14, 2021
The Tennessee Supreme Court today upheld one conviction of a defendant for money laundering charges stemming from a drug deal.  However, the Court reversed a second conviction, holding that...
Governor Makes Multiple Judicial Appointments
January 12, 2021
Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced appointments to judicial positions across the state.“I am proud to announce the appointment of these highly qualified individuals, and I value the...
Judiciary Mourns Loss of Ellen Abbott
January 12, 2021
The Tennessee Judiciary mourns the loss of Ellen Abbott, who served as the Director of the Office of Criminal Justice Services at the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse...
Tennessee Supreme Court Holds Teacher Who Quit Cannot Claim Wrongful Discharge Under Tenure Act
January 7, 2021
The Tennessee Supreme Court today dismissed the wrongful termination lawsuit of a Williamson County tenured teacher.  The Court held that the teacher cannot claim wrongful discharge under...
Tennessee Supreme Court To Livestream Video Conference Oral Arguments January 6
January 5, 2021
The Tennessee Supreme Court has two cases set for its January 6, 2020 docket. The cases will be heard using livestream video conferencing. Cases will be livestreamed to the TNCourts YouTube page at:...
Tennessee Supreme Court Holds Tennessee Products Liability Act Does Not Impose a Duty to Warn for Products Manufacturer Did Not Make or Sell
January 4, 2021
The Tennessee Supreme Court has determined that, under the language of the Tennessee Products Liability Act, a manufacturer is not liable for injuries resulting from products it did not make or sell....