Court of Criminal Appeals Judge D. Kelly Thomas of Maryville has been elected president of the 178-member Tennessee Judicial Conference (TJC), which includes all state appellate and trial court judges.
Thomas succeeded Chancellor Jeffrey Stewart, of the 12th Judicial District, including Bledsoe, Franklin, Grundy, Marion, Rhea and Sequatchie counties.
“Tennesseans are fortunate to have outstanding judges at every level of the state court system,” Thomas said. “I am tremendously honored to have been chosen by them to serve as president of our conference.
“Not only does the conference offer judges continuing judicial education, but it allows us to share our experiences and ideas for the betterment of the judicial system. In addition, a TJC foundation provides scholarships to outstanding law school students who may, themselves, be judges and members of our conference in the future.”
The new conference president has been a member of the judiciary since 1990. He was Circuit Court judge for the 5th Judicial District until his November 2006 appointment by Gov. Phil Bredesen to the 12-member intermediate appellate court.
Before being elected Circuit Court Judge in 1990, Thomas practiced law in Maryville. Thomas, 55, earned his law degree from The University of Tennessee in 1977 and is an East Tennessee native.
Other new TJC officers are Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner of Knoxville, vice-president; Chancellor Daryl R. Fansler of Knoxville, secretary; Criminal Court Judge E. Shayne Sexton of Jacksboro, treasurer; and Circuit Court Judge William B. Acree, Jr., president-elect.
In addition to the new officers, members of the TJC Executive Committee are Circuit Court Judge Roy Morgan, Jr., of Jackson; Criminal Court Judge James C. Beasley, Jr., of Memphis; Court of Criminal Appeals Judge J.C. McLin of Memphis; Circuit Court Judge Royce Taylor of Murfreesboro; Circuit Court Judge Buddy D. Perry of Winchester; Circuit Court Judge John D. Wootten, Jr., of Lafayette; Chancellor Telford E. Forgety, Jr., of Dandridge; Chancellor Jerri S. Bryant of Athens; and Court of Appeals Judge Sharon G. Lee of Maryville.