Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on May 27, 2026, before an accomplished group of rising high school seniors at the Tennessee American Legion Boys State at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville. The event is part of the Court’s SCALES program, which stands for Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students. SCALES is an initiative launched by the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1995 to educate students about the Tennessee legal system and the functions of the judicial branch.
“It is imperative that our young people have the opportunity to see the judicial system in action and up close,” said Chief Justice Jeff Bivins. “We are excited to bring this special session to Tennessee Tech University, where students will be able to observe actual cases argued before the Tennessee Supreme Court.”
The Court session is just one element of the weeklong Boys State program, which is designed to provide rising high school seniors with an immersive experience in state government operations. In addition to learning about the judicial process and studying the cases presented at oral argument, Boys State participants will hear from several elected officials in Tennessee. Student delegates also hold mock elections, conduct legislative sessions, and participate in presentations, assemblies, and recreational programs.
Boys State participants will observe oral arguments in two cases beginning at 9:00 a.m. CDT on May 27, 2026. The arguments will be livestreamed to the TNCourts YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/@TNCourts).
The cases before the Court at Boys State are:
• State of Tennessee v. Brent Paul Moon – In this case, the Tennessee Supreme Court will determine whether a near-three-year delay between issuance of a probation violation warrant and service of the warrant violated the probationer’s constitutional rights. In 2018, Brent Paul Moon pleaded guilty to crimes in Coffee County. He received a three-year sentence, served ninety days in jail, and then was placed on probation. In 2020, a probation violation warrant was issued when authorities learned that Mr. Moon was being charged with crimes in Franklin County. Mr. Moon remained incarcerated in Franklin County until he pleaded guilty in 2023. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Moon was served with the probation violation warrant. Mr. Moon moved to dismiss based on a violation of his right to a speedy trial. The Coffee County Circuit Court denied the motion, finding that Mr. Moon suffered no prejudice from the delay. The Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed. The Tennessee Supreme Court granted Mr. Moon’s application for permission to appeal to consider whether the right to a speedy trial is applicable in a probation revocation proceeding, when any such right would attach, and whether the delay offended due process rights regardless of the applicability of speedy trial rights.
• Shirley Buckley et al. v. Jackson Radiology Associates, P.A. et al. – The Tennessee Supreme Court will consider the appeal of medical providers seeking to reinstate the dismissal of a wrongful death lawsuit against them. Shirley Buckley sued multiple medical providers after her sister passed away, alleging that the defendants had been negligent in their diagnosis and treatment of her sister. Ms. Buckley identified one expert to help her prove her claim. The Madison County Circuit Court established a deadline to complete expert depositions. The deadline passed without Ms. Buckley arranging for her expert to be deposed. Ms. Buckley sought to extend the deadline, but the defendants moved to exclude the expert from testifying. The trial court chose to exclude the expert as a discovery sanction. Because Ms. Buckley had no other experts, the trial court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the case. Upon Ms. Buckley’s appeal, the Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s judgment, concluding that exclusion of Ms. Buckley’s expert was too harsh of a discovery sanction. The Tennessee Supreme Court granted the medical providers’ application for permission to appeal to consider the standards for imposing a discovery sanction that results in dismissal of a lawsuit and whether the trial court made an acceptable choice to exclude Ms. Buckley’s expert.
Media members planning to attend oral arguments should review Supreme Court Rule 30 and reach out to Communications Director Samantha Fisher by email at: samantha.fisher@tncourts.gov.