Tennessee Judiciary
Law & Courts |
State Supreme Courts
511 Union St, Nashville, TN 37219
Recent News About Tennessee Judiciary
View More
-
Judge Stephanie J. Williams was elected on Aug. 1, 2024, to serve as Circuit Court Judge for the 20th Judicial District. She fills the vacancy created by the passing of Judge Philip E. Smith in September 2022. Judge Smith had served as Judge Williams’ longtime mentor and was instrumental in her decision to become a judge.
-
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Mary L. Wagner received a warm welcome to the bench as family, friends, colleagues, elected officials, and the judiciary joined her in Germantown for a ceremonial investiture by Governor Bill Lee.
-
Judge Jennifer Nichols was sworn in as the newest circuit court judge for the 18th Judicial District on August 22 at the Sumner County Courthouse. Her 4-year-old granddaughter, Ann Campbell Boulki, held the Bible during the oath of office.
-
Retired Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Joyce Cassandra Broffitt passed away on August 23, 2024. She was 68 years old.
-
The Tennessee Supreme Court today clarified that an alert from a trained drug-sniffing dog can contribute to law enforcement’s probable cause for a search, despite the dog’s inability to differentiate between illegal marijuana and legal hemp.
-
Fourth Judicial District Circuit Court Judge O. Duane Slone died in a traffic accident on Aug. 25, 2024, in Jefferson County. He was 61 years old.
-
Retired Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Joe D. Duncan passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 20 in Farragut. He was 100 years old.
-
Nashville, Tenn—The Trial Court Vacancy Commission convened in Charlotte, Tennessee to select nominees for a circuit court judge in the 23rd Judicial District, which includes Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, and Stewart counties.
-
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission convened in Sevierville to evaluate eight candidates for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 4th Judicial District, encompassing Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson, and Sevier counties.
-
Nashville, Tenn. - The Tennessee Supreme Court today ruled that when a trial judge misunderstands their role as the "thirteenth juror" in a civil case, appellate courts should remand the case to the trial judge for review instead of mandating a new trial. Under the "thirteenth juror" rule, the trial judge independently reviews evidence and decides whether they agree with the jury's verdict. If there is disagreement, a retrial is required.
-
The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that a defamation and false light lawsuit filed by Bill Charles against Donna McQueen must be dismissed under the Tennessee Public Participation Act (TPPA).
-
The Tennessee Supreme Court today affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of a prisoner’s petition to consider newly discovered evidence, known as an error coram nobis petition. The Supreme Court clarified that if the error coram nobis petition is not filed within one year after the conviction, the trial court may only consider it if the petition presents newly discovered evidence that clearly and convincingly shows the defendant did not commit the crime.
-
The Tennessee Supreme Court upheld the decision of a Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility hearing panel to disbar a Davidson County attorney following three criminal convictions. These convictions stemmed from the attorney’s conduct while representing a client in post-divorce proceedings.
-
Federal Judge Julia Smith Gibbons of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit was recently honored with a portrait unveiling in Memphis. The Memphis Mid-South Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (FBA) presented her portrait to the Thirtieth Judicial District Circuit Court of Tennessee at the Shelby County Courthouse.
-
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission began accepting applications for a chancellor vacancy in the 19th Judicial District, which includes Montgomery and Robertson counties, on May 24, 2024. After the June 11, 2024 deadline, two candidates had applied, leaving the Commission unable to provide the governor with the names of three persons qualified to fill the vacancy in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. § 17-4-308(h).
-
In an opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed a finding of multiple ethical violations by Knoxville attorney Loring Justice and reinstated a three-year suspension imposed by a hearing panel of the Board of Professional Responsibility.
-
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider eight applicants when it meets on July 11, 2024, in Sevierville, Tennessee, to select nominees for a circuit court judge in the 4th Judicial District. This district covers Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson, and Sevier counties.
-
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider eight applicants on July 17, 2024, in Charlotte, Tennessee, to select nominees for a circuit court judge in the 23rd Judicial District. This district includes Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, and Stewart counties.
-
The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear three cases in Nashville, Tennessee, beginning at 9:00 a.m. CDT on May 29, 2024. The details of the cases are as follows:
-
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is currently accepting applications for judicial positions in the 4th, 19th, and 23rd Judicial Districts. The new positions will be effective September 1, 2024. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. CDT.
