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Judge C. Anthony Johnson
January 2, 2009

C. ANthony Johnson (Tony), judge of the 30th Judicial District General Sessions Criminal Court, passed away on January 2, 2009 at the age of 61.

30th Judicial District General Sessions Criminal Court Judge C. Anthony "Tony" Johnson passed away on January 2, 2009, at the age of 61. Judge Johnson was first appointed to the Memphis Municipal Court in 1976. He moved to general sessions court in 1982. Judge Johnson was a graduate of Father Bertrand High School, Fisk University in Nashville and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville College of Law. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to LeMoyne-Owen College 901-774-9090, Stax Music Academy 901- 942-7627, or Jefferson Mortuary 901-872-8800.

Visitation for Judge Johnson will be held on Friday, January 9, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. Funeral services will begin at 12:00 p.m. Both will be held at Mississippi Boulevard Chrisitian Church, 70 N. Bellevue Blvd., Memphis, TN. Information provided by the Jefferson Morturary (901-872-8800).

Click here to read obituary in its entirety.


Judge Rita Stotts
January 2, 2009

Judge Rita Stotts passed away on January 2, 2009.

30th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Rita Stotts passed away on January 2, 2009, at the age of 55. A graduate of Christian Brothers University and Vanderbilt University Law School, Judge Stotts served as assistant divorce referee, assistant county attorney and as an assistant professor of law at Memphis State University during her legal career before being appointed to the Circuit Court in the 30th Judicial District on May 23, 2000. Funeral arrangements are as follows:

Visitation hours are from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, January 9th instead of 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Graveside services will be Saturday, January 10th at 10:00 a.m. at Bell Grove Cemetery in Oakland, TN. For those wishing to attend, please arrive promptly at 8:00 a.m. at the home of Judge Stotts, 1777 S. Parkway, Memphis, TN 38114. Processional will leave for the cemetery at 8:30 a.m. sharp. The memorial service will begin at noon, immediately following the conclusion of the grave side service, at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sisters Network, Inc., A National African-American Breast Cancer Survivorship Organization, 8787 Woodway Drive, Suite 4206, Houston, TX 77083 (713) 781-0255.

Click here to read obituary in its entirety.

 


NOTICE OF JUDICIAL SELECTION

Criminal Court
15th Judicial District
Jackson, Macon, Smith, Trousdale, & Wilson Counties
(PLEASE NOTE CHANGES)

Pursuant to the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 17-4-101 et seq., notice is hereby given that the Judicial Selection Commission will meet on Tuesday, February 10, 2009, in Lebanon, Tennessee to initiate the process of filling the vacancy in the 15th Judicial District Criminal Court created by the death of Judge James O. Bond.

Any member of the public, both lay and attorney, shall be entitled to attend the public hearing to express, orally or in writing, suggestions of possible nominees and/or such citizen's approval of or objections to any suggested nominee for the judicial vacancy. Any licensed attorney may appear and make a statement, oral or written, in support of such attorney's own nomination.

All interested candidates should submit a completed Applicant Questionnaire and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) background application to the Commission for its consideration. Both applications are available on our website at: http://www.tncourts.gov/. Applicant Questionnaires and TBI background applications should be submitted to the Administrative Office of the Courts, Suite 600, Nashville City Center, 511 Union Street, Nashville, TN 37219, by no later than Wednesday, January 21, 2009, however, the Commission encourages all candidates to submit applications as early as possible. Fingerprinting also will be a requirement of each candidate. Dates, times and location for fingerprinting will be announced at a later date.

Each candidate must submit the original (unbound) and nineteen (19) copies (stapled or bound and printed on front and back) of the Applicant Questionnaire in order to have his/her name placed on the list of candidates for the judgeship vacancy for which he/she is applying. Please submit only the original background application. No copies are needed of this document.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is now requiring applicants to submit a sealed official transcript from the college(s) attended. The transcript must mailed directly from the college(s) to Lori Long, Administrative Secretary, Criminal Intelligence Unit, TBI, 901 R.S. Gass Blvd, Nashville, TN 37216. This information is due prior to the application deadline date.

Applicants must adhere to the requests of the commission. Failure to comply with these instructions will result in disqualification.

The commission will consider a TBI background check on each applicant which includes, among other sources of information, an Equifax credit report. If there is negative information in that report, it will be considered by the commission and may be discussed with the applicant in the interview process. Applicants are well advised to obtain and review a copy of their Equifax credit report prior to applying.

The Commission is committed to the goal of a diverse judiciary and encourages all qualified attorneys to apply for any judicial vacancy for consideration without regard to race, ethnicity or gender.

If you require an accommodation and/or have special needs because of a qualified disability, have questions, or need additional information, please contact Sarah Bradley or Libby Sykes at the Administrative Office of the Courts at (615) 741-2687.

This the 5th day of January, 2009.


NOTICE OF JUDICIAL SELECTION

Circuit Court
20th Judicial District
Davidson County
(PLEASE NOTE CHANGES)

Pursuant to the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 17-4-101 et seq., notice is hereby given that the Judicial Selection Commission will meet on Monday, February 9, 2009, in Nashville, Tennessee to initiate the process of filling the vacancy in the 20th Judicial District Circuit Court created by the retirement of Judge Muriel Robinson.

Any member of the public, both lay and attorney, shall be entitled to attend the public hearing to express, orally or in writing, suggestions of possible nominees and/or such citizen's approval of or objections to any suggested nominee for the judicial vacancy. Any licensed attorney may appear and make a statement, oral or written, in support of such attorney's own nomination.

All interested candidates should submit a completed Applicant Questionnaire and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) background application to the Commission for its consideration. Both applications are available on our website at: http://www.tncourts.gov/. Applicant Questionnaires and TBI background applications should be submitted to the Administrative Office of the Courts, Suite 600, Nashville City Center, 511 Union Street, Nashville, TN 37219, by no later than Tuesday, January 13, 2009, however, the Commission encourages all candidates to submit applications as early as possible. Fingerprinting also will be a requirement of each candidate. Dates, times and location for fingerprinting will be announced at a later date.

Each candidate must submit the original (unbound) and nineteen (19) copies (stapled or bound and printed on front and back) of the Applicant Questionnaire in order to have his/her name placed on the list of candidates for the judgeship vacancy for which he/she is applying. Please submit only the original background application. No copies are needed of this document.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is now requiring applicants to request a sealed official transcript from all colleges attended be sent directly from the college to TBI to the following recipient:. Lori Long, Administrative Secretary, Criminal Intelligence Unit, TBI, 901 R.S. Gass Blvd, Nashville, TN 37216. This information is due prior to the application deadline date.

Applicants must adhere to the requests of the commission. Failure to comply with these instructions will result in disqualification.

The commission will consider a TBI background check on each applicant which includes, among other sources of information, an Equifax credit report. If there is negative information in that report, it will be considered by the commission and may be discussed with the applicant in the interview process. Applicants are well advised to obtain and review a copy of their Equifax credit report prior to applying.

The Commission is committed to the goal of a diverse judiciary and encourages all qualified attorneys to apply for any judicial vacancy for consideration without regard to race, ethnicity or gender.

If you require an accommodation and/or have special needs because of a qualified disability, have questions, or need additional information, please contact Sarah Bradley or Libby Sykes at the Administrative Office of the Courts at (615) 741-2687.

This the 12th day of December 2008.


Chief Justice Outlines Supreme Court Access to Justice Initiative

Remarks by Chief Justice Janice M. Holder
Supreme Court of Tennessee
Dec. 5, 2008

As many of you already know, the Supreme Court of Tennessee has designated access to justice as a strategic priority this year and in the years to come. On behalf of the Supreme Court, I thank you for joining us today. We are here to explain why we are committed to the challenge of providing access to justice to all of Tennesseans and to begin outlining the direction our commitment will take us.

I will not repeat all of the statistics in the handout you have before you. But it is no exaggeration to say that low-income Tennesseans have little hope of legal assistance when they encounter civil legal problems. Only one in five income-eligible people will receive the legal help they need. We have 75 very dedicated legal aid attorneys in Tennessee, but they simply are not able to assist all of the many low-income Tennesseans who encounter legal problems on a daily basis.

Click here to read Chief Justice Holder's complete remarks .

Click here for a video of Chief Justice Holder's remarks. (A new browser window will open)

For more information about Access To Justice, contact Rebecca Rhodes, Access to Justice coordinator, at (800) 448-7970, (615) 741-2687 or by email at Rebecca.Rhodes@tncourts.gov


NOTICE OF JUDICIAL SELECTION

Court of Appeals
Eastern Division

The Tennessee Judicial Selection Commission met Nov. 18 in Knoxville and submitted the following three names to Gov. Phil Bredesen for his consideration to fill a vacancy on the Tennessee Court of Appeals created by the appointment of Judge Sharon G. Lee to the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Sharon Dawn Coppock
Attorney
Strawberry Plains, TN

John Westley McClarty
Attorney
Chattanooga, TN

Sarah Y. Sheppeard
Attorney, Sheppeard, Swanson & Mynatt, PLC
Knoxville, TN

This the 18th day of November, 2008.


The Tennessee Court System provides this site as a public service, offering convenient public access to court reports, court information, and employment opportunities in the court system, as well as Tennessee Appellate Court opinions. Information posted on this site is believed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed.


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Today's Opinions


Annual Disclosure Forms

Pursuant to Canon 4(H) of Rule 10 of the Rules of the Tennessee Supreme Court, judges are required to file a public report of compensation form for extra-judicial compensation received. As you will note, the date, place and nature of any extra-judicial activity for which you receive compensation, the name of the payor and the amount of compensation received should be reported at least annually and filed as a public document in the Office of the Clerk of the Court which you serve. If should also be filed with the Administrative Office of the Courts. If you serve in more than one county, you should file in each county. You may attach additional sheets if necessary. We request that the reports be returned to us by January 31, 2009.

If no compensation was received for extra-judicial activities, please write “none” and return your report to our office. This will verify reports have been made and are on file. We do periodically receive public and media requests for production of these reports.

Rule 10, Canon 5 provides that retired, pro tempore, and continuing part time judges (including senior judges) are not required to file a report.

Public Report of Compensation for Judges.

Reports are due by January 31, 2009. Unfiled reports are subject to fines up to $10,000.

2008 Disclosure of Interests form for State and Local Office Holders, Candidates and Appointees to Such Positions, Non-General Assembly Members, and others.


Public Calendar

Listing of public meetings and comment deadlines. Click on the listing for more information.

Meetings

January 16
Court Improvement Program Work Group - Law Committee

January 21
Supreme Court Public Meeting on Access to Justice Issues

January 27
Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission

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Public Comments Schedule
The Supreme Court often solicits comments from the bench, the bar and the public on proposed changes to the TSC Rules of Court. Below are deadline dates for comments to specific rules change proposals, along with links to the proposals themselves and current comments.

Rule
Comment Deadline
Rule 8, RPC 5.5, 6.1, 6.5 (Pro bono service rules)
Jan. 16, 2009
Rule 21, §4.07(c) (Credit for Pro bono)
Feb. 9, 2009
Rule 8, RPC 1.5 & Rule 43 (IOLTA)
Feb. 20, 2009
Rule 7, §7.01 (Foreign law school graduates)
March 2, 2009
Rule 31 §2(b), 17, 17(h) & (i) (ADR Commission - Misc. amendments)
March 2, 2009
Rule 7 §10.03 (Clinical programs)
March 2, 2009
Rule 7 §10.01 (Registration in-house counsel)
March 9, 2009
Rule 7 §10.05 (Conditional Admission)
March 9, 2009
Rule 8, RPC 5.5 & 8.5, and Rule 9 §32 (Multi-jurisdictional practice)
March 9, 2009

Listings of current and prior rules changes and amendments for the Appellate Courts can be found here.


Annual Report of the Tennessee Judiciary

2007-2008 Statistical Report


NOTICE OF TENNESSEE COURT INTERPRETER
CREDENTIALING PROGRAM RATING
PROPOSALS FOR SPANISH ORAL EXAMINATION

Please Note Corrected Submission date

The Administrative Office of the Courts seeks rating proposals for the 2009 Spanish Oral Examination for the Court Interpreter Credentialing Program. Submission deadline: January 9, 2009.

Click here for further details.


Criminal Justice Handbook Now Available

Click here for information on the book/CD-ROM prices, available discounts and shipping costs.

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Judicial Application Information


Court of the Judiciary

The Court of the Judiciary was created by the legislature to investigate and, when warranted, act on complaints against judges. Members are appointed by multiple appointing authorities, including the Supreme Court. The appellate court clerk serves as clerk to the Court of the Judiciary.


ORDER:
AMENDMENT TO RULE 9 OF THE RULES OF
THE SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE

In order to provide the Board of Professional Responsibility with funds sufficient to fulfill its ongoing duties, it is necessary to increase the annual registration fee Tennessee attorneys pay, effective January 1, 2009. Accordingly, Rule 9 is hereby amended by deleting in its entirety the third paragraph of section 20.1 and substituting instead the following:

The annual registration fee for each attorney shall be $140 payable on January 2, 2009, but no later than March 1, 2009, and a like sum each year thereafter until otherwise ordered by the Court.

It so ORDERED.

FOR THE COURT:
JANICE M. HOLDER, CHIEF JUSTICE

See copy of the order here.


AOC JURY SUMMONS FORM

Pursuant to Public Chapter 1159, jury coordinators must include certain information in the jury summons for each juror who serves on or after January 1, 2009. The legislation also required the Administrative Office of the Courts to develop a form, which you can find here. Jury coordinators are not required to use the AOC's form, but each summons must include the information the legislature set out in Tennessee Code Annotated section 22-2-306, as it appears in Public Chapter 1159. Jury coordinators or judges who have questions should contact Deputy General Counsel Karen Yacuzzo at Karen.Yacuzzo@tncourts.gov or (615) 741-2687, ext. 160.


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