Circuit Court
14th Judicial District
Coffee County
Pursuant to the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 17-4-101 et seq., notice is hereby given that the Judicial Selection Commission will soon meet to initiate the process of filling the vacancy in the 14th Judicial District Circuit Court created by the death of Judge John Wiley Rollins.
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 Thursday, February 26, 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 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 29th day of January 2009.
The Honorable John Wiley Rollins, Circuit Court Judge in the 14th Judicial District of Tennessee, died January 24, 2009 following an extended illness. Judge Rollins was elected Circuit Court Judge for Coffee County in 1990 after serving as Assistant District Attorney in the sixth and fourteenth Judicial Districts and in private practice after earning his law license in 1973. Judge Rollins is survived by his wife of 44 years, Linda Ruth Coppinger Rollins.
Criminal Court
15th Judicial District
Jackson, Macon, Smith, Trousdale, & Wilson Counties
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, at the John W. Music Judicial Building, 115 East High Street, 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 beginning at 8:30 a.m. CST in the Criminal Court Courtroom 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.
The application deadline of January 21, 2009, has passed. The following people submitted an application for the position:
David Earl Durham
Deputy District Attorney General
15th Judicial District
Lebanon, TN
Robert Neland Hibbett
Assistant District Attorney General
15th Judicial District
Mt. Juliet, TN
Brody Neill Kane
Attorney
McBrien & Kane
Lebanon, TN
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 22nd day of January 2009.
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, at the Sheraton Downtown Hotel, 623 Union Street, 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, beginning at 1:30 p.m. in Suite 5 of the Sheraton Hotel, 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.
The application deadline date of Tuesday, January 13, 2009, has passed. The following people submitted an application for the vacancy:
Philip Smith
Attorney, Nashville, TN
Lucinda Ellen Smith
Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Middle TN and the Cumberlands, Nashville, TN
Joy M. Sims
Attorney, Nashville, TN
Cynthia M. Odle
Attorney, Nashville, TN
Irwin Kuhn
Attorney, Dobbins & Venick, Nashville, TN
Stephanie Howard Gore
Attorney, Terry & Gore, Nashville, TN
Jefre Scot Goldtrap
Attorney, Nashville, TN
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 28th day of January, 2009.
Circuit Court
30th Judicial District
Shelby County
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 Wednesday, February 25, 2009, in Memphis, TN, to initiate the process of filling the vacancy in the 30th Judicial District Circuit Court created by the death of Judge Rita Stotts.
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, February 3, 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 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 13th day of January 2009.
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
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.
ADA Court Accessibility Information
Judicial Application Information
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.
Listing of public meetings and comment deadlines. Click on the listing for more information.
Meetings
February 5, 2009
Court Improvement Program Work Group Law Committee
February 10, 2009
TN Municipal Judges' Conference Board of Governors
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 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
Changes to Local Rules of Practice in the 6th District Chancery Court (Knox County). Comments from the bench, bar and public are requested through February. (Deadline February 28, 2009) Please mail comments to:
Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz
Criminal Court Judge - Division III
400 Main Street
City/County Building / M60
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902
Click here to see Rules Changes and Amendments.
Click here for information on the book/CD-ROM prices, available discounts and shipping costs.
Click here to go directly to the Order Form.
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.
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
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.
Download current versions from the Adobe web site.
AOC web site policies
(Privacy,
Accessibility, Links)