The Tennessee General Assembly voted to confirm Governor Bill Lee’s appointment of Shelby County circuit court judge Mary Wagner to the Supreme Court on Monday.
Read the full storyTag: Tennessee Supreme Court
Governor Bill Lee Appoints Judge Mary L. Wagner to the Tennessee Supreme Court
Governor Bill Lee announced the appointment of Judge Mary L. Wagner to the Tennessee Supreme Court on Thursday.
Wagner is currently a circuit court judge for the 30th Judicial District, which covers Shelby County.
Read the full storyThree Judicial Candidates to be Considered by Governor Lee to Fill Tennessee Supreme Court Vacancy
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments has forwarded the names of three applicants to Governor Lee for consideration in order to fill the Tennessee Supreme Court vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of the Honorable Roger A. Page.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Justice Applicant Biography Series: Judge Mary L. Wagner
As Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Roger A. Page plans to retire at the end of August in 2024, six judges from around the state are vying to replace him. The Tennessee Star plans to profile each of the applicants before they are interviewed for the position in January.
Judge Mary L. Wagner, a Circuit Court Judge for the Thirtieth Judicial District in Memphis, has applied to fill Page’s seat on the state’s highest court.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Justice Applicant Biography Series: Judge Camille R. McMullen
As Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Roger A. Page plans to retire at the end of August, six judges from around the state are vying to replace him. The Tennessee Star plans to profile each of the applicants before they are interviewed for the position in January.
Judge Camille R. McMullen is the Presiding Judge of the Tennessee Criminal Court of Appeals, a position to which she was elected in June, and is perhaps most high-profile candidate to fill the State Supreme Court role.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Justice Applicant Biography Series: Van Douglas McMahan
As Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Roger A. Page plans to retire at the end of August, six judges from around the state are vying to replace him. The Tennessee Star plans to profile each of the applicants before they are interviewed for the position in January.
Van Douglas McMahan is a McNairy County General Sessions Judge and McNairy County Juvenile Court Judge.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Justice Applicant Biography Series: Jeffrey C. Smith
As Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Roger A. Page plans to retire at the end of August, six judges from around the state are vying to replace him. The Tennessee Star plans to profile each of the applicants before they are interviewed for the position in January.
Jeffrey C. Smith is a partner at Holland & Knight LLP, a law firm based in Tampa, Florida with a large presence in Nashville and Memphis. He specializes in defending corporations against civil lawsuits.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Justice Applicant Biography Series: Judge J. Ross Dwyer
As Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Roger A. Page plans to retire at the end of August, six judges from around the state are vying to replace him. In the coming days, The Tennessee Star plans to profile each of the applicants.
The first judge in the biography series is Judge J. Ross Dyer of the Tennessee Criminal Court of Appeals Western Section.
Read the full storySix Candidates Apply to Fill Upcoming Tennessee Supreme Court Vacancy
Six candidates will be considered by the Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments to fill the Tennessee Supreme Court vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of the Honorable Roger A. Page.
Read the full storyTennessee State Senate Maps Will Remain in Place for 2024 During Appeal
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled Friday it won’t expedite an appeal of a ruling against Tennessee’s Republican-drawn Senate maps, meaning the current maps will likely remain in place for the 2024 elections.
The maps were ruled unconstitutional by a Tennessee court November 22.
Read the full storyTennessee Juvenile Judges Announce ‘Full Support’ of Supreme Court’s Effort to Raise Compensation for Court-Appointed Attorneys
On behalf of the juvenile court judges and magistrates of Tennessee’s 98 juvenile courts, the executive committee of the Tennessee Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges announced this week its “full support” of the current efforts to increase the state’s judicial system’s budget for it to increase the compensation rate for court-appointed attorneys.
“Juvenile court is where the many problems facing our state’s children are addressed… Private attorneys are crucial for abused or unwanted children. Unfortunately, many attorneys do not accept appointments in juvenile court due to the inadequacy of the reimbursement,” the council said in a statement. “Simply stated, many court-appointed attorneys lose money taking these cases. They are hard cases and often last for years. There is absolutely no financial incentive for lawyers to take these cases.”
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Justice Roger A. Page Announces Retirement
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Roger A. Page announced this week he will retire on August 31, 2024.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court: Man Can’t Continue to Short-Term Rent Home
A DeKalb County homeowner won part of his short-term rental case in front of the Tennessee Supreme Court but he still won’t be able to short-term rent the property in the future due to amendments to homeowners association rules that came after his purchase.
Pratik Pandharipande bought a property in the Four Seasons neighborhood on Center Hill Lake in 2015 and began to lease the property on a short-term basis between two and 28 days.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Calls on the General Assembly to Increase its Budget to Raise Compensation for Court-Appointed Attorneys
The Tennessee Supreme Court is urging the Tennessee General Assembly to increase the state’s judicial system’s budget in order for it to increase the compensation rate for court-appointed attorneys.
Read the full storyJustice Dwight E. Tarwater Sworn into Tennessee Supreme Court
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee swore in Justice Dwight E. Tarwater on Friday to serve on the state Supreme Court.
As previously reported by The Tennessee Star Lee appointed Tarwater to the high court in February and the legislature confirmed him as a Supreme Court Justice in March.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Elects Justice Holly Kirby to Serve as Next Chief Justice
The Tennessee Supreme Court recently unanimously elected Justice Holly Kirby to serve as the Court’s next Chief Justice.
Kirby is succeeding Justice Roger Page, who was appointed as Chief Justice in 2021.
Read the full storyTennessee Adds to Process for Voting Rights After Felony Conviction
Tennessee has added new restrictions to allowing residents with out-of-state felony convictions to regain voting privileges.
Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins wrote a person convicted of a felony must receive a pardon from a governor of the United States president or have their full rights of citizenship restored and then must have paid all owed restitution and assessed court costs along with being current on child support obligations.
Read the full storyAttorney John Harris Talks Timelines, Twists, and Turns on the Covenant Killer Manifesto Court Case
Attorney John Harris joined host Michael Patrick Leahy in studio on Tuesday’s edition of The Tennessee Star Report to discuss the state of the court case to release the Covenant Killer Manifesto between Tennessee Firearms Association, Metro Nashville, the Covenant School, and many others. TRANSCRIPT Michael Patrick Leahy: 6:06 AM broadcasting live from our studios on Music Crow in Nashville, Tennessee. We’ll be joined in-studio at 6:30 AM by the official guest host of The Tennessee Star Report, Aaron Gulbransen. We’ll talk about the Sound of Freedom movie and, and also what the Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition is up to these days. In-studio right now, our very good friend for many years, the executive director of the Tennessee Firearms Association, John Harris. John, we left a hanging chad and the hanging chad which I looked at you with a bit of incredulity. You like that word? John Harris: I do. Michael Patrick Leahy: The word of the day. “Incredulity.” You said that the state case where a number of plaintiffs including the Tennessee Firearms Association, which you represent as an attorney, and me individually and The Tennessee Star represented by America First Legal – that state case may not…
Read the full storyGovernor Lee Announces Tennessee Supreme Court Appointment
Governor Bill Lee appointed Dwight Tarwater to the Tennessee Supreme Court this week.
Read the full storyAttorney Cam Norris Talks Clerking for Justice Thomas and the Tennessee Supreme Court Selection Process
Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Senior Attorney Cam Norris of Consovoy McCarthy Park Cam Norris and East Tennessean to the newsmaker line to discuss clerking for Justice Clarence Thomas and the Tennessee Supreme Court candidate process.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Justice Lee to Retire
A Tennessee Supreme Court Justice will retire next year, according to a press release.
“Today I notified Governor Lee I will retire on Aug. 31, 2023. It’s been the greatest honor of my professional life to serve in the TN judiciary. I am filled with gratitude,” said Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee, attaching an official statement.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Hears Arguments Regarding Convicted Man’s Voting Rights Restoration
The Tennessee Supreme Court heard arguments, on Wednesday, regarding the voting rights of Earnest Falls, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Virginia in 1986.
Earnest Fall’s attorney, Bill Harbison, argued for Falls’ right to vote, saying, “A fundamental bedrock interest in this case is that a person who has the fundamental right to vote does not need his rights restored.”
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Appoints New Reporter to Advisory Commission on Rules of Practice and Procedure
The Tennessee Supreme Court announced Monday that it appointed a new reporter to the Advisory Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure, Lynn Zehrt, who is currently a professor at Belmont University College of Law.
The previous Reporter to the Advisory Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure Jeffrey Usman, was recently appointed by Governor Bill Lee to the Court of Appeals.
Read the full storyCraig Huey Commentary: The Tennessee Supreme Court Picked an Outstanding Attorney General
The Tennessee Supreme Court decision to appoint Jonathan Skrmetti as the attorney general was outstanding. In fact, it could have powerful, transformative impact on our freedom, constitutional rights and religious liberty.
Why?
Because Tennessee must take the lead in stopping federal overreach and abuse of power.
Read the full storyBraden Boucek Says Selection of Jonathan Skrmetti As TN AG a Win for Tennesseans
Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Southeastern Legal Foundation Director of Litigation Braden Boucek to the newsmaker line to discuss the recent Tennessee state attorney general appointment of conservative Jonathan Skrmetti.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Picks Jonathan Skrmetti as State’s New Attorney General
The Tennessee Supreme Court announced in a statement released on Wednesday that they have selected Jonathan Skrmetti to serve as the state’s next Attorney General and Reporter.
“Mr. Skrmetti has dedicated the majority of his career to public service and has the breadth of experience and vision necessary to lead the Attorney General’s office for the next eight years,” Chief Justice Roger A. Page said. “He is an accomplished attorney with a deep understanding of Tennessee government and our judicial system.”
Read the full storyAaron Gulbransen Weighs In on FBI’s Raid of Former President Trump and the Tennessee AG Interviews
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed official guest host and lead political reporter for The Tennessee Star, Aaron Gulbransen in studio to weigh in on the FBI’s raid on former President Trump’s private residence and Monday’s Tennessee AG interviews at the Supreme Court.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Interviews Applicants for Attorney General
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The Tennessee Supreme Court held public interviews for the six applicants in the process to select the next attorney general.
“The applicants were all remarkable, experienced, and gracious in their answers during a robust interview process,” Chief Justice Roger A. Page said. “The applicant pool is outstanding. This is an extremely important decision for our state, and the Court thanks all of the applicants for fielding our questions.”
Read the full storyCourt Rules Tennessee Education Savings Account Program Can Advance
A Tennessee trial court ruled Friday that Tennessee’s Education Scholarship Program can move forward.
A three-judge panel heard arguments earlier in the day from the American Civil Liberties Union and Southern Poverty Law Center. The two groups had asked the court to deliver an injunction against the pilot program.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Announces Public Hearings for Attorney General Applicants
The Tennessee Supreme Court announced public hearings for the six applicants for attorney general in a statement issued on Monday.
“The Tennessee Supreme Court will begin a public hearing on August 8, 2022, that will include formal interviews of the six applicants for Attorney General and Reporter. Under the state constitution, the Tennessee Attorney General and Reporter is appointed by the state Supreme Court and serves an eight-year term,” said the Court.
Read the full storySix Individuals Apply to Become Tennessee’s Next Attorney General
The Tennessee Supreme Court has released the complete list of individuals that elected to apply to become Tennessee’s next Attorney General.
In total, six individuals elected to position themselves for the vacancy. Several applicants already serve in state government in some capacity. Others include a law professor and a private attorney.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Makes Names of All Attorney General Candidates Public for First Time in History
For the first time in Tennessee history, the Tennessee Supreme Court has made the names of ALL candidates available to the public.
The Court lists the applications of William Edwin “Bill” Young of Brentwood, Jerome Cochran of Gallatin, Donald Q. Cochran, Jr. of Nashville, and David Michael Dunavant of Covington as of 4pm on Thursday, July 28.
Read the full storyTennessee Star Supreme Court Justice Series: Major Opinions by Justice Roger Page
As Tennesseans prepare to head to the polls on August 4, where they will vote on whether to retain the state’s five Supreme Court justices, The Tennessee Star has completed a profile on each justice currently sitting on the bench.
Last week, The Star profiled Justice Roger Page.
Read the full storyTennessee Star Supreme Court Justice Series: Major Opinions by Justice Sharon Lee
As Tennesseans prepare to head to the polls on August 4, where they will vote on whether to retain the state’s five Supreme Court justices, The Tennessee Star has completed a profile on each justice currently sitting on the bench.
Last week, The Star profiled Justice Sharon Lee.
Read the full storyDeadline to Submit Application in Search for Next Tennessee Attorney General Is Friday, July 29
The deadline for an individual to submit an application to be considered in the Tennessee Supreme Court’s process of choosing the next attorney general is on Friday, July 29.
“Interested candidates must submit an application by 12:00 p.m. CDT on Friday, July 29, 2022. The Supreme Court will hold a public hearing to interview candidates on August 8 and 9, 2022 at the Nashville Supreme Court Building. The hearings will be livestreamed to the TNCourts YouTube page,” the Court said in statement earlier in July.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Justice Biography Series: Major Opinions by Justice Jeffrey Bivins
As Tennesseans prepare to head to the polls on August 4, where they will vote on whether to retain the state’s five Supreme Court justices, The Tennessee Star has completed a profile on each justice currently sitting on the bench.
Last week, The Star profiled Chief Justice Jeffrey Bivins.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Justice Biography Series: Justice Roger Page
As Tennesseeans prepare to head to the polls on August 4, where they will vote on whether to retain the state’s five Supreme Court justices, The Tennessee Star is profiling each justice who currently sits on the bench.
Justice Roger Page was first appointed to the Court by former Governor Bill Haslem (R) in 2016. He is the Court’s newest member. In August of that year, Page was elected to serve a full term, until 2022.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Justice Biography Series: Justice Sharon Lee
As Tennesseans prepare to head to the polls on August 4, where they will vote on whether to retain the state’s five Supreme Court justices, The Tennessee Star is profiling each justice who currently sits on the bench.
Justice Sharon Lee was first appointed to the Court by former Governor Phil Bredesen (D) in 2008. She was retained by voters in 2010, and in 2014. From 2014 to 2016, she served as the state’s chief justice.
Read the full storyGulbransen Joins Host Leahy to Talk Tennessee AG Selection Process and Call for Governor Lee’s Pick, Gibson to State Her Case
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed official guest host Aaron Gulbransen in-studio to talk about the AG selection in the state of Tennessee and the unanswered calls for comment by Governor Lee’s alleged pick for new AG, Brandon Gibson. Leahy and Gulbransen later called for Gibson to come on the show and state her case.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Justice Biography Series: Justice Sarah Campbell
The application period for Tennessee’s next attorney general opened Friday.
In a unique process, unlike in any other state, the position of attorney general is not an elected office in Tennessee. Rather, the person who holds the position is appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Read the full storyWake Forest University Professor: ‘There Is Precedent’ for Legislature to Adjust AG’s Duties and Responsibilities
Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Professor John Dinan of Wake Forest University to comment upon the AG selection in the state of Tennessee and suggest possible remedies.
Read the full storyPresident of Network of Enlighted Women Karin Lips Advocates for Part-Time Attorneys, No Longer Required to Take State Bar in Tennessee
Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed the founder of the (NeW) Network of Enlightened Women, Karen Lips to the newsmaker line to discuss the organization’s recent call for part-time attorneys not to continuously take the bar due to their part-time status and create a more family-friendly policy in the state of Tennessee and others.
Read the full storyEntire Tennessee State Supreme Court on Ballot for Retention Elections on August 4
All of the Tennessee State Supreme Court justices will have their retention elections take place on August 4.
The current Tennessee Supreme Court is composed of justices Sharon G. Lee, Jeffery S. Bivins, Holly Kirby, Sarah K. Campbell, and Chief Justice Roger A. Page.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Announces State Attorney General Application and Selection Process
In a press statement, the Tennessee Supreme Court announced the details of application and selection process in the search for Tennessee’s next Attorney General.
“The Tennessee Supreme Court will open the application period for the position of State Attorney General and Reporter on July 15, 2022. Under the state constitution, the Tennessee Attorney General and Reporter is appointed by the state Supreme Court and serves an eight-year term. The term for the new Attorney General will begin September 1, 2022,” said the Court in a statement.
Read the full storyThe Tennessee Star Lead Reporter Aaron Gulbransen Hears Crickets Regarding Attorney General Candidates
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed official guest host Aaron Gulbransen in-studio to discuss the upcoming Epoch Times debate and the lack of transparency on candidates vying for Tennessee’s state attorney general.
Read the full storyAttorney John Harris: ‘The Duties and Responsibilities of the Tennessee Attorney General Are Not in the State Constitution,’ But Are Defined by Statute
Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed John Harris, founder of the Tennessee Firearms Association, in studio to comment on the possibility of a violation of the national constitutional principles of separation of powers in regard to the selection of Tennessee’s state attorneys general.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Opens Comments for Bar Association Requirements in Tennessee
A women’s group is vying for the state of Tennessee to change its rules about admitting recently relocated lawyers to the State Bar Association, claiming that the current rules are not amenable to mothers who wish to work part-time.
State Bar Associations often have agreements with other states allowing reciprocity for lawyers who relocate to be admitted to the Bar in their new state.
Read the full storyHosts Leahy and Brewer Discuss Tennessee Supreme Court Retention Election and Justice Jeffrey Bivins’ Unavailability for Interviews
Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist Clint Brewer in-studio to discuss the unavailability of Tennessee Supreme Court Justic Jeffrey Bivins to be interviewed as the retention election draws near.
Read the full storyTennessee Supreme Court Yet to Announce Process of Selecting Next Attorney General
The Tennessee Supreme Court, which is the body that appoints the state’s attorney general, has yet to announce an official process in the search to replace Attorney General Herbert Slatery who leaves office at the end of August.
The process is expected to be conducted in a similar manner as the one that yielded Slatery. He has served as Tennessee’s attorney general since 2014 and not seeking an additional eight-year term.
Read the full storyHosts Leahy and Gulbransen Discuss the Need for Transparency in Tennessee’s Attorney General Pick Process
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed official guest host Aaron Gulbransen in-studio to discuss the call for transparency by the Tennessee Supreme Court’s process in the election of a state attorney general.
Read the full story