Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced this week that he named three key judicial appointments for newly created state courts.
He appointed Shawn Fry to the 13th Judicial District Criminal Court, Ashleigh Travis to the 19th Judicial District Circuit Court, and Julie Heffington to the 22nd Judicial District Circuit Court.
Fry is currently a lawyer with Fry, Fry, Knight & Looper. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a bachelor’s degree and from Nashville School of Law with a juris doctor. The 13th Judicial District Criminal Court is a trial court with jurisdiction over criminal matters in Clay, Cumberland, Dekalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, and White counties.
The 19th Judicial District currently employs Travis as a magistrate judge. Travis graduated from Nashville School of Law with a juris doctor and an undergraduate degree from Austin Peay State University. The 19th Judicial District is one of 32 judicial districts in Tennessee and has jurisdiction in Montgomery and Robertson counties. The 19th Judicial District has two trial courts in its boundaries: a circuit court and a chancery court.
Heffington is currently employed with Middle Tennessee Law Group as an attorney. Heffington graduated from Nashville School of Law with a juris doctor after completing her undergraduate studies at Middle Tennessee State University. The 22nd Judicial District is one of 32 judicial districts in Tennessee and has jurisdiction in Giles, Lawrence, Maury, and Wayne counties. The 22nd Judicial District has a circuit court and a chancery court.
Lee said these appointments will contribute positively to the new courts due to the appointees’ experience and leadership. He said he is confident in their abilities to serve the people of Tennessee.
“I am proud to announce the appointment of these highly qualified individuals and value the significant experience they will bring to their respective roles. I appreciate their leadership and am confident they will serve Tennesseans with integrity,” Lee said.
The Montgomery County Tennessee Republican Party applauded Lee’s judicial appointments.
“Congratulations to our newest Judicial appointees!” The Montgomery County GOP said.
Heffington told The Tennessee Star that she is honored by the new appointment.
“I am honored to have been selected as Circuit Court Judge to serve the people of the 22nd Judicial District, which includes Maury, Lawrence, Giles and Wayne counties. I had the privilege of growing up on my family’s farm in Summertown, where my family still resides. My upbringing instilled a love for and understanding of this community – a community I look forward to serving in this new role,” Heffington told The Star.
The new judicial positions were created by the Tennessee General Assembly earlier this year.
Between 2010 and 2020, the population of the 13th Judicial District increased by 7.27 percent, the population of the 19th Judicial District increased by 22.74 percent, and the population of the 22nd Judicial District Court increased by 12 percent. The three most recent Weighted Caseload Studies conducted by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury found a consistent need for additional judicial positions.
The Tennessee Star reached out to Fry and Travis for comment but did not receive a reply before press time.
– – –
Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star, The Star News Network, The Arizona Sun Times, and The Tennessee Star. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Bill Lee” by Bill Lee.
