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.
Former 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.
Zehrt replaces Usman, effective on September 1, 2022.
“The Supreme Court is very grateful for the valuable contributions made by Mr. Usman during his time as Reporter and appreciates Professor Zehrt accepting the Court’s invitation to serve as the new Reporter,” said Justice Sharon Lee, Supreme Court liaison to the Rules Commission.
According to the court’s statement detailing her impressive credentials, “Professor Zehrt received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Carolina, graduating magna cum laude, and her Juris Doctorate from The University of Alabama School of Law, also graduating magna cum laude. After graduation, Professor Zehrt served as a law clerk to both the Honorable Ira DeMent of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama and the Honorable C. Lynwood Smith Jr. of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Upon completion of her clerkships, Professor Zehrt worked for seven years as an associate in the Huntsville, Alabama office of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP.”
“While at Bradley, she practiced primarily in the employment and appellate litigation area. She also demonstrated her commitment to perform pro bono work by representing for numerous years the Downtown Rescue Mission of Huntsville and the Community Action Agency of North Alabama. She is a member of the Alabama and District of Columbia bars,” the court said.
“Professor Zehrt then received her Master of Laws degree from Georgetown University Law Center, graduating with Distinction and earning two Cali Excellence Awards for her studies in Disability Discrimination Law and Employment Discrimination, U.S. and International Perspectives. Prior to joining Belmont University College of Law, Professor Zehrt taught Appellate Advocacy for three years at George Mason University School of Law. At Belmont Law, Professor Zehrt teaches Civil Procedure, Employment Discrimination, Employment Law, Evidence, and Professional Responsibility. She is a four-time recipient of the Best Professor Award, which is bestowed by Belmont Law’s students,” the Court added.
The Advisory Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure makes recommendations as to court rules on practice and procedure and meets periodically. The Tennessee Supreme Court appoints the commission members.
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Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]. Follow Aaron on GETTR, Twitter, Truth Social, and Parler.
Photo “Lynn Zehert” by Belmont University. Background Photo “Tennessee Supreme Court” by Jon698. CC BY-SA 4.0.
