Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Applicant Biography Series: Van Douglas McMahan

Van 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.

Applicant Van Douglas McMahan is a McNairy County General Sessions Court Judge and McNairy County Juvenile Court Judge.

Every county has a general sessions court, and the jurisdiction of those courts varies from county to county based on state law. General sessions courts hear both civil and criminal cases.

“Civil jurisdiction is restricted to specific monetary limits and types of actions,” according to the State of Tennessee. “Criminal jurisdiction is limited to preliminary hearings in felony cases and misdemeanor trials in which a defendant waives the right to a grand jury investigation and trial by jury in Circuit or Criminal Court.”

General sessions judges, who are elected to eight year terms, serve as juvenile judges except in counties where the legislature has established separate juvenile courts.

McMahan (pictured above) also has a private law practice, the McMahan Law Firm.

“Van Douglas McMahan graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1990 and later earned his J.D. Degree from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. McMahan has served as McNairy County Tennessee’s General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge from 2006 to the Present,” according to his profile on Justia.

Yes, Every Kid

That profile says that McMahan has been practicing law since 1997, and that he has represented individuals and corporations in “a wide range of civil matters in Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi, including but not limited to social security, bankruptcies, personal injury, medical malpractice, and workers compensation.”

Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s Council for Judicial Appointments will hold a public meeting on January 4 at the Belmont College of Law, Randall and Sadie Baskin Center to interview the six applicants for the position.

That council is chaired by Lang Wiseman,  an attorney at the Nashville firm Baker Donelson and Lee’s chief counsel.

The 11 member council is appointed by Lee, and each member serves a two-year term.

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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter/X.
Photo “Van McMahan” by Van McMahan. Background Photo “Tennessee Supreme Court” by Reading Tom. CC BY 2.0.

 

 

 

 

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One Thought to “Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Applicant Biography Series: Van Douglas McMahan”

  1. Sim

    They need to be questioned about their knowledge of the Constitution and the “Intent-purpose” of each Amendment and why a “Federalist” system with a Bicameralism was created instead of a straight “Democracy”.

    And if they believe “Implied Rights” has precedents over “Expressly Stipulated Rights”.

    I’m noticing the normal “Principles” on which law has been interpreted are being “Reversed” to promote some “Good Intentions” laws. (Red Flag)

    Nevertheless their “instrument of good” is still a violation of law.

    “IF in the opinion of the people the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, (though it) may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed.

    G.Washington’s Farewell Address.

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