Post on 29-Jan-2021
Annual Report of the
Tennessee Judiciary
2002
“If we do not maintain justice, justicewill not maintain us.”-Francis Bacon
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Frank F. Drowota, III Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Tennessee
E. Riley Anderson Associate Justice, Supreme Court of Tennessee
Adolpho A. Birch, Jr. Associate Justice, Supreme Court of Tennessee
Janice M. Holder Associate Justice, Supreme Court of Tennessee
William M. Barker Associate Justice, Supreme Court of Tennessee
Cornelia A. Clark Administrative Director of the Courts
Elizabeth Sykes Deputy Director
Letter from the Chief Justice & State Court Administrator --------------------- 2
Early History of the Court System------------------------------------------------------- 3
Courthouse Fires and Disasters --------------------------------------------------------- 5
Supreme Court Historical Society------------------------------------------------------- 6
Tennessee Supreme Court ---------------------------------------------------------------- 7
Intermediate Appellate Courts ------------------------------------------------------------ 8
Trial Court Judges by District ------------------------------------------------------------ 9
General Sessions Court Judges by County---------------------------------------- 13
Appellate & Trial Court Clerks ---------------------------------------------------------- 17
The Year In Headlines --------------------------------------------------------------------- 24
2002 Initiatives ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26
Administrative Office of the Courts --------------------------------------------------- 27
Boards & Commissions ------------------------------------------------------------------ 30
Board of Professional Responsibility ------------------------------------------------ 31
Tennessee Board of Law Examiners ------------------------------------------------- 31
Commission on Continuing Legal Education & Specialization ------------- 31
Tennessee Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection---------------------------------- 31
Statistical Report --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33
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“The terrorists have labeled us adecadent and greedy society that needs to bedestroyed. We face the challenge of defyingthis label . . . Each of us needs to examine ourown personal lives and commitment tounselfish service whether we are in roles ofelected public service, corporate leadership oreveryday citizens . . . We bear the responsibilityto renew our commitment to honesty, to therule of law, to tolerance, to compassion, toselfless service and only then can we expectour democracy to survive . . . “
Chief Justice Frank F. Drowota, III, Sept. 11, 2002
Chief Justice Frank F. Drowota, III
DirectorCornelia A. Clark
Message from the Chief Justice and Administrative Director
Dear Fellow Tennesseans:
As we reflect on the past year, we cannot help but notice a new or renewed force in our nationand state - a healthy and positive result of the horribleevents of Sept. 11, 2001. That force is unabashedpatriotism, which has brought with it a widespread and
keen interest in our history, inthe events and people re-sponsible for shaping thecountry to this point in time.
We in the judicial branchof government are proud ofthe critical role courts haveplayed in that evolution. Weuse the word evolution be-cause ours is a nation of con-stant change and improve-ment, even of trial and error. The goal is to preserve, protect and expandupon our freedoms and advantages so that we will leave an even more per-fect union for those who will come behind us.
In keeping with our national pride and curiosity about the past, part ofthis year’s annual report focuses on the history of the state’s legal system.The report begins with an article giving a brief early history of the courts inTennessee, followed by information about the publication of a new book - “AHistory of the Tennessee Supreme Court.” This book, a six-year projectof the Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society, is the first comprehen-sive history of the court from statehood in 1796 through the judicial electionsof 1998.
But, the report also contains other information we hope you will find use-ful, such as a listing of the state’s trial and general sessions judges and courtclerks and a section of statistical data detailing case filings and dispositionsin trial and appellate courts statewide. There is a great deal of information
between the covers of this report, which is part of our commitment to make the Tennessee judicialsystem as open and accessible as possible.
Respectfully Submitted,
Frank F. Drowota, III
Cornelia A. Clark
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For Tennessee’s first hundred years, justices of the peace were the foundation of the state’s legalsystem. These men, often without legal training, served the citizens in their counties by resolvingminor disputes, performing marriages and serving on the quarterly court. They saved both time andexpense by resolving issues without formal court proceedings. The regular courts changed and evolvedthrough the years, but the justice of the peace remained the first source of help for citizens with legalproblems.
The Watauga Association formed the first court in what is now Tennessee, in 1772. The fivemembers of this court served as both legislators and judges, under the leadership of John Carter.
In 1776 North Carolina accepted responsibility for the Tennessee frontier and authorized John Carterto continue holding a court at Jonesboro for the “Washington District.” When Washington County wasorganized in 1778, this court became the County Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions. Appealswere technically (though not practically) grantable to the Superior Court of Law and Equity of Salisbury District,200 miles to the east.
As the new counties of Sullivan (1779) and Greene (1783) were formed, each was provided withits own Court of Common Pleas. So that appeals from the Common Pleas courts of all the newcounties could be tried on their side of the mountains, North Carolina established the Washington
District Superior Court of Law and Equity atJonesboro in 1784. As the area further westbecame more populous the same process wasfollowed, beginning with the formation of theDavidson County Court of Common Pleas andQuarter Sessions in 1783. The Metro DistrictSuperior Court of Law and Equity was establishedat Nashville in 1788 to hear appeals for the westerncounties. This two-court system was generallymaintained during the brief State of Franklin andterritorial periods.
The 1796 Constitution of Tennessee gaveJustices of the Peace sole jurisdiction over casesinvolving less than $50 in property or fines. It alsocontinued the Court of Common Pleas and QuarterSessions as an “inferior” court, and the Superior Courtof Law and Equity as the “superior” and appellatecourt.
The Court of Common Pleas and QuarterSessions was comprised of a county’s justices sittingin quorum. Until 1809, this group heard cases both oflaw and equity, and handled the business of thecounty. They heard law cases in which the punishmentdid not include loss of life or limb, and equity cases inwhich the amount of money or value of propertyinvolved was modest. A clerk kept minutes of thecourt’s proceedings, and handled the court’s businessbetween sessions.
The Superior Courts of Law and Equity had solejurisdiction over cases punishable by loss of life orlimb and cases of greater dollar value. They alsoserved as courts of appeal, for those dissatisfied witha Court of Pleas decision. Many of Tennessee’s
Court System Begins with Justices of the Peace
The Cumberland Compact was entered into May 1,1780, by 250 settlers on the Cumberland River. Thecompact framed the principles of self-rule andjurisprudence by which newcomers to the regioncould govern themselves. (Tennessee State Libraryand Archives)
By Charles A. SherrillDirector, The Brentwood Library
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leading pioneers served as Superior Court judges, including Andrew Jackson, John Overton, JohnMcNairy, Archibald Roane and Willie Blount. The three traveling Superior Court judges heard cases inJonesboro (Washington District), Knoxville (Hamilton District), Carthage (Winchester District), Clarksville(Robertson District), and Nashville (Metro District).
By 1809, the two-court system was overworked. To divide the case load, the legislature formed aCircuit Court, to be held in each county. The SuperiorCourt was renamed the Supreme Court of Errors &Appeals. The division of cases among the courtsvaried from 1809 to 1833 as the legislature and thejudges worked out the new system, sometimesdisagreeing. In general the Common Pleas courtheard only minor cases of both law and equity, theCircuit Court heard criminal cases and appeals fromthe Common Pleas court, and the Supreme Courtheard larger equity cases and appeals from theother two courts.
By 1829, the existing court system was strainedto its limits. Adam Huntsman reported to the Senatethat year that confusion over jurisdiction, multipleappeals and a lack of legal knowledge amongjustices of the peace made Tennessee’s judicialsystem “the most expensive and least efficient ofany in the United States.” The legal process becamea major issue driving the need for a newConstitution.
When the second Constitution of Tennesseewas adopted in 1834 it reorganized the judiciary byadding a system of Chancery Courts. This allowedfor a clear division of cases of law (Circuit Court)and cases of equity (Chancery Court). The nameof the Court of Common Pleas and QuarterSessions was shortened simply to County Court,and its powers limited to trying non-indictableoffenses (such as swearing, bastardy, andgambling), and tending to estate matters, roads,and other county business. The Supreme Court reduced its circuit to three districts, meeting in Knoxville,Nashville and Jackson.
The Chancery Court was originally a district court, but gradually one was established in each county.The Chancellor (judge of Chancery) weighed the evidence in equity cases and decided on a fair divisionamong the parties. This court heard disputes over land boundaries, the partitioning of estates, disagreementsbetween business partners, and other matters of equity or “fairness.”
In contrast, the Circuit Court heard matters of law. A jury was seated to decide each case bydetermining whether a specific law had been violated. The cases heard by the Circuit Court includedthose brought by the State for crimes against the people (criminal cases), and those betweenindividuals (civil cases). Criminal cases included murder, unlawful retailing of liquor, lewdness,public fighting and theft. Most civil cases resulted from unpaid debts. Beginning in 1842, the largestcounties found it necessary to ease the work of the Circuit Court by forming separate CriminalCourts, but most counties did not divide the Circuit Court until after 1880.
The appellate function of the Tennessee Supreme Court causes its records to reflect theoperations of all the lower courts. The case files of this court, found among the state archives,provide an intimate look at the lives of Tennesseans through the documents filed by the parties asthey dealt with issues ranging from burglary to bribery and beyond.
Tennessee’s first constitution was ratified in 1796 andsent to Philadelphia as part of the application forstatehood. The document, which was patterned afterconstitutions in North Carolina and Pennsylvania,included protection for those accused of crimes andprotections against excessive government.
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The historic Montgomery County Courthouse wasextensively damaged by a tornado that rippedthrough downtown Clarksville in 1999. The second-empire style building, completed in 1879, cost$100,000 when it was constructed. It replaced acourthouse destroyed in the great fire of 1878. Theold courthouse is being restored and a newcourthouse also has been built. Clarksville artistTony Biagi captured the historic building in this print.
Bedford 1830 1863 & 1934 tornado/ fires Bledsoe 1908 fire
Blount 1879 & 1906 firesCannon 1934 fireCarroll 1931 fireCarter 1933 fireChester 1910 fireClaiborne 1932 fireCocke 1876 fireCoffee 1870 fireCumberland 1905 fireDavidson 1856 fireDecatur 1869 & 1927 firesDickson 1830 tornadoDyer 1864 fireFayette 1925 fireGibson??? 1941 fireGiles 1813, 1857 & 1907 firesGrainger 1946 fireGrundy 1853 & 1990 firesHamilton 1910 fireHancock 1885 & 1930 firesHardeman 1864 fireHardin 1859, 1864 & 1949 fireHenderson 1896 fireHickman 1864 fireHumphreys 1876 & 1898 firesJackson 1872 & 1926 firesLauderdale 1869 fireMcMinn 1964 fireMacon 1860 & 1901 & 1932 firesMarion 1922 fireMarshall 1872 & 1927 firesMeigs 1904 & 1964 fireMonroe 1820s 1860 fire/Civil WarMontgomery 1878 & 1900 1999 fires/ tornadoObion 1842 earthquakeOverton 1865 firePerry 1863 & 1928 fires
Courthouse Fires and DisastersCompiled by Tennessee Library & Archives
Because of courthouse fires and other disasters, some Tennesse records filed at the county levelhave been lost forever. The following list shows when courthouse fires and other disasters occurred inTennessee.
COUNTY YEAR DISASTERPickett 1934 firePolk 1895 & 1935??? firesPutnam 1860s 1898 burned/Civil WarRhea 1869 & 1927 firesRutherford 1832 tornadoScott 1946 fireSevier 1856 fireStewart 1862 fire (Federal troops)Sullivan 1863 fireTrousdale 1900 & 1904 firesUnion 1870s & 1969 firesWashington 1839 fireWayne 1973 fire Weakley 1948 fire Wilson 1881 fire
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Chief Justice Frank F. Drowota, III, (far right) and retired Justices RobertCooper (1974 - 1990), William H.D. Fones (1973 - 1990) and Martha CraigDaughtrey (1990 - 1993 when she was appointed to the U.S. Court ofAppeals for the 6th Circuit) were among those attending a ceremony inthe old Supreme Court room at the Tennessee State Capitol to markpublication of “A History of the Tennessee Supreme Court.” RetiredJustice Lyle Reid (1990 - 1998) also attended the book’s unveiling.
Six years after the Tennessee Supreme Court HistoricalSociety’s creation during the state’s 1996 Bicentennial cel-ebration, the organization saw its first major project becomea reality. “A History of the Tennessee Supreme Court,” writtenby seven leading scholars and published by the University ofTennessee Press, was published in 2002 and unveiled duringa ceremony at the state Capitol.
The book covers the court from 1796, when Tennesseebecame a state, through the 1998 judicial elections. The au-thors delve into many of the important and contentious is-sues the court has faced, such as slavery, Reconstruction,race and gender relations, and also includes biographical in-formation about past and present members of the court.
The state’s first constitution, adopted in 1796, createdthe first court of last resort, the Superior Courts of Law andEquity. It was followed in 1809 by the Supreme Court ofErrors and Appeals and, in 1834, the Supreme Court of Ten-nessee. The 1870 state constitution mandated the court as itis today, with five members, no more than two from each granddivision.
The book points out the court’s colorful history and includesinformation about justices whose names are familiar because oftheir contributions to the state and nation. For example, thenation’s seventh president, Andrew Jackson, resigned from theU.S. Senate in 1798 and was appointed judge of the state Su-perior Court.
Justice Janice Holder and other currentand former members of the court signedcopies of the book. Besides being availablefor purchase from the Tennessee SupremeCourt Historical Society, copies of the bookare being donated to school librariesstatewide. The school donations are beingsupported by a grant from the FristFoundation.
Historical Society Initiative Becomes Reality
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Tennessee Courts
As required by the state Constitution, the five members of the Tennessee Supreme Court normallyhear cases in Nashville, Jackson and Knoxville. Pictured in the courtroom at the Supreme CourtBuilding in Nashville are (from left) Justice Janice M. Holder of Memphis; Justice E. Riley Anderson ofKnoxville; Chief Justice Frank F. Drowota, III, of Nashville; Justice Adolpho A. Birch, Jr., of Nashville;and Justice William M. Barker of Chattanooga. The five justices of the Supreme Court sit “en banc,” oras a whole, to hear oral arguments.
“Over time, state supreme courts haveplayed a pivotal role in the growth of law. . .state supreme courts have often been calledupon to grapple with thorny legal issues longbefore they reached the Supreme Court ofthe United States. . .”
A History of the Tennessee Supreme Court
Supreme Court
The TENNESSEE SUPREME COURT is the state’scourt of last resort and may accept appeals of civil andcriminal cases from lower state courts. The five justices alsointerpret the laws and Constitutions of Tennessee and theUnited States.
The Supreme Court may assume jurisdiction overundecided cases in the Court of Appeals or Court of CriminalAppeals when there is special need for a speedy decision.The court also has appellate jurisdiction in cases involving state taxes, the right to hold public officeand issues of constitutional law. Appeals to the Supreme Court are discretionary except in deathpenalty cases. The court is required by law to review those cases on direct appeal.
Attorneys may present oral arguments before the Supreme Court. Oral arguments also are heardin the two intermediate appellate courts. After Supreme Court justices have heard oral arguments, ifarguments are presented, and reviewed attorneys’ briefs and records in the case, they issue theirwritten opinions. Only opinions on federal constitutional issues can be appealed to the federal appellatecourts, which may or may not agree to consider the appeals.
Judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals are elected on a“yes-no” ballot every eight years. When a vacancy occurs the 15-member Judicial Selection Commissioninterviews applicants and recommends three candidates to the governor, who appoints a new judgeto serve until the next August general election.
By state law, judges on the three courts must be evaluated every eight years. Results are publishedin newspapers across the state to help voters decide whether judges should be retained if recommendedby the Judicial Evaluation Commission.
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Intermediate Appellate Courts
The COURT OF APPEALS, created by the General Assembly in 1925, hears appeals in civil —or noncriminal — cases from trial courts and certain state boards and commissions.
The COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS, created by the General Assembly in 1967, hears trialcourt appeals in felony and misdemeanor cases, as well as post-conviction petitions. State law requiresthe Court of Criminal Appeals to review all death sentences. If a capital case conviction and sentenceare affirmed by the Court of Criminal Appeals, there is an automatic review by the state SupremeCourt.
All other Court of Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals decisions may be appealed, by permission,to the state Supreme Court. Each of the intermediate appellate courts has 12 members, who normallysit in panels of three in Jackson, Knoxville and Nashville. They may also meet in other places asnecessary.
Court of Appeals judges are (from left, front row) W. Frank Crawford, Houston Goddard, Ben H. Cantrell,Charles D. Susano, Jr., (from left, back row) Patricia J. Cottrell, William B. Cain, David R. Farmer, BillKoch, D. Michael Swiney, Alan E. Highers, Herschel P. Franks and Holly K. Lillard.
Court of Criminal Appeals judges are (from left, front row) David G. Hayes, Joseph M. Tipton, Gary R. Wade,David H. Welles, Jerry Smith, (from left, back row) Alan E. Glenn, John Everett Williams, Thomas Woodall,Joe Riley, James Curwood Witt, Jr., Norma McGee Ogle and Robert W. Wedemeyer.
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1st JUDICIAL DISTRICTCarter, Johnson, Unicoi,Washington counties
CHANCERY COURTG. Richard Johnson
CIRCUIT COURTThomas J. Seeley, Jr. (Part I)Jean A. Stanley (Part II)
CRIMINAL COURTLynn W. BrownRobert E. Cupp
2nd JUDICIAL DISTRICTSullivan County
CHANCERY COURTRichard E. Ladd
CIRCUIT COURTJohn S. McLellan, III (Part l)R. Jerry Beck (Part II)
CRIMINAL COURTPhyllis H. Miller
3rd JUDICIAL DISTRICTGreene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins counties
CHANCERY COURTThomas R. Frierson, II
CIRCUIT COURTJohn K. Wilson (Part I)Ben K. Wexler (Part II)Kindall T. Lawson (Part III)
CRIMINAL COURTJames E. Beckner
4th JUDICIAL DISTRICTCocke, Grainger, Jefferson, Sevier counties
CHANCERY COURTTelford E. Forgety, Jr.
CIRCUIT COURTBen W. Hooper, II (Part I)Richard Robert Vance (Part II)Rex Henry Ogle (Part III)O. Duane Slone (Part IV)
5th JUDICIAL DISTRICTBlount County
CHANCERY COURTTelford E. Forgety, Jr.
CIRCUIT COURTW. Dale Young (Part I)D. Kelly Thomas, Jr. (Part II)
6th JUDICIAL DISTRICTKnox County
CHANCERY COURTJohn F. Weaver (Part I)Daryl R. Fansler (Part II)Sharon J. Bell (Part III)
CIRCUIT COURTDale Workman (Division l)Harold Wimberly, Jr. (Division II)Wheeler A. Rosenbalm (Division III)Bill Swann (Division IV)
CRIMINAL COURTRichard R. Baumgartner, (Division I)Ray L. Jenkins, (Division II)Mary Beth Leibowitz, (Division III)
7th JUDICIAL DISTRICTAnderson County
CHANCERY COURTWilliam E. Lantrip
CIRCUIT COURTJames B. Scott, Jr.
Trial Judges by Judicial District
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8th JUDICIAL DISTRICTCampbell, Claiborne, Fentress,Scott, Union counties
CHANCERY COURTBilly Joe White
CIRCUIT COURTConrad Troutman, Jr.
CRIMINAL COURTE. Shayne Sexton
9th JUDICIAL DISTRICTLoudon, Meigs, Morgan, Roane counties
CHANCERY COURTFrank V. Williams, III
CIRCUIT COURTRussell E. Simmons, Jr.
CRIMINAL COURTE. Eugene Eblen
10th JUDICIAL DISTRICTBradley, McMinn, Monroe, Polk counties
CHANCERY COURTJerri Bryant
CIRCUIT COURTLarry H. Puckett (Part I)John B. Hagler, Jr. (Part II)Carroll Lee Ross (Part III)
CRIMINAL COURTRobert Steven Bebb
11th JUDICIAL DISTRICTHamilton County
CHANCERY COURTW. Frank Brown, III (Part I)Howell N. Peoples (Part II)
CIRCUIT COURTJackie Schulten (Division I)Samuel H. Payne (Division II)L. Marie Williams (Division III)W. Neil Thomas, III (Division IV)
CRIMINAL COURTDouglas A. Meyer (Division I)Rebecca J. Stern (Division II)Steve M. Bevil (Division III)
12th JUDICIAL DISTRICT Bledsoe, Franklin, Grundy, Marion, Rhea, Sequatchie counties
CHANCERY COURTJeffrey Stewart
CIRCUIT COURTThomas W. (Rusty) Graham (Part I)J. Curtis Smith (Part II)Buddy D. Perry (Part III)
13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTClay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton,
Pickett, Putnam, White counties
CHANCERY COURTVernon Neal
CIRCUIT COURTJohn A. Turnbull (Part I)John J. Maddux, Jr. (Part II)
CRIMINAL COURTLeon C. Burns, Jr. (Division I)Lillie Ann Sells (Division II)
14th JUDICIAL DISTRICTCoffee County
CIRCUIT COURTL. Craig Johnson (Part I)John Rollins (Part II)
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15th JUDICIAL DISTRICTJackson, Macon, Smith, Trousdale,Wilson counties
CHANCERY COURTC. K. Smith
CIRCUIT COURTClara W. Byrd (Division I)John D. Wootten, Jr. (Division II)
CRIMINAL COURTJames O. Bond
16th JUDICIAL DISTRICTCannon, Rutherford counties
CHANCERY COURTRobert E. Corlew, III
CIRCUIT COURTSteve Daniel (Part I)James K. Clayton, Jr. (Part II)Don R. Ash (Part III)Royce Taylor (Part IV)
17th JUDICIAL DISTRICTBedford, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore counties
CHANCERY COURTJames B. (J. B.) Cox
CIRCUIT COURTCharles Lee (Part I)Lee Russell (Part II)
18th JUDICIAL DISTRICTSumner County
CHANCERY COURTThomas E. Gray
CIRCUIT COURTC. L. “Buck” Rogers
CRIMINAL COURTJane W. Wheatcraft
19th JUDICIAL DISTRICTMontgomery, Robertson counties
CHANCERY COURTCarol Catalano
CIRCUIT COURTRoss H. Hicks (Part I)Mike Jones (Part II)John H. Gasaway, III (Part III)
20th JUDICIAL DISTRICTDavidson County
CHANCERY COURTIrvin H. Kilcrease, Jr. (Part I)Carol McCoy (Part II)Ellen Hobbs Lyle (Part III)
CIRCUIT COURTHamilton Gayden, Jr. (Division l)Marietta M. Shipley (Division ll)Barbara N. Haynes (Division lll)Muriel Robinson (Division lV)Walter C. Kurtz (Division V)Thomas W. Brothers (Division Vl)Frank G. Clement, Jr. (Division Vll)Carol Soloman (Division Vlll)
CRIMINAL COURTSteve R. Dozier (Division I)J. Randall Wyatt, Jr. (Division II)Cheryl A. Blackburn (Division III)Seth Norman (Division IV)
21st JUDICIAL DISTRICTHickman, Lewis, Perry,Williamson counties
CIRCUIT COURTRuss Heldman (Division I)Robert E. Lee Davies (Division II)Donald P. Harris (Division III)Timothy Easter (Division IV)
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22nd JUDICIAL DISTRICTGiles, Lawrence, Maury, Wayne counties
CIRCUIT COURTJim T. Hamilton (Part I)Robert Holloway (Part II)Robert L. (Bob) Jones (Part III)Stella Hargrove (Part IV)
23rd JUDICIAL DISTRICTCheatham, Dickson, Houston,Humphreys, Stewart counties
CIRCUIT COURTRobert E. Burch (Division I)Leonard Martin (Division II)Allen W. Wallace (Division III) (retired 1/31/03)
24th JUDICIAL DISTRICTBenton, Carroll, Decatur, Hardin,Henry counties
CHANCERY COURTRon E. Harmon
CIRCUIT COURTCharles Creed McGinley (Part I)Julian P. Guinn (Part II)
25th JUDICIAL DISTRICTFayette, Hardeman, Lauderdale,McNairy, Tipton counties
CHANCERY COURTDewey C. Whitenton (Part I)Martha Brasfield (Part II)
CIRCUIT COURTJon Kerry Blackwood (Part I)Joseph H. Walker, III (Part II)
26th JUDICIAL DISTRICTChester, Henderson, Madison counties
CHANCERY COURTJoe C. Morris
CIRCUIT COURTRoy B. Morgan, Jr. (Division I)Donald H. Allen (Division II)Roger A. Page (Division III)
27th JUDICIAL DISTRICTObion,Weakley counties
CHANCERY COURTW. Michael Maloan
CIRCUIT COURTWilliam B. Acree, Jr.
28th JUDICIAL DISTRICTCrockett, Gibson, Haywood counties
CHANCERY COURTGeorge R. Ellis
CIRCUIT COURTClayburn Peeples
29th JUDICIAL DISTRICTDyer, Lake counties
CHANCERY COURTJ. Steven Stafford
CIRCUIT COURTRussell Lee Moore, Jr.
30th JUDICIAL DISTRICTShelby County
CHANCERY COURTWalter L. Evans (Part I)Arnold Goldin (Part II)D. J. Alissandratos (Part III)
CIRCUIT COURTJohn R. McCarroll, Jr. (Division I)James F. Russell (Division II)Karen R. Williams (Division III)Rita L. Stotts (Division IV)Kay S. Robilio (Division V)George H. Brown, Jr. (Division VI)Robert A. Lanier (Division VII)D’Army Bailey (Division VIII)Robert L. Childers (Division IX)
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Senior judges are appointed by theTennessee Supreme Court to two orfour-year terms. The retired trial orappellate court judges may be assignedon a temporary basis to any state court.
John K. ByersWilliam Inman
James L. WeatherfordAllen Wallace*
(*effective February 1, 2003)
CRIMINAL COURTBernie Weinman (Division I)W. Otis Higgs, Jr. (Division II)John P. Colton, Jr. (Division III)Carolyn Wade Blackett (Division IV)Joseph B. Dailey (Division V)W. Fred Axley (Division VI)Arthur T. Bennett (Division VII)Chris Craft (Division VIII)J. C. McLin (Division IX)James C. Beasley, Jr. (Division X)
PROBATE COURTDonn SouthernRobert Benham
31st JUDICIAL DISTRICTVan Buren, Warren counties
CIRCUIT and CHANCERY COURTLarry Barton Stanley, Jr.
Anderson CountyDon A. LaytonRonald N. Murch
Bedford CountyCharles L. Rich
Benton CountyClyde W. Watson
Bledsoe CountyHoward L. Upchurch
Blount CountyHugh Edward Delozier, Jr.William R. Brewer, Jr.William Terry Denton
Bradley CountyAndrew F. Bennett, Jr.Carrell Van Deacon, Jr.
Campbell CountyJoseph M. Ayers
Cannon CountySusan Melton
Carroll CountyLarry J. Logan
Carter CountyJohn W. Walton
Cheatham CountyPhillip A. Maxey
Chester CountyLarry F. McKenzie
Claiborne CountyJohn D. McAfee
Clay CountyJames D. White, Jr.
Cocke CountyJohn A. Bell
Coffee CountyJere LedsingerTimothy R. Brock
Crockett CountyShannon A. Jones
Senior Judges
General Sessions Court Judges By County
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Johnson CountyWilliam Bliss Hawkins
Knox CountyBobby Ray McGeeBrenda J. WaggonerChuck Cerny, Jr.Geoffrey P. EmeryTony W. Stansberry
Lake CountyDanny Goodman, Jr.
Lauderdale CountyJanice C. Craig
Lawrence CountyLee A. England
Lewis CountyBilly W. Townsend
Lincoln CountyCharles Crawford
Loudon CountyWilliam H. Russell
Macon CountyKen Witcher, Jr.
Madison CountyChristy R. LittleHugh H. Harvey, Jr.
Marion CountyJ. Clifford Layne
Marshall CountySteve Bowden
Maury CountyGeorge Logan LovellJ. Lee Bailey , IIIJimmy E. Matthews
McMinn CountyJames F. Watson
Cumberland CountySteven C. Douglas
Davidson CountyCasey MorelandGale B. RobinsonGloria A. DumasJohn Aaron HoltJohn P. BrownLeon RubenMark J. FishburnMichael F. MondelliSue Mcknight EvansWilliam Edward HigginsWilliam Joseph Faimon
Decatur CountyRicky L. Wood
DeKalb CountyBratten Hale Cook, II
Dickson CountyDurwood G. Moore
Dyer CountyCharles V. Moore
Fayette CountyJ. Weber McCraw
Fentress CountyPaul Crouch
Franklin CountyFloyd Don Davis
Gibson CountyJames Webb
Giles CountyJohn P. Damron
Grainger CountyJoe WayneWolfenbarger
Greene CountyThomas J. Wright
Grundy CountyEarlene Y. Speer
Hamblen CountyHerbert M. BaconJoyce Mills Ward
Hamilton CountyClarence E. Shattuck, JrO. Michael CarterRobert L. Moon, Jr.Ronald W. DurbyS. Richard Holcomb
Hancock CountyFloyd W. (Bill) Rhea
Hardeman CountySteven C. Hornsby
Hardin CountyDaniel L. Smith
Hawkins CountyDavid L. Brand
Haywood CountyJ. Roland Reid
Henderson CountyRobert Steve Beal
Henry CountyHansel J. McCadams
Hickman CountySamuel Herbert Smith
Houston CountySidney Vinson
Humphreys CountyDan R. Bradley
Jackson CountySteven Cassetty
Jefferson CountyAlfred Ben Strand, Jr.
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McNairy CountyBob G. Gray
Meigs CountyJayne Johnston-Crowley
Monroe CountyEdwin Cyrus Harris
Montgomery CountyJack HestleRay GrimesWayne C. Shelton
Moore CountyDonald J. Ray
Morgan CountyMichael A. Davis
Obion CountyRaymond Morris
Overton CountyJohn R. Officer
Perry CountyClovis Parnell
Pickett CountyRonnie Zachary
Polk CountyBilly D. Baliles
Putnam CountyJohn P. HudsonNolan R. Goolsby
Rhea CountyJames W. McKenzie
Roane CountyDennis W. HumphreyThomas A. Austin
Robertson CountyMax D. Fagan
Rutherford CountyBen Hall McFarlin, Jr.David Loughry
Scott CountyJames L. Cotton, Jr.
Sequatchie CountyL. Thomas Austin
Sevier CountyDwight E. StokesJeff D. Rader
Shelby CountyAnn Lucas PughAnthony JohnsonBetty Thomas MoorePhyllis B. GardnerJohn A. DonaldJoyce BroffittLarry E. PotterLonnie ThompsonLouis J. Montesi, Jr.Loyce Lambert RyanLynn CobbMischelle Alexander-BestRussell B. Sugarmon, Jr.Tim James DwyerGwen Rooks
Smith CountyMose Jackie Preston
Stewart CountyGeorge C. Sexton
Sullivan CountyDuane S. SnodgrassJ. Klyne LauderbackSteven Hal JonesW.A. (Bill) Watson
Sumner CountyBarry R. BrownJohn Wesley Jones
Tipton CountyWilliam A. Peeler
Trousdale CountyKenny Linville
Unicoi CountyDavid R. Shults
Union CountyDarryl W. Edmondson
Warren CountyLarry G. Ross
Washington CountyJohn L. KienerRobert Lincoln
Wayne CountyJames Yeiser Ross
Weakley CountyThomas L. Moore, Jr.
White & Van Buren countiesSam Benningfield
Williamson CountyAlfred L. NationsLonnie R. Hoover
Wilson CountyBarry TatumRobert P. Hamilton
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Appellate and trial court clerks are responsible for maintainingdockets and records and handling administrative matters in theircourts. The clerks also serve as judicial system goodwillambassadors since they have day-to-day interaction with the public.
Circuit Court clerks, elected in each county for four-year terms,also serve as General Sessions Court clerks in counties withoutdesignated General Sessions Court clerks. Clerks also are electedin counties with Probate and Criminal Courts. Each Chancery Courtis served by a clerk and master who is appointed by the ChanceryCourt judge for a six-year term.
The Office of the Appellate Court Clerk is responsible for filingappellate papers submitted by the parties with cases on appeal.The division where a case originates controls where the parties filetheir appeals. In capital cases where all appeals have been exhausted and where the execution date
has been set, all papers submitted to theSupreme Court are filed in the Middle Division.
In addition to cases on appeal, the MiddleDivision is where all Rules of Court are filed,matters before the Court of the Judiciary, Boardof Law Examiners, Board of ProfessionalResponsibility and certified questions of lawfrom federal courts. Also any petition for publicresponse altering or amending the Rules is filedin the Middle Division, as are all Supreme Courtopinions.
The clerk of the appellate courts isappointed by the Supreme Court for a six-yearterm and is based in Nashville, the MiddleDivision. Chief deputy clerks oversee the officesin Knoxville and Jackson.
Offices of the Appellate & Trial Court Clerks
Cecil Crowson Susan Turner Frankie HoltAppellate Court Clerk Chief Deputy Clerk Chief Deputy ClerkJanice Rawls P.O. Box 909 719 Locust StreetChief Deputy Clerk Jackson, TN 38302-0909 P.O. Box 444401 7th Avenue North 901-423-5840 Knoxville, TN 37901Nashville, TN 37219-1407 865-594-6700615-741-2681
Deputy clerk Fay Hicks handles one of the dozens ofcalls the three appellate court clerk’s offices receiveevery day. The offices are in Nashville, Knoxville andJackson.
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Carroll CountyCircuit Court ClerkPaul NewmonClerk and MasterKenneth Todd
Carter CountyCircuit Court ClerkJohn Paul MathesClerk and MasterCharlotte McKeehan
Cheatham CountyCircuit Court ClerkJulie WomackClerk and MasterDoris Sanders
Chester CountyCircuit Court ClerkKeith FryeClerk and MasterCornelia Hall
Claiborne CountyCircuit Court ClerkBilly Ray CheekClerk and MasterThomas O. Shumate
Clay CountyCircuit Court ClerkPeggy BallardClerk and MasterCorrinne McLerran
Cocke CountyCircuit Court ClerkPeggy LaneClerk and MasterCraig WildGeneral Sessions Court ClerkFrankie Cody
Coffee CountyCircuit Court ClerkHeather DuncanClerk and MasterCharlotte V. Broyles
Anderson CountyCircuit Court ClerkBarry PelizzariClerk and MasterSteve Queener
Bedford CountyCircuit Court ClerkThomas A. SmithClerk and MasterPatricia Finney
Benton CountyCircuit Court ClerkTerry HudsonClerk and MasterTim Burrus
Bledsoe CountyCircuit Court ClerkJamey RobersonClerk and MasterGreg Forgey
Blount CountyCircuit Court ClerkTom HatcherClerk and MasterJames A. Carroll
Bradley CountyCircuit Court ClerkPam D. MullClerk and MasterReginald Hyberger
Campbell CountyCircuit Court ClerkBrenda BoshearsClerk and MasterBill Archer
Cannon CountyCircuit Court ClerkRobert DavenportClerk and MasterHarold Patrick
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Crockett CountyCircuit Court ClerkKim KailClerk and MasterBetty Johnson
Cumberland CountyCircuit Court ClerkLarry SherrillClerk and MasterSue Tollett
Davidson CountyCircuit/Probate Court ClerkRichard R. RookerClerk and MasterClaudia BonnymanCriminal Court ClerkDavid Torrence
Decatur CountyCircuit Court ClerkDanny TannerClerk and MasterElizabeth J. Carpenter
DeKalb CountyCircuit Court ClerkKatherine PackClerk and MasterDebra Malone
Dickson CountyCircuit Court ClerkPam MyattClerk and MasterNancy MillerGeneral Sessions Court ClerkBarbara Spann
Dyer CountyCircuit Court ClerkTom T. J. JonesClerk and MasterJohn H. Hoff
Fayette CountyCircuit Court ClerkJimmie GermanClerk and MasterBarbara Walls
Fentress CountyCircuit Court ClerkW. Frank SmithClerk and MasterKathryn T. Robbins
Franklin CountyCircuit Court ClerkNancy SilvertoothClerk and MasterBrenda Clark
Gibson CountyClerk and MasterWanda BrownCircuit Court ClerkJanice JonesClerk and MasterLois Lockhart
Giles CountyCircuit Court ClerkCrystal GreeneClerk and MasterMerry B. Sigmon
Grainger CountyCircuit Court ClerkRhonda ReaganClerk and MasterVickie B. Greenlee
Greene CountyCircuit Court ClerkGail JeffersClerk and MasterKay Armstrong
Grundy CountyCircuit Court ClerkMarcia BessClerk and MasterPhyllis Dent
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Hamblen CountyCircuit Court ClerkKathy Trent-MullinsClerk and MasterKathy Jones-Terry
Hamilton CountyCircuit Court ClerkPaula ThompsonClerk and MasterS. Lee AkersCriminal Court ClerkGwen Tidwell
Hancock CountyCircuit Court ClerkBill McMurrayClerk and MasterScott Collins
Hardeman CountyCircuit Court ClerkLinda K. FulghumClerk and MasterJanice Bodiford
Hardin CountyCircuit Court ClerkDiane B. PolkClerk and MasterMartha Smith
Hawkins CountyCircuit Court ClerkHolly H. JaynesClerk and MasterShirley Graham
Haywood CountyCircuit Court ClerkJoe MooreClerk and MasterJudy Hardister
Henderson CountyCircuit Court ClerkKenny CavnessClerk and MasterLeigh Milam
Henry CountyCircuit Court ClerkRondall MyersClerk and MasterMary Burns
Hickman CountyCircuit Court ClerkDana Dotson NicholsonClerk and MasterSue Smith
Houston CountyCircuit Court ClerkCora Sue McMillanClerk and MasterPatsy Brooks
Humphreys CountyCircuit Court ClerkElaine ChoateClerk and MasterMike Bullion
Jackson CountyCircuit Court ClerkAaron L. ThomasClerk and MasterGarry W. Jones
Jefferson CountyCircuit Court ClerkKathy Bunch CarpenterClerk and MasterNancy C. Humbard
Johnson CountyCircuit Court ClerkCarolyn Wilson HawkinsClerk and MasterLinda Morefield
Knox CountyCircuit Court ClerkCatherine F. QuistClerk and MasterHoward G. HoganCriminal Court ClerkMartha Phillips
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Lake CountyCircuit Court ClerkDebbie BeasleyClerk and MasterNanette Cook
Lauderdale CountyCircuit Court ClerkRichard JenningsClerk and MasterSandra Burnham
Lawrence CountyCircuit Court ClerkLeon ClantonClerk and MasterKristy Gang
Lewis CountyCircuit Court ClerkDonna CouchClerk and MasterJanet Williams
Lincoln CountyCircuit Court ClerkGail CorderClerk and MasterElizabeth Capshaw
Loudon CountyCircuit Court ClerkLisa NilesClerk and MasterFred Chaney
Macon CountyCircuit Court ClerkJennifer HudsonClerk and MasterGwen Linville
Madison CountyCircuit Court ClerkJudy BarnhillClerk and MasterPam Carter
Marion CountyCircuit Court ClerkEvelyn GriffithClerk and MasterLevoy Gudger
Marshall CountyCircuit Court ClerkElinor FosterClerk and MasterTommy Higdon
Maury CountyCircuit Court ClerkKathy KelleyClerk and MasterCheryl Church
McMinn CountyCircuit Court ClerkNorma Corn WhiteClerk and MasterPatty Gaines
McNairy CountyCircuit Court ClerkRonnie BrooksClerk and MasterFairy R. Hunter
Meigs CountyCircuit Court ClerkDebbie SmithClerk and MasterJim Mercer
Monroe CountyCircuit Court ClerkMartha CookClerk and MasterRobert J. Pennington
Montgomery CountyCircuit Court ClerkCheryl J. CastleClerk and MasterEdward Davis
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Moore CountyCircuit Court ClerkTrixie HarrisonClerk and MasterTammy Roberts
Morgan CountyCircuit Court ClerkRachel SmithClerk and MasterAngela Anderson
Obion CountyCircuit Court ClerkHarry JohnsonClerk and MasterPaula Rice
Overton CountyCircuit Court ClerkJohnny BrownClerk and MasterDorothy Stanton
Perry CountyCircuit Court ClerkRobert O’GuinClerk and MasterJoyce Marshall
Pickett CountyCircuit Court ClerkLarry BrownClerk and MasterSue Whited
Polk CountyCircuit Court ClerkConnie H. ClarkClerk and MasterKim Ingram
Putnam CountyCircuit Court ClerkMarcia BorysClerk and MasterLinda F. Reeder
Rhea CountyCircuit Court ClerkJohn E. FineClerk and MasterBarry Harrison
Roane CountyCircuit Court ClerkAngela RandolphClerk and MasterShannon Conley
Robertson CountyCircuit Court ClerkLisa CavendarClerk and MasterKenneth Hudgens
Rutherford CountyCircuit Court ClerkEloise GaitherClerk and MasterJohn A. W. Bratcher
Scott CountyCircuit Court ClerkJan BurressClerk and MasterBetty Phillips
Sequatchie CountyCircuit Court ClerkKaren MilsapsClerk and MasterThomas Goins
Sevier CountyCircuit Court ClerkJanette Layman-BallardClerk and MasterCarolyn McMahanGeneral Sessions ClerkConnie Holt
Shelby CountyCircuit Court ClerkJimmy MooreClerk and MasterKenny W. ArmstrongCriminal Court ClerkWilliam R. KeyGeneral Sessions Court ClerkChris TurnerProbate Court ClerkChris Thomas
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Smith CountyCircuit Court ClerkRobert LancasterClerk and MasterDianna Dillehay
Stewart CountyCircuit Court ClerkBarbara WallaceClerk and MasterJane C. Link
Sullivan CountyCircuit Court ClerkRaymond WintersClerk and MasterSara Housewright
Sumner CountyCircuit Court ClerkMahailiah HughesClerk and MasterBrenda Page
Tipton CountyCircuit Court ClerkMike ForbessClerk and MasterJudy Billings
Trousdale CountyCircuit Court ClerkKim TaylorClerk and MasterShelly Brown
Unicoi CountyCircuit Court ClerkGregory MastersClerk and MasterTeresa W. Simerly
Union CountyCircuit Court ClerkBarbara WilliamsClerk and MasterDoris Seymour
Van Buren CountyCircuit Court ClerkTeresa Simmons-DeLongClerk and MasterSharon Guy
Warren CountyCircuit Court ClerkBernie MorrisClerk and MasterRichard McGregor
Washington CountyCircuit Court ClerkKaren GuinnClerk and MasterDianna Boarman
Wayne CountyCircuit Court ClerkBilly G. CrewsClerk and MasterCarolyn Mathis
Weakley CountyCircuit Court ClerkPam BelewClerk and MasterPatricia Taylor
White CountyCircuit Court ClerkHenry E. FosterClerk and MasterLinda McCoy
Williamson CountyCircuit Court ClerkDebbie McMillan BarrettClerk and MasterElaine Beeler
Wilson CountyCircuit Court ClerkLinda NealClerk and MasterBarbara Webb
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The Year In Headlines
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Longtime judge on AppealsCourt, Henry Todd, diesBy CHRISTIAN BOTTORFFStaff WriterHenry F. Todd, 87, a retired judge for the TennesseeCourt of Appeals, died early yesterday morning..
2002
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Jury Reform
As 2002 wound down, the Supreme Courtfinalized proposed amendments to the Tennes-see Rules of Civil Procedure and the TennesseeRules of Criminal Procedure designed to improveconditions for Tennessee jurors.
The rules, presented to the General Assem-bly for approval in 2003, were part of a jury re-form pilot project started during 2001 in 10 court-rooms across the state. The project assessed14 recommendations of the Tennessee Bar As-sociation Jury Reform Commission.
Significant changes presented to the Gen-eral Assembly would allow jurors in Tennesseeto take notes during a trial and use the notesduring deliberations. Judges also would have thediscretion of allowing jurors to present questionsin written form for witnesses.
Other jury reform proposals include permit-ting judges to change the order of expert testi-mony to help jurors understand and evaluate itand permitting lawyers to address jurors duringa trial to explain evidence. Others require the trialjudge to give basic instructions on proceduresand law at the beginning of a trial and also givejudges the option of presenting the bulk of finaljury instructions before closing argument.
Paper Size
Tennessee joined a growing number ofstates in 2002 with the adoption of a rule requir-ing the use of letter-size paper for court docu-ments. The rule, effective July 1, 2003, will virtu-ally eliminate filings on legal-size, or 11 X 14inches paper.
The change mandated by the SupremeCourt applies to all state courts, including gen-eral sessions, juvenile, probate, circuit, chancery,criminal and appellate.
Interpreters Achieve Certification
During the final month of 2002, foreign lan-guage court interpreters were certified for the firsttime in Tennessee. The first seven to become
Sampling of 2002 Judicial System Initiatives certified successfully completed oral and written ex-aminations and a criminal background check as re-quired by Supreme Court Rules 41 and 42 adoptedearlier in the year. The two rules set out proficiencyand ethics standards for interpreters working in Ten-nessee courts.
Under the rules, judges are required to attemptto appoint an interpreter who is certified if one isavailable. In addition to the seven certified interpret-ers, another 18 had qualified as registered interpret-ers, meaning they had passed the written examina-tion and criminal background check, but had notcompleted the oral examination requirement.
At the end of the year, written tests had beengiven to 150 applicants and 39 also had taken theoral examination. Prospective interpreters had beentested in Arabic, Vietnamese, Lao and Spanish.
CASE and SCALES Projects
Students across the state continued to benefitfrom court system outreach programs. The SupremeCourt conducted two SCALES Projects, bringing thenumber of participating students to more than 10,000since the program started in 1995. SCALES is anacronym for the Supreme Court Advancing LegalEducation for Students.
In April 2002, the Eastern Section of the Courtof Appeals launched a similar program - the CASEProject. CASE is an acronym for Court of AppealsAffecting Student Education.
Both court programs make it possible for stu-dents to hear oral argument in actual cases heardin their own or a nearby community. Students alsoreceive materials and instruction about the courtsystem as part of the programs.
Workers Comp Mediation
Supreme Court Provisional Rule 37, adoptedin 2002, continues a pilot program started in 1998for mediating workers’ compensation cases at theappellate level. The rule envisions “the use of me-diation to make the resolution of workers’ compen-sation appeals more efficient, economical and fair.”Rule 37 provides for the extension of the pilot pro-gram on a statewide basis.
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Administrative Office of the Courts511 Union Street
Suite 600Nashville, TN 37219
615-741-2687Cornelia A. Clark
DirectorElizabeth SykesDeputy Director
The Administrative Office of theCourts (AOC) provides support servicesto the state court system. The director,appointed by the Supreme Court, is chiefadministrative officer for the courts andoversees the AOC. Duties of the officeinclude preparing the court system’sannual budget; providing judicialeducation, law libraries, computers, otherequipment, training and technical supportfor judges and other court personnel;
assisting judges with case assignments; administering payroll accounts for the court system; conductingorientation for new judges; administering the official state criminal court reporters system; providingassistance to judicial committees; compiling data; and reviewing and disbursing funds to court-appointedattorneys representing indigents.
Fiscal Services Division
The Fiscal Services Division is primarily responsible for maintaining financial integrity for theJudicial Branch of state government. This is accomplished by providing timely support to the variousprograms through the four major sections comprising the fiscal services division. These four groupsare accounting management, facilities management, office management and grants/contracts man-agement. The actions of these four groups affect all of the employees of the court system.
The court system’s budget compared to other departments/agencies is shown in the graph below.
Total State Budget Fiscal Year 2001-02
0.39%
11.25%
4.79%
9.63%
3.13%
16.35%
3.21%
45.39%
1.24% 1.15%
3.48%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
45.0%
50.0%
Court System 0.39%Higher Education 11.25%Law, Safety & Correction 4.79%Transportation, Business & Economic Development 9.63%General Government 3.13%K-12 Education 16.35%Resources/Regulations 3.21%Health & Social Services 45.39%Debt Service 1.24%Capital Outlay/Facilities Revolving Fund 1.15%Counties and Cities 3.48%
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The budget administered for fiscal year 2001-2002 was $77,053,800, before supplementalappropriations, with total expenditures of $77,332,384.26. The court system expended the followingamounts for fiscal year 2001-2002:
Appellate and Trial Courts $40,300,488.54 52.11%Supreme Court Buildings 2,497,384.47 3.23%Child Support Referees 934,160.83 1.21%Guardian Ad Litem 977,355.74 1.26%Indigent Defendants Counsel 14,897,665.34 19.26%Civil Legal Representation Fund 3,128,741.57 4.05%Verbatim Transcripts 3,293,061.34 4.26%Law Libraries 579,956.31 0.75%Judicial Conference 179,649.41 0.23%Judicial Programs and Commissions 632,511.16 0.82%State Court Clerks’ Conference 179,406.15 0.23%Administrative Office of the Courts 7,625,956.81 9.86%Appellate Court Clerk’s Office 1,603,521.57 2.07%Board of Law Examiners 502,525.02 0.65%Total Expenditures $77,332,384.26
The Indigent Defense Fund expended $14,897,665.34 for fiscal year 2001-2002 and $3,014,000was expended for capital cases. Listed below are the expenditures for the Indigent Defense Fund andfor capital cases for fiscal years 1997-98 through 2001-2002:
Total Expenditures from the Indigent Defense Fund:
Fiscal Year 2001-2002 $14,897,665Fiscal Year 2000-2001 12,877,960Fiscal Year 1999-2000 12,878,170Fiscal Year 1998-1999 11,288,119Fiscal Year 1997-1998 9,628,384
Indigent Defense Fund capital case expenditures:
Fiscal Year 2001-2002 $3,014,000Fiscal Year 2000-2001 2,719,636Fiscal Year 1999-2000 3,234,723Fiscal Year 1998-1999 2,574,955Fiscal Year 1997-1998 2,189,110
Human Resources Division
The Human Resources Division addressesthe human resource needs of nearly 700 courtsystem employees statewide, including trial andappellate court judges and AOC staff. The division works with judges and AOC management in devel-oping position descriptions, recruiting, interviewing, hiring, training, employee evaluations and em-ployee separation. Other responsibilities include approving salary adjustments, overseeing employeebenefits, monitoring Workers’ Compensation claims and leave under the Family Medical Leave Act(FMLA) and consulting with management regarding a wide variety of employment issues. The divisionalso is responsible for Affirmative Action and Title VI compliance.
Finance director Tim Townsend and accounting technicianDebbie Hill
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Technology Services Division
The Technology Services Division provides computer support for more than 1,400 court systempersonnel, maintains 74 local area networks and oversees the wide area communications that tietogether all appellate court sites, the TnCIS project site and the AOC. The staff also provides classeson court-supplied software and the help desk assists court personnel with support issues.
The division has several large projects underway, including development of the Tennessee CourtInformation System (TnCIS).
The Judicial Information Tracking System (JITS) is performing well, a vast improvement over itspredecessor. Efforts continue to enhance and refine the software. In the past year, several changeshave taken place to allow for fax filing and improve the collection of state litigation taxes.
The division continues to work with the TJIS (Tennessee Judicial Information System) to improvedata collection and reporting. Since the passage of 2001 Public Chapter 408 and amendment toSupreme Court Rule 11 added additional notification and enforcement duties to the TJIS system,case information reporting has drastically improved.
Over the coming year, Technology Services will be working to update software for the court reportertracking database, enhance and redesign the indigent defense payment system, continue improvementsto the JITS software and work toward implementation of TJIS data reporting for courts with general
sessions jurisdiction to meet the July 1, 2003,legislative mandate.
Tennessee Court Information System
The Tennessee Court Information System(TnCIS) is a statutorily-authorized trial court casemanagement software system integrating casetracking and accounting functions for courtclerks, including circuit, criminal, chancery,probate, juvenile, and general sessions. TnCISsoftware will provide participating clerks with anautomated case management system toimprove record keeping, reduce paperwork,improve timeliness, enhance fee collection,allow for better sharing and transfer of data, aidin the efficient management of the court’s timeand provide better service to the public.
The TnCIS business plan was presentedto the legislative oversight committee, which
approved and adopted it as the guide for TnCIS going forward. The hardware replacement subcommitteerecommended creation of a fund to provide no-interest or low-interest loans to counties to fund hardwarereplacement. This fund was created through legislation in 2001 Public Chapter 451 with no actualdollars allocated.
The TnCIS team members for both the AOC and Local Government Data Processing have been verybusy in 2002. The majority of the detail design work for the first wave of functionality was completed andapproved in 2002. This included the user interface prototype, which was demonstrated for the TJISAC(Tennessee Judicial Information Systems Advisory Committee) and the TnCIS Steering Committee aswell. The final piece of the detail design phase should be completed in early 2003. The rest of 2003 will bespent preparing for and testing the TnCIS software prior to implementation in late 2003/early 2004.
Stan WallsCourt Technology Assistant
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Active Boards and Commissions Created by the Tennessee Supreme Court
Advisory Commission on Rules of Practice and ProcedureAlternative Dispute Resolution Commission
Board of Law ExaminersBoard of Professional Responsibility
Commission on Continuing Legal EducationCourt of the Judiciary
Judicial CouncilJudicial Ethics Committee
Judicial Evaluation CommissionJudicial Performance Program Committee
Judicial Selection CommissionLawyer Assistance Program
Lawyers Fund for Client ProtectionState Law Library Commission
Supreme Court Building Commissions: Nashville, Knoxville, JacksonTennessee Code Commission
Tennessee Judicial Conference CommitteesTennessee Judicial Information System Advisory Committee
Tennessee Court Information System Steering Committee
The AOC’s Judicial Education and ProgramServices Division and the Legal and Public In-formation Division were merged during 2002into the Court and Public Services Division(CAPS). The new division includes the pro-grams, education, public information and legalsections. In addition, the Court ImprovementProgram, the Court Interpreters Program, theCourt Reporters Program and the Judicial Evalu-ation Program are administered by the division.
The programs section includes the alter-native dispute resolution program, the VORPproject, the parenting plan program and drugcourts. The education section plans and pre-sents educational seminars for the TennesseeJudicial Conference, General Sessions JudgesConference and Clerks of Court, and coordi-
nates the SCALES project for high school students. Education also administers judicial out-of-statetravel for educational seminars and conferences and all continuing education for judicial law clerks.The Court Improvement Program is part of the division. Staff train Foster Care Review Boards, attor-neys and judges on child dependency laws to address barriers to permanency within the judicial pro-cess. The division also includes public information, the court system website and publications.
The legal section is also included in the Court and Public Services Division. The legal staff servesas reporters for the Pattern Jury Instruction Committees, draft and track legislation, work with theAdvisory Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure and publishers on the rules of court,track capital cases in the trial and appellate courts, and advise judges and personnel on legal issues.The Court Interpreter Program is also administered by the CAPS division.
Court and Public Services Division
Joann WatlingtonPublications Coordinator
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Board of Professional Responsibility1101 Kermit Drive, Suite 730
Nashville, TN 37217615-361-7500
The Board of Professional Responsibility investigates complaints against attorneys and disciplinesthose who violate professional rules. The program also publishes ethics opinions, operates an ethicshotline, conducts seminars and oversees an attorney trust fund program. Tennessee attorneys havepaid nearly $18 million in court assessments to finance the program, including $1.6 million in 2002. Theboard, an arm of the Supreme Court, received 1,171 complaints from Nov. 1, 2001, through Oct. 31,2002, resulting in nine disbarments, 13 suspensions, 13 public censures, 50 private reprimands and82 private admonitions. Another four attorneys opted to take disability inactive status. The number ofcomplaints against attorneys dropped from the previous 12 month period, when the total was 1,397.
Tennessee Board of Law Examiners706 Church Street, Suite 100
Nashville, TN 37243-0740615-741-3234
www.state.tn.us/lawexaminersThe Board of Law Examiners governs the examination and admission of attorneys applying to
practice law in Tennessee. The office, with a staff of three, admits attorneys previously licensed formore than five years in other jurisdictions and administers the bar examination to recent law schoolgraduates. The two-day exam is given each year in February and July. During 2002, 712 law schoolgraduates took the exam and 67 percent passed.
Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization221 Fourth Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37219615-741-3096 (CLE)
www.cletn.orgThe commission oversees the mandatory continuing legal education requirements and
certification of attorneys as specialists in 11 areas of the law. Attorneys in the state have earned morethan 235,000 hours of CLE credit at over 5,400 programs nationwide accredited by the commission.More than 240 Tennessee attorneys are certified specialists.
Tennessee Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection615-741-3097
TLFCP manages a fund of approximately $1 million from which it reimburses clients whoseattorneys have stolen from them. During 2002, the fund paid out over $40,000 to claimants. The fundis administered by the same staff and uses the same office space as the Tennessee Commission onContinuing Legal Education and Specialization.
Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program1- 877- 424-8527
email: tnlap@aol.comwww.tlap.org
TLAP provides confidential free referrals and other support services to attorneys, judges, barapplicants and law students with health and personal issues such as substance abuse, stress, familyproblems, depression and eating disorders. The program was created by the Tennessee SupremeCourt and is supported by attorneys. Since September 1999, the program has had more than 660 inquiriesand referrals and averages 18 new service calls per month.
Message from the Chief Justice and Administrative DirectorEarly Court HistoryCourthouse Fires and DisastersHistorical Society InitiativeTennessee CourtsSupreme CourtIntermediate Appellate CourtsTrial JudgesGeneral Sessions Court Judges By County
Tennessee Judicial SystemOffices of the Appellate & Trial Court ClerksThe Year In Headlines2002 Judicial System InitiativesAdministrative Office of the CourtsFiscal Services DivisionHuman Resources DivisionTechnology Services DivisionCourt and Public Services Division
Active Boards and Commissions Created by the Tennessee Supreme CourtStatisticsStatewide SummariesChancery Court SummaryCircuit Court SummaryCriminal Court
Supreme Court Caseload DataCourt of Appeals Caseload DataCourt of Criminal Appeals Caseload Data
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Damages & Torts