State v. Bishop

In State v. Bishop, Courtney Bishop was found guilty of attempted  aggravated robbery and first degree felony murder by the trial court.  Upon review, the Supreme Court of Tennessee held that information provided by an accomplice when corroborated with independent investigation is sufficient to establish probable cause for an arrest. The Court also held that an in court confession does not require corroboration to support a conviction.

Read more here.

Modified Grandparent Visitation

The Tennessee Supreme Court has held that the grandparents are essentially on the same footing as a “parent v. parent” modification.  The moving party must show by a preponderance of the evidence that there has been a material change in circumstances and that change makes a modification or termination of grandparent visitation in the child’s best interests.

To read details on a case of modified grandparent visitation, click here.

First Woman to Serve as Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Announces Retirement

Janice M. Holder made history as the first woman to serve as Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice. August 31st, 2014 will be her last day in the state's highest court. She will not be seeking re-election.

“It has been my privilege to serve the people of Tennessee as a trial judge and Supreme Court justice – and an honor to have been selected by my fellow justices as the first female chief justice in our state’s history,” Justice Holder said.

Justice Holder served on the first Tennessee Supreme Court with a majority of women. She was first elected circuit court judge of the 30th Judicial District in Memphis in 1990. She was appointed to the Supreme Court of Tennessee in December 1996, elected in August 1998, and then re-elected in 2006 to her current eight-year term.

Some of her honors include: 2010 Legacy Laureate, University of Pittsburgh; 2009 W.J. Michael Cody Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award, Memphis Area Legal Services; 2009 Jurist of the Year Award, Southeastern Region of the American Board of Trial Advocates; 2008 Grayfred Gray Public Service Mediation Award, Coalition for Mediation Awareness in Tennessee; 1999 honoree for exceptional support of the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program by the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs; 1990 Memphis Bar Association Sam A. Myar Award for Outstanding Service to the Legal Profession and to the Community; 1992 Chancellor Charles A. Rond Award, Outstanding Jurist, Memphis Bar Association.