Judicial Nominating Commission

Tenn. Code Ann. Section 17-4-102 - The Judicial Nominating Commission reviews applicants for judicial vacancies on the state trial and appellate courts. From the applicants, the commission makes recommendations to the governor, who makes an appointment to fill the vacancy. Eight of the seventeen members of the commission are appointed by the Speaker of the Senate. Eight of the members are appointed by the Speaker of the House. One member is jointly appointed by the Speakers of the Senate and House.

Judicial Nominating Commission Bylaws

Senate Bill 1573 / House Bill 1448

MEMBERS

Chair:
Thomas (“Tom”) Lawless, Esq.
Lawless & Associates, P.C.
The Customs House
701 Broadway, Ste. 403
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 351-7839
Fax: (615) 985-0900
E-mail: tomlawless.jnc@gmail.com
Term: 07/01/09 - 06/30/15 (1)
Appointed by: Speaker of the Senate
(Middle TN)

Vice Chair:
Christopher Clem, Esq.
Samples, Jennings, Ray & Clem, PLLC
130 Jordan Drive
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 892-2006
Fax: (423) 892-1919
E-mail: cclem@sampleslaw.com
Term: 07/01/09 - 06/30/13 (1)
Appointed by: Speaker of the Senate
(At large – East TN)

Secretary
J. Bartlett Quinn, Esq.
Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C.
Liberty Tower
605 Chestnut Street, Ste. 1700
Chattanooga, TN 37450
Phone: (423) 757-0205
Fax: (423) 508-1205
E-mail: bquinn@cbslawfirm.com
Term: 09/01/11 - 06/30/13
Appointed by: Speaker of the Senate
(At large – East TN)
(serving remainder of Bill Young’s term)

S. Leo Arnold, Esq.
Ashley, Ashley & Arnold
322 Church Avenue
Dyersburg, TN 38024
Phone: (731) 285-5074
Fax:  (731) 285-5089
E-mail:   leo@ashleyarnold.com
Term: 07/01/11 – 06/30/17 (1)
Appointed by:  Speaker of the House   
(West TN)

Mary Helen Beard, Esq.
FedEx Corporation
942 South Shady Grove Rd., Ste. 248
Memphis, TN 38120
Phone: (901) 818-7306
Fax: (901) 818-7453
E-mail: marybeardjnc@yahoo.com
Term: 07/01/09 – 06/30/15 (1)
Appointed by: Speaker of the House
(West TN)

Miles Burdine
President & CEO
Kingsport Chamber of Commerce
400 Clinchfield Street
Kingsport, TN 37660
Phone: (423) 392-8807
Fax: (423) 392-8834
E-mail: mburdine@kingsportchamber.org
Term: 07/01/09 – 06/30/15  (1)
Appointed by: Speaker of the Senate
(East TN)

Elizabeth T. Collins, Esq.
Thomason, Hendrix, Harvey, Johnson
   & Mitchell, PLLC
40 South Main St., 29th Floor
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone:    (901) 577-6130
Fax:         (901) 525-6722
E-mail:    collinse@thomasonlaw.com
Term:      07/01/11 - 06/30/17 (1)
Appointed by:  Speaker of the Senate 
(West TN)

Ana L. Escobar, Esq.
Metropolitan Clerk
205 Metropolitan Courthouse
Nashville, TN 37201
Phone: (615) 862-6772
Fax: (615) 862-6774
E-mail: ana7906@gmail.com
Term: 07/01/09 – 06/30/13 (1)
Appointed by: Speaker of the House
(Middle TN)

Olen G. Haynes, Sr., Esq.
Arnold, Haynes & Sanders
207 East Main Street, Ste. 2-A
Johnson City, TN 37604
Phone: (423) 928-0165
Fax: (423) 928-2484
E-mail: ogh@ahsatty.com
Term: 03/09/10 – 06/30/15
Appointed by: Speaker of the House
(East TN)
(serving the remainder of David Bautista’s term)

William L. (“Lewis”) Jenkins, Jr., Esq.
Wilkerson, Gauldin, Hayes & Jenkins
112 West Court Street
P.O. Box 220
Dyersburg, TN 38025-0220
Phone: (731) 286-2401
Fax: (731) 286-2294
E-mail: wljenkins24@gmail.com
Term: 07/01/09 - 06/30/13 (1)
Appointed by: Speaker of the Senate
(West TN)

 


Russell Johnson, Esq.
District Attorney General
P.O. Box 703
Kingston, TN 37763
Phone: (865) 376-2145
Fax: (865) 376-2148
E-mail: lrjohnson@tndagc.org
Term: 07/01/09 – 06/30/13 (1)
Appointed by: Speaker of the House
(East TN)

David A. Golden
Eastman Chemical Company
P.O. Box 431
Kingsport, TN 37662
Phone: (423) 229-2097
Fax: (423) 224-9399
E-mail: dgolden@eastman.com
Term: 07/01/09 - 06/30/15 (1)
Appointed by: Speaker of the Senate
(East TN)
(serving remainder of Theresa Lee's term)

Gilbert Wayne McCarter, II, Esq.
McCarter, Catron & East PLLC
101 North Maple Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Phone: (615) 278-9389
Fax: (615) 893-9258
E-mail:  bertmccarter@mcelaw.com
Term:  07/01/11 - 06/30/17 (1)
Appointed by: Speaker of the Senate
(Middle TN)

William Scott Sims, Esq.
Walker, Tipps & Malone, PLC
2300 One Nashville Place
150 4th Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37219
Phone: (615) 313-6000
Fax: (615) 313-6002
E-mail: ssims@walkertipps.com
Term: 07/01/09 – 06/30/15 (1)
Appointed by: Speaker of the House
(Middle TN)

Michael Spitzer, Esq.
The Spitzer Firm
19 Cedar Street
Hohenwald, TN 38462
Phone: (931) 796-7974
Fax:  (931) 796-7924
E-mail: spitzerfirm@bellsouth.net
Term:  07/01/11 – 06/30/17 (1)
Appointed by:  Speaker of the House   
(At large – Middle TN)

C. Barry Ward, Esq.
Ballin, Ballin & Fishman, P.C.
200 Jefferson Avenue, Ste. 1250
Memphis, TN 38103-2007
Phone: (901) 525-6278
Fax: (901) 525-6294
E-mail: bward@bbfpc.com
Term: 07/01/09 – 06/30/13 (1)
Appointed by: Speaker of the House
(At large – West TN)

Verna Wyatt
Victim Advocate
270 Locustwood Drive
Nashville, TN 37211
Phone: (615) 513-8707
Fax: N/A
E-mail: wyatt_verna@yahoo.com
Term: 07/01/09 – 06/30/17 (2)*
Appointed by: Joint Speaker Appointment
(Non-Attorney – At large – Middle TN)

AOC Staff Contact:
Elizabeth (Libby) Sykes, Director
Administrative Office of the Courts
Nashville City Center
511 Union Street, Suite 600
Nashville, TN 37219
Phone: (615) 741-2687
Fax: (615) 741-6285
E-mail: Libby.Sykes@tncourts.gov

Aaron Conklin, Esq.
Assistant General Counsel
NashvilleCity Center, Suite 600
511 Union Street
Nashville, TN  37219
Phone:   (615) 741-2687
Fax:  (615) 741-6285
E-mail:  Aaron.Conklin@tncourts.gov

Debra Hayes, Executive Administrative Asst.
Administrative Office of the Courts
Nashville City Center
511 Union Street, Suite 600
Nashville, TN 37219
Phone: (615) 741-2687
Fax: (615) 741-6285
E-mail: Debra.Hayes@tncourts.gov