Tennessee Supreme Court Decisions

Under the Tennessee Constitution, the Tennessee Supreme Court hears appeals in Nashville, Jackson, and Knoxville, as well as other cities if needed. It reviews appeals of both civil and criminal cases from courts such as the Tennessee Court of Appeals and the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. If one of the lower appellate courts fails to reach a decision in an emergency situation, the Supreme Court may assume jurisdiction and decide the case. In addition, the Court may review cases that pose constitutional questions, cases that involve state tax rules, and cases that relate to the right to hold public office. The Court consists of five justices, each of whom serves a term of eight years.

Article 8-18-101 of the Tennessee Constitution provides specific requirements for a prospective justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court. In addition to meeting these requirements, a candidate must be at least 35 years old and must be licensed to practice law in Tennessee. They must have been a resident of the state for at least five years. The Governor of Tennessee appoints each new justice, and the Tennessee General Assembly must confirm each appointment. In the next general election after a justice is appointed, they must go through a retention election. If they are retained, they will need to go through another retention election at the end of their term to stay on the Court. This system has faced several legal challenges, but the Supreme Court has held that retention elections are constitutional. Only one justice has been removed or not retained under the current system.

The Chief Justice currently serves a term of two years, although this has varied during the history of the Court. The justices of the Court choose the Chief Justice, as provided by the Tennessee Constitution.

Browse Opinions From the Tennessee Supreme Court

Recent Decisions From the Tennessee Supreme Court
Youree v. Recovery House of East Tennessee, LLC  
Date: January 22, 2025
Docket Number: M2021-01504-SC-R11-CV

Justia Opinion Summary: Charles Youree, Jr. filed a lawsuit against two business entities, Recovery House of East Tennessee, LLC and RHT Holdings, LLC, seeking to hold them liable for a judgment he previously obtained against another entity,…

Richards v. Vanderbilt University Medical Center  
Date: January 22, 2025
Docket Number: M2022-00597-SC-R11-CV

Justia Opinion Summary: Clayton D. Richards underwent a medical procedure at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in August 2013, resulting in bilateral lower extremity paralysis. He initially filed a negligence lawsuit against VUMC in…

Trentham v. Mid-America Apartments, LP  
Date: January 8, 2025
Docket Number: M2021-01511-SC-R11-CV

Justia Opinion Summary: Robert Trentham slipped and fell on a pedestrian bridge at the Venue at Cool Springs apartment complex in Franklin, Tennessee, owned by Mid-America Apartments, LP (MAA). The incident occurred on a rainy morning, and…

State v. Curry  
Date: January 8, 2025
Docket Number: W2022-00814-SC-R11-CD

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the defendant was convicted in 2022 for unlawful possession of a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony crime of violence. The State introduced a certified judgment of conviction for the…

Teresa Thompson Locke et al. v. Jason D. Aston, M.D. et al.
Date: December 27, 2024
Docket Number: M2022-01820-SC-R11-SV
Pharma Conference Education, Inc. v. State  
Date: December 20, 2024
Docket Number: W2021-00999-SC-R11-CV

Justia Opinion Summary: Pharma Conference Education, Inc. entered into an agreement with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center to produce pharmaceutical continuing education programs "as is feasible." The Health Science Center…

Terry Case v. Wilmington Trust, N.A. et al. (concurring)
Date: November 14, 2024
Docket Number: E2021-00378-SC-R11-CV
Flade v. City of Shelbyville, Tennessee  
Date: October 9, 2024
Docket Number: M2022-00553-SC-R11-CV

Justia Opinion Summary: Robert E. Lee Flade filed a lawsuit against several defendants, including Stephanie Isaacs and the Bedford County Listening Project (BCLP), over disparaging remarks made on social media. Isaacs and the BCLP filed motions…

State v. Green  
Date: August 27, 2024
Docket Number: M2022-00899-SC-R11-CD

Justia Opinion Summary: During a routine traffic stop, law enforcement conducted an open-air sniff using a drug-sniffing canine. The canine alerted to the vehicle, leading officers to search it without a warrant under the automobile exception.…

Mathes v. 99 Hermitage, LLC  
Date: July 31, 2024
Docket Number: M2021-00883-SC-R11-CV

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the original plaintiff, Ora Eads, Jr., obtained legal title to a commercial property in Nashville but did not register the deed. Years later, the seller defaulted on a loan, and a creditor obtained a…

Family Trust Services LLC v. Green Wise Homes LLC  
Date: July 10, 2024
Docket Number: M2021-01350-SC-R11-CV

Justia Opinion Summary: The plaintiffs alleged that the defendants committed fraud related to property rights. The defendants, through their business, REO Holdings, LLC, bought properties at tax sales and used redemption rights to obtain…

Charles v. McQueen  
Date: July 3, 2024
Docket Number: M2021-00878-SC-R11-CV

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a defamation claim brought by Bill Charles, a real estate professional and president of the homeowners' association of the Durham Farms community in Hendersonville, Tennessee, against Donna McQueen, a…

Clardy v. State  
Date: June 25, 2024
Docket Number: M2021-00566-SC-R11-ECN

Justia Opinion Summary: A prisoner filed a petition for a writ of error coram nobis, a legal order allowing a court to correct its original judgment, long after the one-year limitations period had expired. The petition was based on new evidence…

The opinions published on Justia State Caselaw are sourced from individual state court sites. These court opinions may not be the official published versions, and you should check your local court rules before citing to them. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site, or the information linked to on the state site.

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

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