The General Sessions Music City Community Court, Division 8, was founded in 2012 by Davidson County Judge Rachel L. Bell to focus on providing preventive and diversionary justice, held two Saturday dockets in October and November according to The Nashville Pride. The Community Service Docket is a “one stop shop” under advisement return docket where offenders are able to participate with the Tennessee Department of Transportation Adopt- A- Highway Program. And the Pro Se Indigency Docket and Expungement Clinic processed over 500 criminal records to be expunged along with several lawyers providing pro bono legal services in efforts to assist offenders filing out affidavits that are presented to the court for declaration of indigency.
Veterans in Need of Legal Assistance
Gary Housepian, Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, explained in The Tennessean that providing legal services to veterans is complicated due to the high rate of homelessness among veterans. He said that these individuals often need legal help with issues such as eviction or foreclosure, outstanding warrants, fines and child support, and he urges his fellow lawyers to provide this much-needed legal aid and encourages veterans to reach out for assistance.
Day on the Hill for TISL Students
More than 500 Tennessee college students recently gathered for the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature (TISL) Day on the Hill to learn about current policy issues and meet local legislators. Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) Deborah Taylor Tate was one of many state officials in attendance.
Alumna of the Year Honor Given to Former Prosecutor
Assistant attorney general for the District of Columbia Dr. Jamie Carter was named the 2016 Lee University Department of History, Humanities and Political Science Distinguished Alumna of the Year, per The Cleveland Banner. Carter was instrumental in establishing the “good-faith exception” in Tennessee, which allows unconstitutionally obtained evidence to be presented in court if collected “in good faith” by law enforcement. Carter has also held positions as Knox County assistant district attorney and acting assistant district attorney in Davidson County.
Scalia Honored in Court’s First Live Webcast
The U.S. Supreme Court held a memorial to honor the late Justice Antonin Scalia, led by former Scalia law clerk Paul Cappucio, executive vice president and general counsel of Time Warner. The event was live-streamed as the court’s first live video webcast, and the archived video is available on the court’s website.
October 2016 Circuit Court Trial Report
Click here to access the October 2016 departments by the numbers, trials by case type and trial verdict results.
