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List of justices of the Tennessee Supreme Court

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Following is a list of justices of the Tennessee Supreme Court. This list includes Judges of the Southwest Territory territorial high court, which existed from 1790 to 1796 while Tennessee remained a United States territory, Judges of the Tennessee Superior Court of Law and Equity, which existed from 1796 to 1809, and Judges of the Tennessee Court of Errors and Appeals, which existed from 1810 to 1835.[1] These high courts were created before the 1835 Tennessee constitution, which established the Supreme Court and made the Judiciary an independent branch of government.[2]

Territorial high court (1790–1796)

Main article: Southwest Territory § Judiciary
More information Picture, Judge (birth–death) ...
Picture Judge
(birth–death)		 Tenure Appointer[3]: 520  Succeeded[3]: 520 
David Campbell[3]: 520 
(1750–1812)[3]: 520, 523 		 October 23, 1790[3]: 522 
–
June 1, 1796[3]: 523–24 
(Position abolished)[3]: 523–24 		 George Washington (I) Seat established
John McNairy[3]: 520 
(1762–1837)[3]: 523–24 		 December 15, 1790[3]: 524 
–
April 9, 1796[3]: 524 
(Resigned)[3]: 524 		 George Washington (I) Seat established
Joseph Anderson[3]: 520 
(1757–1837)[3]: 524–25 		 July 15, 1791[3]: 525 
–
June 1, 1796[3]: 524–25 
(Position abolished)[3]: 524–25 		 George Washington (I) Seat established
Close

Tennessee Superior Court of Law and Equity (1796–1809)

Main article: Tennessee Superior Court
Andrew Jackson's service on the Tennessee Superior Court of Law and Equity preceded his service for his second term in the United States Senate, and as President of the United States.
More information Picture, Judge (birth–death) ...
Picture Judge
(birth–death)		 Tenure Appointer Succeeded
Willie Blount[4]: 12 
(1767 or 1768–1835)[5]		 April 1796[4]: 12 
–
1796[4]: 13 
(Resigned)[4]: 13 		 Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 12  Seat established[4]: 12 
John McNairy[4]: 12 
(1762–1837)[4]: 13 		 April 9, 1796[3]: 524 
–
May 1797[3]: 524 
(Resigned)[4]: 13 		 Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 12  Seat established[4]: 12 
Archibald Roane[4]: 12 
(1759-1819)[4]: 13 		 April 1796[4]: 12 
–
1801[4]: 13 
(Resigned)[4]: 13 		 Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 12  Seat established[4]: 12 
William C. C. Claiborne[4]: 13 
(1775–1817)[5]		 September 28, 1796[5]
–
1797[4]: 13 
(Resigned)[4]: 13 		 John Sevier[4]: 13  (D-R) Willie Blount[4]: 13 
David Campbell[4]: 13 
(1750–1812)[3]: 520, 523 		 October 11, 1797[3]: 523 
–
1807[4]: 13 
(Resigned)[4]: 13 		 Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 13  William C. C. Claiborne[4]: 13 
Howell Tatum[4]: 13 
(?–1822)[6]		 1797[4]: 13 
–
1798[6]
(Resigned)[4]: 13 		 John Sevier[4]: 13  (D-R) John McNairy[4]: 13 
Andrew Jackson[4]: 13 
(1767–1845)[4]: 13 		 December 1798[4]: 13 
–
July 1804[4]: 14 
(Resigned)[4]: 14 		 John Sevier[4]: 13  (D-R) Howell Tatum[4]: 13 
Hugh Lawson White[4]: 15 
(1773–1840)[4]: 16 		 1801[4]: 15 
–
1807[4]: 15 
(Resigned)[4]: 15 		 Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 15  Archibald Roane[4]: 15 
John Overton[4]: 14 
(1766–1833)[4]: 14 		 August 1804[4]: 14 
–
December 31, 1809[4]: 14 
(Position abolished)[4]: 7–8 		 Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 14  Andrew Jackson[4]: 14 
Samuel Powell[4]: 17 
(1776–1841)[6]		 1807[4]: 17 
–
December 31, 1809[4]: 17 
(Position abolished)[4]: 7–8 		 Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 17  Seat established[4]: 17 
Parry Wayne Humphreys[4]: 17 
(?–1839)[5]		 1807[5]
–
December 31, 1809[4]: 17 
(Position abolished)[4]: 7–8 		 Tennessee General Assembly[5] David Campbell[4]: 17 
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Tennessee Court of Errors and Appeals (1810-1835)

Main article: Tennessee Court of Errors and Appeals
John Catron served on the Tennessee Court of Errors and Appeals before his appointment to the Supreme Court of the United States.
More information Picture, Judge (birth–death) ...
Picture Judge
(birth–death)		 Tenure Appointer Succeeded
George Washington Campbell[4]: 17 
(1769–1848)[6]		 January 1, 1810[a]
–
1811[4]: 17 
(Resigned)[4]: 17 		 Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 17  Seat established[4]: 16–17 
Hugh Lawson White[4]: 16 
(1773–1840)[4]: 16 		 January 1, 1810[b]
–
December 1815[4]: 17 
(Resigned)[4]: 17 		 Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 17  Seat established[4]: 16–17 
John Overton[4]: 14 
(1766–1833)[4]: 14 		 November 1811[4]: 14 
–
April 11, 1816[6]
(Resigned)[4]: 14 		 Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 17  George Washington Campbell[4]: 17 
William Wilcox Cooke[4]: 17 
(?–1816)[5]		 December 1815[4]: 17 
–
July 20, 1816[5]
(Died)[4]: 17 		 Joseph McMinn[4]: 17  (D-R) Hugh Lawson White[4]: 17 
Archibald Roane[4]: 17 
(1759-1819)[4]: 13 		 October 21, 1815[6]
–
January 4, 1819[6]
(Died)[4]: 13 		 Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 17  Seat established[4]: 17 
John Haywood[4]: 17 
(1762–1826)[4]: 17 		 September 14, 1816[5]
–
December 22, 1826[4]: 19 
(Died)[4]: 19 		 Joseph McMinn[4]: 17  (D-R) William Wilcox Cooke[4]: 17 
Robert Whyte[4]: 17 
(1767–1844)[4]: 19 		 October 1817[4]: 17 
–
December 1, 1835[4]: 67 
(Position abolished)[6]		 Joseph McMinn[4]: 17  (D-R) John Overton[4]: 15 
Thomas Emmerson[4]: 19 
(1773–1837)[5]		 October 1819[4]: 19 
–
1822[4]: 19 
(Resigned)[4]: 19 		 Joseph McMinn[4]: 19  (D-R) Archibald Roane[4]: 19 
Jacob Peck[4]: 19 
(1779–1869)[4]: 19 		 August 1822[4]: 19 
–
December 1, 1835[4]: 67 
(Position abolished)[6]		 Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 19  Thomas Emmerson[4]: 19 
William Little Brown[4]: 20 
(1789–1830)[5]		 1822[4]: 20 
–
October 1823[4]: 21 
(Resigned)[4]: 20 		 Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 20  Seat established[4]: 20 
John Catron[4]: 21 
(1779–1865)[5]		 1824[4]: 20 
–
1831[4]: 63 
(Resigned)[6]		 Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 21  William Little Brown[4]: 330 
Thomas Lanier Williams I[4]: 21 
(1788–1856)[6]		 1826[6]
–
?		 William Carroll[4]: 21  (D-R) Seat established[4]: 21 
Henry Crabb[4]: 21 
(1793–1827)[5]		 December 1826[5]
–
1827[5]
(Died)[5]		 William Carroll[4]: 21  (D-R) John Haywood[4]: 21 
Nathan Green Sr.[4]: 21 
(1792–1866)[6]		 1831[4]: 21 
–
December 1, 1835[4]: 67 
(Position abolished)[6]		 Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 21  John Catron[4]: 333 
John Catron[4]: 64 
(1779–1865)[5]
Chief Justice[4]: 64 		 December 19, 1831[4]: 330 
–
December 1, 1835[4]: 67 
(Position abolished)[6]		 Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 64  Seat established[4]: 63 
Close

Tennessee Supreme Court (1835–Present)

Main article: Tennessee Supreme Court
Horace Maynard served on the Tennessee Supreme Court and the United States Congress at the same time, a dual role that was challenged in court.
Horace Harmon Lurton also went from the Tennessee Supreme Court to the Supreme Court of the United States.
More information Picture, Judge (birth–death) ...
Picture Judge
(birth–death)		 Tenure Grand Division Appointer/Method of Appointment[c] Succeeded
William B. Turley[4]: 67 
(1800–1851)[4]: 341 		 December 4, 1835[4]: 341 
–
April 1850[4]: 88 
(Resigned)[4]: 88 		 West[4]: 67  Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 67  Seat established[4]: 67 
William B. Reese[4]: 67 
(1793–1859)[4]: 339 		 December 4, 1835[4]: 339 
–
October 1, 1847[4]: 339 
(Retired)[4]: 84 		 East[4]: 67  Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 67  Seat established[4]: 67 
Nathan Green Sr.[4]: 68 
(1792–1866)[6]		 December 4, 1835[4]: 333 
–
September 27, 1852[4]: 334 
(Retired)[4]: 84 		 Middle[4]: 67  Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 67  Seat established[4]: 67 
Robert J. McKinney[4]: 84 
(1803–1875)[4]: 337 		 December 1847[4]: 85 
–
September 13, 1862[4]: 96 
(Court ceased operates due to the American Civil War)[4]: 96 		 East[4]: 84  Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 84  William B. Reese[4]: 84 
Archibald W. O. Totten[4]: 88 
(1809–1867)[4]: 341 		 February 28, 1850[4]: 341 
–
July 17, 1855[4]: 341 
(Resigned)[4]: 341 		 West[4]: 88  Tennessee General Assembly[4]: 88  William B. Turley[4]: 88 
Robert L. Caruthers[4]: 89 
(1800–1882)[4]: 330 		 September 1852[4]: 89 
–
1861[4]: 330 
(Resigned)[4]: 330 		 Middle[4]: 89  William B. Campbell[4]: 89  (W) Nathan Green Sr.[4]: 89 
William R. Harris[4]: 334 
(1803–1858)[4]: 334 		 1855[4]: 334 
–
June 19, 1858[4]: 334 
(Died)[4]: 334 		 West[4]: 334  Andrew Johnson[4]: 334  (D) Archibald W. O. Totten[4]: 334 
Archibald Wright[4]: 342 
(1809–1885)[4]: 342 		 June 19, 1858[4]: 334 
–
September 13, 1862[4]: 96 
(Court ceased operates due to the American Civil War)[4]: 96 		 West[4]: 342  Isham G. Harris[4]: 342  (D) William R. Harris[4]: 342 
Edwin H. Ewing[4]: 95 
(?–?)		 September 1861[4]: 95 
–
September 1861[4]: 95 
(Lost re-election)[4]: 95 		 Middle[4]: 95  Isham G. Harris[4]: 95  (D) Robert L. Caruthers[4]: 95 
William Frierson Cooper[4]: 95 
(1820–1909)[5]		 December 1861[4]: 95 
–
September 13, 1862[4]: 96 
(Court ceased operates due to the American Civil War)[4]: 96 		 Middle[4]: 95  Direct election[4]: 95  Edwin H. Ewing[4]: 95 
Samuel Milligan[4]: 102 
(1814–1874)[4]: 98 		 January 1865[4]: 102 
–
March 1867[4]: 102 
(Resigned)[4]: 102 		 East[4]: 98  Andrew Johnson[4]: 102  (D) Robert J. McKinney[4]: 98 
Samuel Milligan[4]: 98 
(1814–1874)[4]: 98 		 1867[4]: 102 
–
July 1868[4]: 102 
(Resigned)[4]: 102 		 East[4]: 98  Parson Brownlow[4]: 98  (R) Himself[4]: 98 
James O. Shackleford[4]: 98 
(?–?)		 August 1865[4]: 103 
–
February 1867[4]: 103 
(Resigned)[4]: 102 		 Middle[4]: 98  Parson Brownlow[4]: 98  (R) William Frierson Cooper[4]: 98 
Horace H. Harrison[4]: 103 
(1829–1885)[5]		 1867[4]: 104 
–
September 1868[4]: 104 
(Resigned)[4]: 104 		 Middle[4]: 103  Parson Brownlow[4]: 98  (R) James O. Shackleford[4]: 103 
Alvin Hawkins[4]: 98 
(1821–1905)[5]		 1865[4]: 97–98 
–
1868[4]: 102 
(Resigned)[4]: 102 		 West[4]: 98  Parson Brownlow[4]: 98  (R) Archibald Wright[4]: 98 
James O. Shackleford[4]: 103 
(?–?)		 1868[4]: 103 
–
1869[4]: 104 
(Lost re-election)[4]: 104 		 Middle[4]: 104  Parson Brownlow[4]: 103  (R) Horace H. Harrison[4]: 104 
Henry G. Smith[4]: 104 
(1807–1878)[6]		 1868[4]: 104 
–
1869[4]: 104 
(Lost re-election)[4]: 104 		 West[4]: 104  Parson Brownlow[4]: 104  (R) Alvin Hawkins[4]: 104 
Horace Maynard[4]: 104 
(1814–1882)[6]		 1868[4]: 104 
(Appointed but never took his seat)[4]: 104 		 East[4]: 104  Parson Brownlow[4]: 104  (R) Samuel Milligan[4]: 104 
George Andrews[4]: 104 
(1826–1889)[5]		 1868[4]: 104 
–
?		 East[4]: 104  Parson Brownlow[4]: 104  (R) Horace Maynard[4]: 104 
Alvin Hawkins[4]: 103 
(1821–1905)[5]		 1869[4]: 103 
–
?		 West[4]: 104  Direct election[4]: 103  Henry G. Smith[4]: 104 
Andrew McClain[4]: 104 
(1826–1913)[6]		 1869[4]: 104 
–
?		 Middle[4]: 105  Direct election[4]: 104  James O. Shackleford[4]: 105 
Thomas A. R. Nelson
(1812–1873)[6]		 1870[6]
–
December 1871[6]
(Resigned)[6]		 East[6] Direct election[6] Court reorganized
James W. Deaderick
(1812–1890)[5]		 1870[5]
–
1886[5]
(Retired)[5]		 East[5] Direct election[5] Court reorganized
Alfred O. P. Nicholson
(1808–1876)[6]		 1870[6]
–
March 23, 1876[6]
(Died)[6]		 Middle[6] Direct election[6] Court reorganized
Peter Turney
(1827–1903)[6]		 1870[6]
–
1893[6]
(Resigned)[6]		 At large[7] Direct election[6] Court reorganized
John L. T. Sneed
(1820–1901)[6]		 1870[6]
–
1878[6]
(Lost re-nomination)[6]		 West[6] Direct election[6] Court reorganized
Thomas J. Freeman
(1827–1891)[5]		 1870[5]
–
1886[5]
(Lost re-election)[5]		 West[7] Direct election[5] Court reorganized
Robert McFarland
(1832–1884)[6]		 December 1871[6]
–
1882[6]
(Resigned)[6]		 East[7] John C. Brown[6] (D) Thomas A. R. Nelson[6]
William Frierson Cooper
(1820–1909)[5]		 1878[5]
–
1886[5]
(Lost re-election)[5]		 Middle[5][7] Direct election[5] John L. T. Sneed
James Burch Cooke
(1819–1899)[5]		 1884[5]
–
1886[5]
(Lost re-election)[5]		 East[5] William B. Bate[5] (D) Robert McFarland[5]
Waller C. Caldwell
(1849–1924)[5]		 1886[5]
–
1902[5]
(?)		 ? Direct election[5] ?
David L. Snodgrass
(1851–1917)[6]		 September 1886[8]
–
September 1902[8]
(Retired)[8]		 Middle[6] Direct election[6] ?
Horace H. Lurton
(1844–1914)[6]		 1886[6]
–
1893[6]
(Resigned)[6]		 Middle[6] Direct election[6] ?
William C. Folkes
(1845–1890)[5]		 1886[5]
–
May 15, 1890[5]
(Died)[5]		 ? Direct election[5] ?
William Dwight Beard
(1835–1910)[5]		 1890[5]
–
1890[5]
(Lost re-election)[5]		 West[5] Robert Love Taylor[5] (D) William C. Folkes[5]
Benjamin J. Lea
(1833–1894)[5]		 1890[5]
–
March 15, 1894[5]
(Died)[5]		 Middle[5] Direct election[5] William Dwight Beard[5]
John Summerfield Wilkes
(1841–1908)[6]		 January 16, 1893[6]
–
February 2, 1908[6]
(Died)[5]		 Middle[9] ? Peter Turney[6]
William King McAlister
(1850–1923)[6]		 April 1, 1893[6]
–
1910[6]
(?)		 Middle[6] Peter Turney[6] (D) Horace H. Lurton[6]
A. D. Bright
(1838–1898)[5]		 March 16, 1894[5]
–
September 1, 1894[5]
(?)		 ? Peter Turney[5] (D) Benjamin J. Lea[5]
William Dwight Beard
(1835–1910)[5]		 1894[5]
–
December 7, 1910[5]
(Died)[5]		 West[5][9] Direct election[5] A. D. Bright
Matthew M. Neil
(1849–1925)[6]		 1902[6]
–
1918[6]
(?)		 At large[9] Direct election[6] ?
John Knight Shields
(1858–1934)[6]		 1902[6]
–
February 12, 1913[6]
(Resigned)[6]		 East[9] Direct election[6] David L. Snodgrass
Bennett Douglas Bell
(1852–1934)[5]		 February 7, 1908[5]
–
1910[5]
(Lost re-election)[5]		 ? Malcolm R. Patterson[5] (D) John Summerfield Wilkes[5]
Grafton Green
(1872–1947)[5]		 1910[5]
–
January 27, 1947[5]
(Died)[5]		 At large[10] Direct election[5] ?
D. L. Lansden
(1869–1924)[5]		 1910[5]
–
April 11, 1923[5]
(Resigned)[5]		 Middle[10] Direct election[5] ?
Arthur S. Buchanan
(1856–1919)[5]		 December 17, 1910[5]
–
December 1917[5]
(Resigned)[5]		 ? Malcolm R. Patterson[5] (D) William Dwight Beard[5]
Samuel Cole Williams
(1864–1947)[6]		 1913[6]
–
1918[6]
(?)		 East[10] Ben W. Hooper[5] (R) John Knight Shields[6]
Francis Fentress
(1873–1930)[5]		 January 1918[5]
–
September 1, 1918[5]
(?)		 West[5] Thomas Clarke Rye[5] (D) Arthur S. Buchanan[5]
Frank P. Hall
(1870–1926)[5]		 1918[5]
–
July 10, 1926[5]
(Died)[5]		 West[5] Direct election[5] ?
Colin P. McKinney
(1873–1944)[6]		 1918[6]
–
September 1, 1942[6]
(Retired)[6]		 ? Direct election[6] ?
Nathan Lynn Bachman
(1878–1937)[5]		 1918[5]
–
September 8, 1923[5]
(Resigned)[5]		 East[5] Direct election[5] ?
William Loch Cook
(1869–1942)[5]		 April 12, 1923[5]
–
March 5, 1942[5]
(Died)[6]		 Middle[5] Austin Peay[5] (D) D. L. Lansden[5]
Alexander W. Chambliss
(1864–1947)[5]		 September 22, 1923[5]
–
October 1, 1947[6]
(Died)[6]		 East[5] Austin Peay[5] (D) Nathan Lynn Bachman[5]
William H. Swiggart
(1888–1966)[6]		 1926[6]
–
1934[6]
(Resigned)[6]		 ? Direct election[6] ?
David W. DeHaven
(1872–1943)[5]		 January 21, 1935[5]
–
June 4, 1943[5]
(Died)[5]		 West[5] Hill McAlister[5] (D) William H. Swiggart[5]
A. B. Neil
(1873–1966)[6]		 March 9, 1942[6]
–
February 1, 1960[6]
(Retired)[6]		 Middle[6] Prentice Cooper[6] (D) William Loch Cook[6]
Alan M. Prewitt
(1893–1963)[6]		 1942[6]
–
February 17, 1963[6]
(Died)[5]		 ? Direct election[6] Colin P. McKinney[6]
Frank H. Gailor
(1892–1954)[5]		 June 7, 1943[5]
–
April 8, 1954[6]
(Died)[6]		 West[5] Prentice Cooper[5] (D) David W. DeHaven[5]
Pride Tomlinson
(1890–1967)[6]		 February 1, 1947[6]
–
July 31, 1961[6]
(Retired)[6]		 Middle[6] Jim Nance McCord[6] (D) Grafton Green[6]
Hamilton S. Burnett
(1895–1973)[5]		 October 3, 1947[5]
–
September 1969[11]
(Resigned)[11]		 East[5] Jim Nance McCord[5] (D) Alexander W. Chambliss[5]
John E. Swepston
(1894–1961)[6]		 April 12, 1954[6]
–
September 15, 1961[6]
(Retired)[6]		 West[6] Frank G. Clement[6] (D) Frank H. Gailor[6]
Sam L. Felts
(1889–1977)[5]		 February 1, 1960[5]
–
January 1, 1965[4]: 232 
(Retired)[12]		 Middle[12] Buford Ellington[5] (D) A. B. Neil[5]
Weldon B. White
(1907–1967)[6]		 August 1, 1961[6]
–
April 23, 1967[6]
(Died)[6]		 Middle[6] Buford Ellington[6] (D) Pride Tomlinson[6]
Ross W. Dyer
(1911–1993)[5]		 September 15, 1961[5]
–
September 2, 1974[5][13]
(Lost re-nomination)[4]: 273 		 East[4]: 273  Buford Ellington[5] (D) John E. Swepston[5]
Andrew O. Holmes
(1906–1965)[5]		 February 1963[5]
–
July 24, 1965[5]
(Died)[5]		 West[5] Frank G. Clement[5] (D) Alan M. Prewitt[5]
Chester C. Chattin
(1907–1979)[5]		 January 1, 1965[5]
–
September 2, 1974[5][13]
(Retired)[4]: 272 		 Middle[5] Frank G. Clement[5] (D) Sam L. Felts[4]: 351 
Larry Barkley Creson
(1909–1972)[5]		 August 1, 1965[5]
–
June 19, 1972[4]: 268 
(Died)[4]: 271 		 West[5] Buford Ellington[5] (D) Andrew O. Holmes[5]
Allison B. Humphreys
(1906–1993)[5]		 April 27, 1967[5]
–
September 2, 1974[5][13]
(Retired)[4]: 272 		 Middle[5] Buford Ellington[5] (D) Weldon B. White[5]
George F. McCanless
(1904–1992)[6]		 September 1, 1969[6]
–
September 2, 1974[13]
(Retired)[4]: 272 		 East[6] Buford Ellington[6] (D) Hamilton S. Burnett[6]
William Fones
(1917–2010)[5][14]		 May 14, 1973[5]
–
August 1990[5]
(Retired)[4]: 304 		 West[4]: 273  Winfield Dunn[4]: 269  (R)[d] Larry Barkley Creson[4]: 268–69 
Robert E. Cooper Sr.
(1920–2016)[5][15]		 September 2, 1974[13]
–
1990[4]: 305 
(Lost re-nomination)[4]: 305 		 East[4]: 273  Direct election[4]: 274  (Democratic Party nominee)[4]: 274  George F. McCanless
Joe W. Henry
(1916–1980)[5]		 September 2, 1974[13]
–
June 9, 1980[5]
(Died)[5]		 Middle[4]: 273  Direct election[4]: 274  (Democratic Party nominee)[4]: 274  Chester C. Chattin / Allison B. Humphreys
Ray L. Brock Jr.
(1922–2002)[5]		 September 2, 1974[13]
–
June 15, 1987[5]
(Resigned)[4]: 277 		 East[4]: 273  Direct election[4]: 274  (Democratic Party nominee)[4]: 274  Ross W. Dyer[4]: 273 
William J. Harbison
(1923–1993)[5]		 September 2, 1974[13]
–
March 1990[4]: 306 
(Resigned)[4]: 306 		 Middle[4]: 273  Direct election[4]: 271  (Democratic Party nominee)[4]: 271  Chester C. Chattin / Allison B. Humphreys
George H. Brown Jr.
(born 1939)[5]		 June 23, 1980[5]
–
August 7, 1980[5]
(Lost re-election)[4]: 276 		 West[4]: 276  Lamar Alexander[4]: 276  (R) Joe W. Henry[4]: 276 
Frank F. Drowota III
(1938–2018)[5][16]		 September 1980[4]: 276 
–
September 2, 2005[17]
(Retired)[18]		 Middle[4]: 276  Direct election[4]: 276  (Democratic Party nominee)[4]: 276  George H. Brown Jr.[4]: 276 
Charles H. O'Brien
(1920–2007)[6]		 1987[6]
–
October 1994[4]: 307 
(Resigned)[4]: 307 		 East[19] Ned McWherter[6] (D) Ray L. Brock Jr.[4]: 277 
Martha Craig Daughtrey
(born 1942)[5]		 April 23, 1990[20]
–
November 22, 1993[5]
(Resigned)[4]: 306 		 Middle[4]: 305  Ned McWherter[4]: 305  (D) William J. Harbison[4]: 305 
Lyle Reid
(born 1930)[6]		 August 1990[6]
–
March 1, 1998[4]: 311 
(Resigned)[4]: 311 		 West[4]: 305  Direct election[4]: 305  (Democratic Party nominee)[4]: 305  William Fones[4]: 305 
E. Riley Anderson
(1932–2018)[5][21]		 August 1990[5]
–
August 31, 2006[22]
(Retired)[22]		 East[4]: 305  Direct election[4]: 304  (Democratic Party nominee)[4]: 304  Robert E. Cooper Sr.[4]: 305 
A. A. Birch Jr.
(1932–2011)[5][23]		 December 1993[5]
–
August 31, 2006[22]
(Retired)[22]		 Middle[24] Ned McWherter[25] (D) Martha Craig Daughtrey[4]: 306 
Penny J. White
(born 1956)[6]		 December 1994[26]
–
November 1996[6]
(Lost re-election)[6]		 East[19] Ned McWherter[19] (D) Charles H. O'Brien[19]
Janice M. Holder
(born 1949)[5]		 December 13, 1996[27]
–
August 31, 2014[28]
(Retired)[28]		 West[19] Don Sundquist[29] (R) Penny J. White[29]
William M. Barker
(1941–2023)[5][30]		 April 1998[5]
–
September 1, 2008[31]
(Retired)[31]		 East[31] Don Sundquist[30] (R) Lyle Reid[5]
Cornelia Clark
(1950–2021)[5][32]		 September 19, 2005[18]
–
September 24, 2021[32]
(Died)[32]		 Middle[18] Phil Bredesen[32] (D) Frank F. Drowota III[18]
Gary R. Wade
(born 1948)[6]		 September 1, 2006[33]
–
September 8, 2015[34]
(Retired)[34]		 East[33] Phil Bredesen[35] (D) E. Riley Anderson[35]
William C. Koch Jr.
(born 1947)[5]		 June 15, 2007[36]
–
July 15, 2014[37]
(Retired)[37]		 Middle[36] Phil Bredesen[36] (D) A. A. Birch Jr.[36]
Sharon G. Lee
(born 1953)[5]		 March 20, 2009[38]
–
August 31, 2023[39]
(Retired)[39]		 East[39] Phil Bredesen[38] (D) William M. Barker[40]
Jeffrey S. Bivins
(born 1960)[41]		 July 16, 2014[42]
–
Incumbent		 Middle[37] Bill Haslam[37] (R) William C. Koch Jr.[5]
Holly M. Kirby
(born 1957)[43]		 September 1, 2014[44]
–
June 30, 2026[45]
(Retired)[45]		 West[44] Bill Haslam[44] (R) Janice M. Holder[44]
Roger A. Page
(born 1955)[46]		 February 22, 2016[47]
–
August 31, 2024[46]
(Retired)[46]		 West[46] Bill Haslam[47] (R) Gary R. Wade[46]
Sarah K. Campbell
(born 1982)[48]		 February 10, 2022[49]
–
Incumbent		 Middle[49] Bill Lee[49] (R) Cornelia Clark[49]
Dwight E. Tarwater
(born 1955)[50]		 September 1, 2023[51]
–
Incumbent		 East[51] Bill Lee[51] (R) Sharon G. Lee[51]
Mary L. Wagner
(born 1984)[52]		 September 1, 2024[53]
–
Incumbent		 West[54] Bill Lee[53] (R) Roger A. Page[53]
Kyle Hixson
(born 1983)[55]		 July 1, 2026
–
Incumbent		 East[56] Bill Lee[56] (R) Holly M. Kirby[56]
Close


Chief Justices

The following is an incomplete list of those who have served as Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court:

  • Alfred O. P. Nicholson, 1870 – March 23, 1876[6]
  • James W. Deaderick, 1876–1886[5]
  • Peter Turney, 1886–1893[6]
  • Horace H. Lurton, January 17, 1893 – 1893[6]
  • Benjamin J. Lea, 1893 – March 15, 1894[5]
  • David L. Snodgrass, 1894–1902[6]
  • William Dwight Beard, 1902–1910[5]
  • John Knight Shields, 1910 – February 12, 1913[6]
  • Matthew M. Neil, February 17, 1913 – 1918[6]
  • D. L. Lansden, 1918 – April 11, 1923[5]
  • Grafton Green, August 12, 1923 – January 27, 1947[5]
  • Alexander W. Chambliss, February 3, 1947 – October 1, 1947[5]
  • A. B. Neil, October 6, 1947 – February 1, 1960[6]
  • Alan M. Prewitt, February 1, 1960 – February 17, 1963[6]
  • Hamilton S. Burnett, 1963[5] – September 1, 1969[6][11]
  • Ross W. Dyer, September 1, 1969 – September 1, 1974[5]
  • Ray L. Brock Jr. July 1, 1979[5] – ?
  • Joe W. Henry, 1979 – June 9, 1980[5]
  • William J. Harbison, 1980–1982[5]
  • William J. Harbison, 1987–1989[5]
  • Frank F. Drowota III, January 1989 – September 1990[5]
  • Lyle Reid, 1990–1994[6]
  • E. Riley Anderson, October 1994 – May 1996[5]
  • A. A. Birch Jr., May 1996 – July 1997[5]
  • E. Riley Anderson, July 8, 1997[5] – August 1998
  • E. Riley Anderson, September 1998[5] – ?
  • Frank F. Drowota III, August 2002 – September 2, 2005[5]
  • William M. Barker, October 2005[5] – September 1, 2008[31]

Notes

  1. [a]
    Judge Campbell was elected by the General Assembly in 1809[5] and took his seat upon the creation of the Tennessee Court of Errors and Appeals on January 1, 1810.[4]: 7–8 
  2. [b]
    Judge White was elected by the General Assembly in 1809[4]: 17 [6] and took his seat upon the creation of the Tennessee Court of Errors and Appeals on January 1, 1810.[4]: 7–8 
  3. [c]
    Since 1835, the method by which Justices have been chosen have varied between direct election, election by the Tennessee General Assembly, direct selection by the Governor of Tennessee, and a hybrid system of executive appointment, legislative confirmation, and direct retention elections known as the Tennessee Plan.
  4. [d]
    Justice Fones was an independent.[4]: 269 

References

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