List of justices of the Tennessee Supreme Court

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. These high courts were created before the 1835 Tennessee constitution, which established the Supreme Court and made the Judiciary an independent branch of government.

Territorial high court (1790–1796)

PictureJudge(birth–death)TenureAppointerSucceededWalter Chandler, The Judicial System of Tennessee, Its Beginning and Now, 16 Tenn. L. Rev. 519 (1941).(1750–1812)–June 1, 1796(Position abolished)George Washington (I)Seat established(1762–1837)–April 9, 1796(Resigned)George Washington (I)Seat established(1757–1837)–June 1, 1796(Position abolished)George Washington (I)Seat established

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

PictureJudge(birth–death)TenureAppointerSucceeded(1767 or 1768–1835)–1796(Resigned)Tennessee General AssemblySeat established(1762–1837)–May 1797(Resigned)Tennessee General AssemblySeat established(1759-1819)–1801(Resigned)Tennessee General AssemblySeat established(1775–1817)–1797(Resigned)John Sevier (D-R)Willie Blount(1750–1812)–1807(Resigned)Tennessee General AssemblyWilliam C. C. Claiborne(?–1822)–1798(Resigned)John Sevier (D-R)John McNairy(1767–1845)–July 1804(Resigned)John Sevier (D-R)Howell Tatum(1773–1840)–1807(Resigned)Tennessee General AssemblyArchibald Roane(1766–1833)–December 31, 1809(Position abolished)Tennessee General AssemblyAndrew Jackson(1776–1841)–December 31, 1809(Position abolished)Tennessee General AssemblySeat established(?–1839)–December 31, 1809(Position abolished)Tennessee General AssemblyDavid Campbell

Tennessee Court of Errors and Appeals (1810-1835)

PictureJudge(birth–death)TenureAppointerSucceeded(1769–1848)–1811(Resigned)Tennessee General AssemblySeat established(1773–1840)–December 1815(Resigned)Tennessee General AssemblySeat established(1766–1833)–April 11, 1816(Resigned)Tennessee General AssemblyGeorge Washington Campbell(?–1816)–July 20, 1816(Died)Joseph McMinn (D-R)Hugh Lawson White(1759-1819)–January 4, 1819(Died)Tennessee General AssemblySeat established(1762–1826)–December 22, 1826(Died)Joseph McMinn (D-R)William Wilcox Cooke(1767–1844)–December 1, 1835(Position abolished)Joseph McMinn (D-R)John Overton(1773–1837)–1822(Resigned)Joseph McMinn (D-R)Archibald Roane(1779–1869)–December 1, 1835(Position abolished)Tennessee General AssemblyThomas Emmerson(1789–1830)–October 1823(Resigned)Tennessee General AssemblySeat established(1779–1865)–1831(Resigned)Tennessee General AssemblyWilliam Little Brown(1788–1856)–?William Carroll (D-R)Seat established(1793–1827)–1827(Died)William Carroll (D-R)John Haywood(1792–1866)–December 1, 1835(Position abolished)Tennessee General AssemblyJohn Catron(1779–1865)Chief Justice–December 1, 1835(Position abolished)Tennessee General AssemblySeat established

Tennessee Supreme Court (1835–Present)

PictureJudge(birth–death)TenureGrand DivisionAppointer/Method of AppointmentSucceeded(1800–1851)–April 1850(Resigned)WestTennessee General AssemblySeat established(1793–1859)–October 1, 1847(Retired)EastTennessee General AssemblySeat established(1792–1866)–September 27, 1852(Retired)MiddleTennessee General AssemblySeat established(1803–1875)–September 13, 1862(Court ceased operates due to the American Civil War)EastTennessee General AssemblyWilliam B. Reese(1809–1867)–July 17, 1855(Resigned)WestTennessee General AssemblyWilliam B. Turley(1800–1882)–1861(Resigned)MiddleWilliam B. Campbell (W)Nathan Green Sr.(1803–1858)–June 19, 1858(Died)WestAndrew Johnson (D)Archibald W. O. Totten(1809–1885)–September 13, 1862(Court ceased operates due to the American Civil War)WestIsham G. Harris (D)William R. Harris(?–?)–September 1861(Lost re-election)MiddleIsham G. Harris (D)Robert L. Caruthers(1820–1909)–September 13, 1862(Court ceased operates due to the American Civil War)MiddleDirect electionEdwin H. Ewing(1814–1874)–March 1867(Resigned)EastAndrew Johnson (D)Robert J. McKinney(1814–1874)–July 1868(Resigned)EastParson Brownlow (R)Himself(?–?)–February 1867(Resigned)MiddleParson Brownlow (R)William Frierson Cooper(1829–1885)–September 1868(Resigned)MiddleParson Brownlow (R)James O. Shackleford(1821–1905)–1868(Resigned)WestParson Brownlow (R)Archibald Wright(?–?)–1869(Lost re-election)MiddleParson Brownlow (R)Horace H. Harrison(1807–1878)–1869(Lost re-election)WestParson Brownlow (R)Alvin Hawkins(1814–1882)(Appointed but never took his seat)EastParson Brownlow (R)Samuel Milligan(1826–1889)–?EastParson Brownlow (R)Horace Maynard(1821–1905)–?WestDirect electionHenry G. Smith(1826–1913)–?MiddleDirect electionJames O. Shackleford(1812–1873)–December 1871(Resigned)EastDirect electionCourt reorganized(1812–1890)–1886(Retired)EastDirect electionCourt reorganized(1808–1876)–March 23, 1876(Died)MiddleDirect electionCourt reorganized(1827–1903)–1893(Resigned)At largeDirect electionCourt reorganized(1820–1901)–1878(Lost re-nomination)WestDirect electionCourt reorganized(1827–1891)–1886(Lost re-election)WestDirect electionCourt reorganized(1832–1884)–1882(Resigned)EastJohn C. Brown (D)Thomas A. R. Nelson(1820–1909)–1886(Lost re-election)MiddleDirect electionJohn L. T. Sneed(1819–1899)–1886(Lost re-election)EastWilliam B. Bate (D)Robert McFarland(1849–1924)–1902(?)?Direct election?(1851–1917)–September 1902(Retired)MiddleDirect election?(1844–1914)–1893(Resigned)MiddleDirect election?(1845–1890)–May 15, 1890(Died)?Direct election?(1835–1910)–1890(Lost re-election)WestRobert Love Taylor (D)William C. Folkes(1833–1894)–March 15, 1894(Died)MiddleDirect electionWilliam Dwight Beard(1841–1908)–February 2, 1908(Died)Middle?Peter Turney(1850–1923)–1910(?)MiddlePeter Turney (D)Horace H. Lurton(1838–1898)–September 1, 1894(?)?Peter Turney (D)Benjamin J. Lea(1835–1910)–December 7, 1910(Died)WestDirect electionA. D. Bright(1849–1925)–1918(?)At largeDirect election?(1858–1934)–February 12, 1913(Resigned)EastDirect electionDavid L. Snodgrass(1852–1934)–1910(Lost re-election)?Malcolm R. Patterson (D)John Summerfield Wilkes(1872–1947)–January 27, 1947(Died)At largeDirect election?(1869–1924)–April 11, 1923(Resigned)MiddleDirect election?(1856–1919)–December 1917(Resigned)?Malcolm R. Patterson (D)William Dwight Beard(1864–1947)–1918(?)EastBen W. Hooper (R)John Knight Shields(1873–1930)–September 1, 1918(?)WestThomas Clarke Rye (D)Arthur S. Buchanan(1870–1926)–July 10, 1926(Died)WestDirect election?(1873–1944)1918–September 1, 1942(Retired)?Direct election?(1878–1937)–September 8, 1923(Resigned)EastDirect election?(1869–1942)–March 5, 1942(Died)MiddleAustin Peay (D)D. L. Lansden(1864–1947)–October 1, 1947(Died)EastAustin Peay (D)Nathan Lynn Bachman(1888–1966)–1934(Resigned)?Direct election?(1872–1943)–June 4, 1943(Died)WestHill McAlister (D)William H. Swiggart(1873–1966)–February 1, 1960(Retired)MiddlePrentice Cooper (D)William Loch Cook(1893–1963)–February 17, 1963(Died)?Direct electionColin P. McKinney(1892–1954)–April 8, 1954(Died)WestPrentice Cooper (D)David W. DeHaven(1890–1967)–July 31, 1961(Retired)MiddleJim Nance McCord (D)Grafton Green(1895–1973)–September 1969(Resigned)EastJim Nance McCord (D)Alexander W. Chambliss(1894–1961)–September 15, 1961(Retired)WestFrank G. Clement (D)Frank H. Gailor(1889–1977)–January 1, 1965(Retired)MiddleBuford Ellington (D)A. B. Neil(1907–1967)–April 23, 1967(Died)MiddleBuford Ellington (D)Pride Tomlinson(1911–1993)–September 2, 1974(Lost re-nomination)EastBuford Ellington (D)John E. Swepston(1906–1965)–July 24, 1965(Died)WestFrank G. Clement (D)Alan M. Prewitt(1907–1979)–September 2, 1974(Retired)MiddleFrank G. Clement (D)Sam L. Felts(1909–1972)–June 19, 1972(Died)WestBuford Ellington (D)Andrew O. Holmes(1906–1993)–September 2, 1974(Retired)MiddleBuford Ellington (D)Weldon B. White(1904–1992)–September 2, 1974(Retired)EastBuford Ellington (D)Hamilton S. Burnett(1917–2010)–August 1990(Retired)WestWinfield Dunn (R)Larry Barkley Creson(1920–2016)–1990(Lost re-nomination)EastDirect election (Democratic Party nominee)George F. McCanless(1916–1980)–June 9, 1980(Died)MiddleDirect election (Democratic Party nominee)Chester C. Chattin / Allison B. Humphreys(1922–2002)–June 15, 1987(Resigned)EastDirect election (Democratic Party nominee)Ross W. Dyer(1923–1993)–March 1990(Resigned)MiddleDirect election (Democratic Party nominee)Chester C. Chattin / Allison B. Humphreys(born 1939)–August 7, 1980(Lost re-election)WestLamar Alexander (R)Joe W. Henry(1938–2018)–September 2, 2005(Retired)MiddleDirect election (Democratic Party nominee)George H. Brown Jr.(1920–2007)–October 1994(Resigned)EastNed McWherter (D)Ray L. Brock Jr.(born 1942)–November 22, 1993(Resigned)MiddleNed McWherter (D)William J. Harbison(born 1930)–March 1, 1998(Resigned)WestDirect election (Democratic Party nominee)William Fones(1932–2018)–August 31, 2006(Retired)EastDirect election (Democratic Party nominee)Robert E. Cooper Sr.(1932–2011)–August 31, 2006(Retired)MiddleNed McWherter (D)Martha Craig Daughtrey(born 1956)–November 1996(Lost re-election)EastNed McWherter (D)Charles H. O'BrienMargaret Behm & Candi Henry, Judicial Selection In Tennessee: Deciding "The Decider", 1 Belmont L. Rev. 143, 159–62 (2014)(born 1949)–August 31, 2014(Retired)WestDon Sundquist (R)Penny J. White(1941–2023)–September 1, 2008(Retired)EastDon Sundquist (R)Lyle Reid(1950–2021)–September 24, 2021(Died)MiddlePhil Bredesen (D)Frank F. Drowota III(born 1948)–September 8, 2015(Retired)EastPhil Bredesen (D)E. Riley Anderson(born 1947)–July 15, 2014(Retired)MiddlePhil Bredesen (D)A. A. Birch Jr.(born 1953)–August 31, 2023(Retired)EastPhil Bredesen (D)William M. Barker(born 1960)–IncumbentMiddleBill Haslam (R)William C. Koch Jr.(born 1957)Bernice B. Donald & Emily T. Brait, She Stands on Her Own, Amongst Many: The Women of the Tennessee Supreme Court, 86 Tenn. L. Rev. 593, 622 n.122 (2019).–June 30, 2026(Retired)WestBill Haslam (R)Janice M. Holder(born 1955)–August 31, 2024(Retired)WestBill Haslam (R)Gary R. Wade(born 1982)–IncumbentMiddleBill Lee (R)Cornelia Clark(born 1955)–IncumbentEastBill Lee (R)Sharon G. Lee(born 1984)–IncumbentWestBill Lee (R)Roger A. Page(born 1983)–IncumbentEastBill Lee (R)Holly M. Kirby

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

Notes

References

External links Justices of the Tennessee Supreme Court, Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society Tennessee Supreme Court Photos, 1926 to Present