Tennessee Justices Tour 24th District

HUNTINGDON (April 28) — Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Mary L. Wagner and Judge Kyle A. Hixson visited the state’s 24th Judicial District on Tuesday, April 28, to meet with local attorneys, court staff, and elected officials.

The visit is part of an ongoing effort by the court to engage with court clerks and judicial staff across Tennessee. Wagner, a Shelby County native appointed to the Supreme Court in early 2024, emphasized that administrative work is a significant, if often unseen, part of a justice’s role.

“A large part of our job is writing opinions and doing legal work,” Wagner said. “But a huge component of it that I think goes unnoticed and that I’m really enjoying is the administrative part. That is getting to work with all the different courts and clerks on the various commissions.”

The tour continues a tradition established by the late Judge John Everett Williams, who frequently invited appellate and Supreme Court jurists to the district to meet the people working “where the rubber meets the road,” according to Hixson.

Hixson, currently a judge on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, was appointed by Gov. Bill Lee to join the Supreme Court on July 1. He will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Holly Kirby.

During a session in the Carroll County Chancery Courtroom, the justices discussed several statewide initiatives, including a new court management system. The project, which received funding from the General Assembly last session, will introduce statewide e-filing and a uniform case management system. Wagner noted that while e-filing is primarily focused on circuit courts, officials hope it may eventually expand to general sessions.

The justices also addressed the creation of the Office of Appointed Counsel Commission (ACC), which aims to manage the appointment of defense attorneys and address shortages in rural areas. The commission is currently piloting a new computer system in the 8th Judicial District to streamline payments and appointments for indigent defense.

Circuit Judge Brent Bradberry, who helped organize the visit, noted that Supreme Court Rule 11 assigns a circuit justice to every district to oversee the “wheels of justice” and ensure dockets move efficiently. He called the local meeting a meaningful opportunity for clerks who rarely interact with the state’s highest-ranking judges.

The afternoon schedule included stops in Henry and Benton counties. Hixson described the 24th District as a “beautiful district” and expressed the importance of connecting with trial courts. “We know where the real work is taking place,” Hixson said. “The boots on the ground type stuff is in courtrooms like this across the state.”