Shelby County’s court system – civil and criminal – is down about two judges, according to the Tennessee Comptroller’s annual report on weighted caseloads.

The report, required by state law since 1997, calculates the number of judges needed to handle different kinds of cases.

2. A Look Back At UT’s History In NCAA Tourney - Friday, March 16, 2018

Basketball coach Rick Barnes was fired by Texas in late March of 2015 when he refused to fire members of his coaching staff.

3. Last Word: Lawsons Exit, LaRose Lessons and No Medicaid Expansion This Year - Thursday, April 6, 2017

The Lawson Brothers exit Tigers basketball seeking a release from the University of Memphis. The statement from Dedric and K.J. Lawson was all sweetness and light and apparently about as sincere as one of those interviews where players and coaches declare that if they will just play hard and put more points on the board than the other team then they should win.

4. Brooks' and Yearwood's Memphis Stand Highlights Changes - Monday, February 6, 2017

Garth Brooks keeps score. Be it house records at places he’s played in his long career, to who has the high point on his current tour with his wife, Trisha Yearwood.

So when their current tour came through Memphis last week for four shows over three days at FedExForum, Brooks was quick to note that the first show only had advance sales that filled about half of the 20,000 seat arena.

5. Last Word: De-Annexation Theories, Clash on School Vouchers and Garth & Trisha - Friday, February 3, 2017

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and his administration come up with some surprises in de-annexation recommendations to the city task force on the issue. The three most recently annexed areas of Memphis were considered likely to be in the recommendations. Although the indication last year was that this would take a lot of discussion before someone actually wrote that on a Power Point presentation at City Hall. Not only did Strickland do that – he also included four other areas.

6. This Land is High Land - Thursday, November 24, 2016

HIGHLANDS, N.C. – Was Old Edwards Golf Course dropped from heaven to its resting place on this marvelous crest of the Continental Divide? Or was it etched into the sides of this mountain thousands of years ago by divine beings in need of a place to practice their short game?

7. Looks Like 10-2, SEC Title Game, Orange Bowl for UT - Monday, September 5, 2016

Editor’s note: Nashville sports correspondent Dave Link has been accurate in predicting season outcomes for the Tennessee Vols in recent years. His 2016 season predictions, released just before press time, culminates with an SEC Championship appearance. Here’s his take on the season…

8. The Week Ahead: May 9-15 - Monday, May 9, 2016

Alright, Memphis, grab your calendars! Whether you want to book it over to the Ruby Bridges Reading Festival or just baste in the scent of barbecue, there’s plenty to do this week. Here’s our roundup...

9. Grizzlies End 6-Game Skid With Home Win Over Bulls - Wednesday, April 6, 2016

If it had been a football game, you could have called it the Desperation Bowl. The Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies each badly needed a victory.

Behind 27 points and 10 rebounds from power forward Zach Randolph, the Grizzlies got one and snapped their six-game losing streak by defeating the Bulls 108-92 Tuesday, April 5, at FedExForum.

10. Judicial Council Nominates 3 Appeals Court Finalists - Thursday, March 10, 2016

JACKSON, Tenn. (AP) – Three candidates, including two from Shelby County, have been nominated to fill an empty seat on the West Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals.

The Jackson Sun reports (http://bit.ly/1pgku91) the Governor's Council for Judicial Appointments nominated Shelby County Division III Judge Bobby Carter, Shelby County Attorney Ross Dyer and Assistant District Attorney Bobby Gray Jr., from Adamsville.

11. Bertelkamp Made Right Call in Going with the Vols - Saturday, January 30, 2016

Bert Bertelkamp would be the first to tell you he’s pulling for Tennessee when calling basketball games as color commentator for the Vol Network.

And why wouldn’t he?

Bertelkamp is Big Orange to the bone. His father Hank played for the Vols (1951-53), was a team captain and remains a big supporter of UT.

12. Blackett Disqualification Motion Details Ethics Complaints - Friday, November 6, 2015

The Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct is investigating two complaints charging that Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Carolyn Wade Blackett acted improperly in ordering a new trial for attempted murder suspect Michael Halliburton.

13. Motion for Blackett Recusal Poses Unique Questions - Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Michael Halliburton was sentenced to 21 years in prison Monday, Nov. 2, for the attempted murder of his wife in 2012.

14. Criminal Appeals Court Cancels Memphis Teacher’s Retrial - Thursday, September 24, 2015

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals ruled Tuesday, Sept. 22, that a local school teacher convicted of attempted first-degree murder in a 2012 beating of his wife will not get a new trial. Criminal Court Judge Carolyn Wade Blackett had ordered the new trial for Michael Halliburton in June, right after sentencing him to 20 years in prison.

15. Chism Opens Capital Advisors/Bellwether Enterprise's Memphis Office - Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Jeremy Chism has joined Capital Advisors/Bellwether Enterprise as vice president to open the company’s Memphis commercial real estate loan production office. The firm provides financing solutions through a vast network of insurance companies, CMBS lenders and commercial lenders for commercial real estate.

16. Stones’ Nashville Connections Go Way Back - Saturday, June 13, 2015

While Brad Paisley lives what he calls “a bucket list item” by singing while playing his guitar in typically showy fashion as the opening act for The Rolling Stones, the most important guitarist in rock ‘n’ roll history and a man idolized by Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood will be sitting in his house on Blueberry Hill in the hills of northern Davidson County.

17. Memphis Bar Judicial Poll Released - Tuesday, July 1, 2014

The Memphis Bar Association poll of attorneys on the judicial races on the Aug. 7 ballot shows 16 percent to as high as 38 percent of the attorneys participating have no opinion in many of the judicial races.

18. Harris Files Ford Challenge at Deadline - Thursday, April 3, 2014

Memphis City Council member Lee Harris is challenging Democratic state Sen. Ophelia Ford in the August primary for District 29, the Senate seat held by a member of the Ford family since 1975.

19. Judicial Races Show Signs of Life - Monday, December 9, 2013

Criminal Court Judge Bobby Carter opened his re-election bid with the sound of bagpipes in the clubhouse of the Overton Park Golf Course.

20. Wright Appointed Criminal Court Judge - Saturday, July 6, 2013

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has appointed Memphis attorney Glenn Wright Criminal Court judge.

Haslam announced the appointment Friday, June 28, to fill the vacancy created by the February death of Judge Otis Higgs.

21. Wright Appointed Criminal Court Judge - Monday, July 1, 2013

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has appointed Memphis attorney Glenn Wright Criminal Court judge.

Haslam announced the appointment Friday, June 28, to fill the vacancy created by the February death of Judge Otis Higgs.

22. Strickland, Carson Given Dunavant Honors - Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Memphis City Council member Jim Strickland remembers putting on his tie in front of a mirror this month after learning he won the Bobby Dunavant Public Service Award.

23. Obama Carries Shelby, Cohen Over Flinn and Two Tax Hikes Defeated - Wednesday, November 7, 2012

President Barack Obama carried Shelby County in unofficial Nov. 6 election returns as his Republican challenger Mitt Romney took the state’s 11 electoral votes.

Voter turnout in the most popular election cycle among Shelby County voters was 61.9 percent, about the same percentage as four years ago. But the 371,256 voters is fewer than 2008 when more than 400,000 Shelby County voters cast ballots. The percentage is about the same because there are fewer registered voters in Shelby County than there were four years ago after a purge by election officials.

24. List of Judicial Finalists Sent to Haslam - Tuesday, October 25, 2011

The Tennessee Judicial Nominating Commission has sent a list of three finalists to Gov. Bill Haslam for appointment to the West Tennessee vacancy on the state Court of Criminal Appeals.

The finalists are Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Bobby Carter; Ross Dyer, managing attorney for the Memphis office of the Tennessee Attorney General; and Circuit Court Judge Roger Page of Medina, Tenn.

25. Eight Apply for Vacancy on Tenn. Appeals Court - Monday, October 10, 2011

Eight West Tennessee attorneys have applied for the vacancy on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals created by the death of Memphian J.C. McLin.

Applications to the Judicial Nominating Commission were due Friday, Oct. 7, and were limited to West Tennessee attorneys for the seat on the bench designated for West Tennessee.

26. Eight Apply for Vacancy on Tenn. Appeals Court - Friday, October 7, 2011

Eight West Tennessee attorneys have applied for the vacancy on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals created by the death of Memphian J.C. McLin.

Applications to the Judicial Nominating Commission were due Friday, Oct. 7, and were limited to West Tennessee attorneys for the seat on the bench designated for West Tennessee.

27. New DA Weirich Ready to ‘Roll Up Sleeves’ - Thursday, January 20, 2011

Newly sworn-in Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich has spent 20 years in courtrooms trying all manner of cases.

28. GOP Carries Countywide Offices - Friday, August 6, 2010

The only thing Republican candidates in Shelby County were denied in the Aug. 5 elections was a majority on the Shelby County Commission. The local GOP slate swept every countywide partisan race on the ballot with Thursday’s election results.

Voter turnout – early and Election Day – was almost 30 percent of Shelby County’s 600,000 voters. All election returns will be audited and must be certified by the Shelby County Election Commission.

Republican Bill Oldham, the former chief deputy of the Sheriff’s Department under outgoing Sheriff Mark Luttrell, beat Democrat Randy Wade in the race for sheriff.

The unofficial returns with all precincts reporting were:

Oldham: 89,613 (52%)

Wade: 82,981 (48%)

Wade, who was the Democratic nominee for sheriff in 2002, linked his 2010 campaign to the re-election bid of Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen. Wade, a former sheriff’s deputy, is Cohen’s district director.

Oldham campaigned on continuing the policies of Luttrell. But his campaign faltered when Oldham was forced to resign his job as chief deputy – the No. 2 position in the department – following a complaint to the U.S. Justice Department that his candidacy violated the Federal Hatch Act.

The civil complaint investigated by the Justice Department’s Office of Special Counsel left Oldham with the choice of either quitting the job or quitting the race. To keep both could have jeopardized federal funding the department receives.

The complaint was unique because deputies and high-ranking officers running for sheriff has been a regular feature of the sheriff’s race for decades. It wasn’t until 2002 that those in the department were required to take a leave of absence if they ran.

In other general election races, challenger Ken Hoover lost to Shelby County School Board Chairman David Pickler in the race for the District 5 seat on the seven-member board.

Pickler has been chairman for 11 of the 12 years the school board has been an elected body. Pickler ran on his record as chairman. Hoover also ran on Pickler’s record, saying his leadership style was too autocratic and not transparent enough.

The unofficial results were:

Pickler: 5,123 (51%)

Hoover: 4,956 (49%)

In the two other contested school board races, former Bolton High School principal Snowden “Butch” Carruthers beat Millington parent Charlene White in District 1. And political newcomer David Reaves beat fellow newcomer Lara A. McIntyre, both of Bartlett, for the District 3 seat.

White and McIntyre both called for change in school board methods during their campaigns.

District 7 school board member Ernest Chism ran unopposed.

The even-numbered district school board seats are on the 2012 county ballot.

After running for Probate Court clerk three other times, Democratic nominee Sondra Becton could not claim the office on her fourth try – even with the incumbent she campaigned against the three other times out of the race. Republican contender Paul Boyd easily beat Becton in the race for the office Chris Thomas gave up to run for and win a seat on the Shelby County Commission.

Becton lost to Thomas by 604 votes four years ago and was among the four Democratic challengers who unsuccessfully challenged the results in Chancery Court. This time she lost by more than 6,500 votes.

The vote totals were:

Boyd: 82,259 (52%)

Becton: 75,702 (48%)

Republican Tom Leatherwood easily defeated Democratic challenger Coleman Thompson to remain Shelby County register. The two faced each other in 2006, with Leatherwood winning.

The results Thursday were:

Leatherwood: 96,531 (58%)

Thompson: 68,784 (42%)

As early voting began, Thompson’s Pyramid Recovery Center was evicted from its longtime South Memphis space that was also an early voting site and an election day polling place. The landlord agreed to leave the voting sites up and running. But the possibility of a change in polling places served to highlight Thompson’s financial problems.

Late publicity about financial problems took a toll on another Democratic contender.

Newcomer Corey Maclin began campaigning early for Shelby County clerk, with incumbent Republican Debbie Stamson not seeking re-election. Maclin lost to Republican nominee Wayne Mashburn, the son of late county clerk Sonny Mashburn.

The unofficial returns were:

Mashburn: 88,619 (55%)

Maclin: 72,651 (45%)

Stamson’s husband, Steve Stamson, retired as Juvenile Court clerk, setting up the race that was won by Republican nominee Joy Touliatos, the chief administrative officer of the clerk’s office. She beat Democratic nominee Shep Wilbun, who won appointment to the clerk’s office in 2000 but lost to Stamson in the 2002 election and was beaten by Stamson again in 2006.

With all precincts reporting, the numbers were:

Touliatos: 85,849 (51%)

Wilbun: 73,345 (44%)

The remaining votes went to independent candidate Julia R. Wiseman.

Also seeking a return to countywide office was Minerva Johnican. Johnican, the Democratic nominee for Criminal Court clerk, lost to Republican nominee Kevin Key, the son of outgoing Criminal Court Clerk Bill Key and an administrator with the Circuit Court Clerk’s office.

The results were:

Key: 79,755 (49%)

Johnican: 74,831 (46%)

Independent candidate Jerry Stamson: 8,581 (5%)

Johnican, also a former Memphis City Council member and Shelby County Commissioner lost the clerk’s job in 1994 when she was upset by the elder Key.

Incumbent Republican Circuit Court Clerk Jimmy Moore easily defeated Democratic challenger Ricky Dixon. Although Dixon was part of the effort by Democratic party leaders to get voters to vote the entire party slate, Moore continued to show up at Democratic functions and make his case for crossover votes.

Regina Morrison Newman, the third Shelby County tustee in four years, lost her bid for a full term in the office to Republican challenger David Lenoir. It was an impressive political debut for Lenoir, who had heavy backing from the local GOP.

The results were:

Lenoir: 77,166 (49%)

Newman: 72,618 (46%)

Independent candidate Derrick Bennett: 6,353 (4%)

Newman was appointed to the office by the Shelby County Commission following the 2009 death of Trustee Paul Mattila. Mattila was appointed to the office and won a special election for the position following the 2008 death of Bob Patterson. Patterson was re-elected to a four-year term in 2006.

In the judicial races:

Attorney Bill Anderson Jr. emerged atop a field of 20 candidates for General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Div. 7 with 15 percent of the vote. Assistant County Attorney Janet Lansky Shipman was second and the only other contender to go into double digit percentages. The 20 candidates were the largest field in any race – primary or general – on the Shelby County ballot.

Prosecutor Bobby Carter, who had the backing of District Attorney General Bill Gibbons and former District Attorney General John Pierotti, was elected judge of Criminal Court Div. 3 in a close race with attorneys Glenn Wright and Latonya Sue Burrow.

Carter got 26 percent of the vote to Wright’s 25 percent and Burrow’s 24.7 percent.

The results in the three other special judicial races saw the three appointed judges rejected by voters.

• Lee Wilson, the appointee to General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Div. 10, lost to former General Sessions Court Clerk Chris Turner by more than 64,000 votes. Turner’s victory was the strongest proof of the strong Republican turnout for races across the general election ballot. Turner had been the General Sessions Court clerk until 2006, when he was upset by Democratic challenger Otis Jackson. He is also a former Republican state legislator.
• Lorrie Ridder, the appointee to Circuit Court Judge Div. 4, lost to attorney Gina Higgins by about 5,000 votes.
• Rhynette Northcross Hurd, the appointee to Circuit Court Judge Div. 8, lost to attorney Bob Weiss by more than 12,000 votes.

Ridder and Hurd had been appointed to the Circuit Court vacancies by Gov. Phil Bredesen, who picked them each from a list of three finalists from the Judicial Nominating Commission. Bredesen even taped a robo-call on behalf of Hurd, his first robo-call for any candidate in the state.

Wilson was appointed to the General Sessions vacancy by the Shelby County Commission and adopted a domestic violence case docket for the court.

29. Attorneys Poll Picks Most Qualified Candidates - Friday, July 9, 2010

The Memphis Bar Association’s poll of most qualified judicial candidates on the Aug. 5 ballot is good news for the three appointed incumbents in the races.

There are five special elections for judge on the ballot. But the polls mirrored recent elections in its low turnout. And the category “no opinion” was the choice of at least 16 percent in each of the five races.

30. Memphis Bar Releases Judicial Candidates Poll Results - Thursday, July 8, 2010

The Memphis Bar Association’s poll of most qualified judicial candidates on the Aug. 5 ballot is good news for the three appointed incumbents in the races.

There are five special elections for judge on the ballot. But the polls mirrored recent elections in its low turnout. And the category “no opinion” was the choice of at least 16 percent in each of the five races.

The MBA asked 3,000 attorneys in Shelby County, members and nonmembers, to judge who was best qualified in each of the races. There were 795 attorneys who responded.

The results released Thursday morning show:

In the 20-candidate field for General Sessions Criminal Court Division 7, the largest field of candidates in any race – primary or general – on the Aug. 5 ballot, assistant county attorney Janet Lansky Shipman came out on top with 16 percent. Fifteen percent of the attorneys who responded ranked prosecutor Billy Bond as best qualified.

Attorney Bill Anderson Jr. followed with 10 percent. Everyone else was in single digits. But most of those responding, 22 percent, had no opinion.

Prosecutor Bobby Carter was top of the six-candidate field for Criminal Court Division 3 at 27 percent. Criminal defense attorney Gerald Skahan followed closely with 24 percent.

Division 4 Circuit Court Judge Lorrie K. Ridder was ranked as best qualified to keep her seat by 66 percent of those responding.

Division 8 Circuit Court Judge Rhynette Hurd was ranked most qualified in the Division 8 field by 37 percent of those responding. But 26 percent of the attorneys had no opinion.

Division 10 General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Lee Wilson was ranked most qualified in his race with former General Sessions Court Judge Chris Turner by 48 percent of the attorneys.

The MBA has conducted a poll of attorneys on contested judicial races for more than two decades.

31. Criminal Court Candidates Lined Up for August Ballot - Wednesday, June 16, 2010

A total of 21 candidates are in the race for General Sessions Court Judge Division 7.

The field remained at 21 at Monday’s deadline for candidates to withdraw. It is the largest field of any election, primary or general, on the Aug. 5 ballot.

32. 21 In Field for General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Race - Tuesday, June 15, 2010

A total of 21 candidates are in the race for General Sessions Court Judge Division 7.

The field remained at 21 at Monday’s noon deadline for candidates to withdraw. It is the largest field of contenders of any election, primary or general on the Aug. 5 ballot.

33. New Vacancies Add to Judicial Races on Ballot - Wednesday, May 26, 2010

The Aug. 5 election will feature five special judicial elections.

One of the two latest races to go on the ballot is for the Criminal Court Division 3 judge’s position being vacated by John Colton, whose resignation is effective April 30. He originally set the date for June 30, but changed it so the vacancy could be up for public vote.

34. District Attorney’s Office Makes New Assignments - Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Shelby County District Attorney General Bill Gibbons has made new assignments for his top assistants effective July 1.

Under the front office shuffle, prosecutor Paul Hagerman will become special assistant for Organized Crime Prosecution. Those duties will include filing nuisance actions in court, which has become a major thrust of local anti-crime strategies. The nuisance closings have included several strip clubs as well as suspected drug and prostitution havens.

35. Wassmer Captures Account Exec Spot at Thompson & Berry - Wednesday, June 7, 2006

Katie Wassmer has been promoted to account executive at Thompson & Berry Public Relations, a division of Thompson & Co. Wassmer has been with Thompson & Berry for two years. She joined the company as an intern. Wassmer graduated from the University of Memphis in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in journalism/public relations.

36. Archived Article: Newsmakers - Wednesday, March 9, 2005
Smith & Nephew Announces New Division and Promotions

Smith & Nephew Announces New Division, Promotions

Steve Hirsch was named president of Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics, a new division of the company opening in Europe. The following ...

37. Archived Article: This Week - Monday, February 2, 2004
Baptist Rehabilitation Begins Wellness Classes

Baptist Rehab Offers Wellness Classes Feb. 2

Baptist Rehabilitation-Germantown, 2100 Exeter Road, begins classes as part of its Health in Motion Community Wellness Program. Classes include an oste...

38. Archived Article: Benchmark - Thursday, June 19, 2003
Oracle boosts PeopleSoft takeover bid

Oracle boosts PeopleSoft takeover bid

Oracle Corp., the No. 2 U.S.-based global software maker, Wednesday sweetened its hostile cash bid for PeopleSoft Inc. by 22 percent to about $6.3 billion, the latest ...

39. Archived Article: Daily Digest - Wednesday, March 12, 2003
Court allows Bellevue Inn

Court allows Bellevue Inn

to reopen under strict rules

General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Larry Potter signed a consent order Monday in which Pravien Patel, owner of the Bellevue Inn, 1250 S. Bellevue Blvd., adm...

40. Archived Article: Comm Focus - Friday, July 20, 2001
Frayser community activists target gangs, drugs Frayser community activists target gangs, drugs By MARY DANDO The Daily News The Frayser area is showing the way in community activism as it attempts to rid its neighborhoods of drug dealers and confro...

41. Archived Article: Benchmark - Thursday, June 29, 2000
D D.A.s program receives funding for four years The district attorneys office for the Thirtieth Judicial District of Tennessee received a grant from the federal government to support operation of its Drug Dealer Eviction Program for the next four ye...

42. Archived Article: Memos - Wednesday, November 3, 1999
RFS Hotel Investors Inc RFS Hotel Investors Inc. has announced several management changes. Randy Churchey has been named president and chief operating officer of RFS Hotel Investors Inc. He formerly was senior vice president and chief financial offi...

43. Archived Article: Benchmark - Thursday, May 2, 1996
05-02 Benchmark William Frank Rook and Karon Rook vs. city of Bartlett, city of Bartlett Police Department, Bartlett Mayor Bobby Flaherty, police director Don Wray, patrolmen John David Owen and David Jones, officer Gary L. Rikard, Capt. R. Carter, ...