Faculty Profile: Justice Jeffrey Bivins

Justice Jeff Bivins was sworn in as a member of the Tennessee Supreme Court in July 2014. He was appointed to this position by Governor Bill Haslam. Prior to assuming that position, he was a judge on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals from August 2011 until July 2014. Previously, Judge Bivins served as a Circuit Court Judge for the 21st Judicial District of Tennessee, covering Williamson, Hickman, Lewis, and Perry Counties. He is a 1986 graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Law. He received a B.A. Degree, magna cum laude, in 1982 from East Tennessee State University, with a major in political science and a minor in criminal justice. Judge Bivins was appointed to the trial bench in March 2005. He was elected to a full 8-year term in 2006. He also previously served in a trial judge position from July 1999 through August 2000. As a judge, Justice Bivins served on the Board of Judicial Conduct, and previously served on its predecessor, the Court of the Judiciary. He also was President of the Tennessee Judicial Conference and served on its Executive Committee. He also has served on the Tennessee Judicial Evaluation Commission. He is a member of the John Marshall American Inns of Court, having served as President from 2003-2008, and is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association and the Williamson County Bar Association. He also is a Fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation and the Nashville Bar Foundation. He is former member of the Williamson County Commission. Prior to his appointment to the trial bench, Judge Bivins practiced law with the firm of Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry PLC in Nashville, Tennessee. He also served as Assistant Commissioner and General Counsel for the Tennessee Department of Personnel.