BiographyEducation:
Legal University of Tennessee College of Law
Graduated May, 1992
Activities: Member Moot Court Board, Hamilton Burnett Inns of Court Student Member, Criminal Clinic, Intramural Athletics
Honors: American Jurisprudence Award - Trial Practice
Undergraduate: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts, June 1988
Biology with additional concentrations of study in Chemistry and Psychology
Judicial Service: Elected Fourth Circuit Court Judge for Knox County and took the bench September 1, 2014 to present.
Legal Career:
General civil practice primarily concentrating in the areas of domestic relations, personal injury, corporate representation, and municipal law at the circuit, chancery, and appellate levels in state and federal courts.
Lewis, Thomason, King, Krieg & Waldrop, April, 2005 to August 2014.
Sheppeard, Swanson, Mynatt & McMillan, PLC, January, 2004 to April, 2005.
Sheppeard & Swanson, PLC, Knoxville, Tennessee
Associate, March, 1994 - 1998; Member, 1999 - 2003
Susano & Sheppeard, Knoxville, Tennessee
Associate from July, 1992 - March, 1994
Licensure:
Licensed in Tennessee in October, 1992
Admitted to Practice
United States Court of Appeals (6th Circuit);
United States District Court (E.D.TN)
Tennessee Supreme Court
Rule 31 Listed Civil Mediator
Professional Activities and Affiliations:
Knoxville Bar Association
Member since 1992;
Board of Governors, 2002 to present
Barristers' Executive Committee, 1999 - present, President, 2003
Family Law Section, 1992 - present
Tennessee Bar Association
Member since 1992;
Family Law Section Officer from 1998 - 2001, Chair 1999-2001
Young Lawyers' Division, District Representative 2000, Chair of Continuing Legal Education Committee, 2001 - 2003
Inaugural Class of Leadership Law Program, 2004
Fellow of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers' Division
American Bar Association
Member since 1992;
Family Law Section
Hamilton Burnett American Inns of Court, Student Member, 1991-1992; Barrister 1997 - 2000; Master 2003 - Present, President of the Inn 2015-2016.
University of Tennessee College of Law - Adjunct Professor for approximately 8 years.
Community Involvement:
East Tennessee Foundation - Board Member serving three year term currently
Leadership Knoxville - Class of 2016.
Pro Bono - Engaged in pro bono representation of disadvantaged individuals through private practice, volunteering with Knoxville Legal Aid Society and Volunteer Legal Aid Program
Habitat for Humanity - Volunteered with organization since 1994, Volunteer Crew Leader since 2000. Member of the Board of Directors for six years.
Laura Cansler Boys & Girls Club - Member of the club's advisory board 1999 - 2004.
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