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As college football season kicks off, we welcome Judge Tim Irwin on the podcast. A former NFL offensive lineman with 14 seasons under his belt, Judge Irwin shares how his journey from the gridiron led to a second career in law, where he's now making a lasting impact on the lives of children in his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Before The Bench is a new series from Tennessee Court Talk, spotlighting judges from across the state as they share personal stories, professional challenges, and the defining moments that shaped their path to the bench.

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One hundred years ago, the small town of Dayton, Tennessee became the epicenter of the national debate over evolution and creationism. In the sweltering summer heat of 1925, the Scopes Monkey Trial became one of the most sensational cases of the twentieth century as famed defense attorney Clarence Darrow faced off against three-time presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan.

Visit www.rheaheritage.com for more information about the 100th Year Scopes Trial Festival.

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Joe Byrd is joined in this episode of Appointed Counsel by Laura Hood, a long time team member of the AOC, starting with the Fiscal Services Division and now with Experts and Investigators. Their discussion in this episode is centered around how attorneys can get experts and investigators assigned to their cases. 

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In this episode of Tennessee Court Talk we sit down with Tennessee State Trooper Tara Lee, one of the friendly faces you might see when entering the Nashville Supreme Court Building. Trooper Lee has a special story as she shares her journey of becoming a State Trooper, providing judicial security and her story of perseverance in overcoming a personal health battle. 

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Lead Attorney, Joe Byrd interviews First Review Auditors, Alyssa Hudson and Kendall Leslie to discuss issues related to dependency & neglect, termination of parental rights, and non-capital criminal court claims. Additionally, Alyssa discusses supplier information issues. The discussion offers tips for attorneys arising from common problems auditors observe when processing claims.

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On this episode of Tennessee Court Talk, we explore a little-known but important process used in Tennessee’s appellate courts: the Order to Show Cause. Often misunderstood, this procedure serves as a form of contempt hearing specifically for attorneys, requiring them to appear in person before the appellate court to explain their conduct—or lack thereof—in cases they are handling.

Joining the conversation are two respected judges from the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals:

• Judge Ross Dyer, who brings valuable insight from his prior work in the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office before his appointment to the appellate bench in 2016.
• Judge Tom Greenholtz, who shares his perspective shaped by years on the trial bench in Hamilton County before his appointment to the appellate bench in 2022.

This episode sheds light on the purpose and process of Orders to Show Cause, highlighting their role in maintaining accountability and ethical standards in the legal profession.

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On this month's episode of Appointed Counsel, the Caitlin Clark of the Indigent Representation team joins Joe Byrd to discuss criminal court claims. Gene Vestal not only has a unique job at the Administrative Office of the Courts as the first line auditor for criminal claims, but also an interesting background. He and Joe Byrd not only go down memory lane, but discuss what he looks for in criminal claims and steps attorneys can take for a smooth process. 

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History is filled with stories passed down through the generations. In this episode of Tennessee Court Talk, we sit down with Knox County General Sessions Court Judge Andrew Jackson IV. Judge Jackson shares insights into the workings of General Sessions Court, his personal journey, legal career, and captivating tales from his remarkable heritage. 

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In this episode of Appointed Counsel, Joe Byrd is joined by Jasper Beard, a compliance officer on the AOC's Indigent Services team. Joe and Jasper's discussion is all about attorneys submitting activities that exceed 24 hours of work in the same day. Learn when overclaims are flagged, how to fix an overclaim status as an attorney and Jaspers approach to correcting over claim status's with attorneys across the state. 

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Artificial Intelligence has the potential to streamline tasks within the courts, increasing efficiency and allowing staff to work on higher level tasks.  But like any technology, AI is not infallible or without risks. In this episode of Tennessee Court Talk, we speak with Michael Navin, Principal Court Management Consultant in the Technology, Architecture Planning and Security Division at the National Center for State Courts about how AI is impacting court systems in this new technological era.