Tennessee Supreme Court’s Chief Justice to retire

Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 11:41pm

William M. Barker, the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Chief Justice, announced his intention Tuesday to retire from the state’s highest court.

Barker’s retirement will become effective Sept. 1, ending a 25-year judicial career.

“It has been my highest professional honor to have been chosen by my colleagues to serve as Chief Justice these past three years,” Barker wrote in a letter to Gov. Phil Bredesen.

Former Gov. Don Sundquist appointed Barker, a Republican, to the Supreme Court in 1998. His high court colleagues unanimously elected him Chief Justice in 2005.

Barker, 66, is a native of Chattanooga.

In a press release, Barker says his retirement plans include church mission work, civic projects, traveling, spending time with family and possibly private legal practice.

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By: girliegirl on 12/31/69 at 7:00

I guess Rob Briley still doesn't want us to know "how" they're going to replace Barker...?

By: Truthby on 12/31/69 at 7:00

I want to commend Justice Barker for his years of service on the bench. I have admired him for some time as a man who both loves the law and loves God whom he knows has given us our laws. Mr. Barker is a rare individual in our times. He has sought over the years to incorporate his understanding of Christian principles into his jurisprudential philosophy. I met Mr. Barker and spoke briefly with him a couple of years ago after a meeting at which he spoke. I was immediately impressed with his conservative yet fair approach to punishment. He shared my view of requiring criminals to pay for their keep while in prison. The Tennessee judicial system will be impaired by the loss of such a man. Thank you Mr. Barker for loving God and for not being afraid to show that in your judicial philosophy.MarkAlbertiniPolitics.com

By: Dragon on 12/31/69 at 7:00

Uh, oh. Here comes the second verse to the same song. The panel MUST submit at least one black and one female or Bredesen will reject all three.

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