Walden Receives Pride of ETSU Award - Articles

All Content

Walden Receives Pride of ETSU Award

Posted by: Laura Labenberg on Dec 26, 2025

The Elizabethton Star reports that Judge Zachary R. Walden has received the 2025 Pride of ETSU Award. The award recognizes Walden's commitment to integrity, service and justice in Tennessee’s 8th Judicial District.  Walden, a 2013 graduate of ETSU, is currently the youngest trial judge in the state and has served on the criminal and recovery courts since 2022. In 2024, he launched the 8th Judicial District Veterans Treatment Court, expanding support for veterans in Campbell, Claiborne, Fentress, Scott and Union counties. Throughout his career, Walden has held numerous leadership positions, including membership on the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Technology Oversight Committee and as chair of the Tennessee Criminal Pattern Jury Instruction Committee. He also teaches criminal practice skills at Lincoln Memorial University’s Duncan School of Law. Previously, Walden practiced law in Knoxville at Eldridge & Blakney, with appearances on “Killer Cases” and “Court Cam Presents: Under Oath.” He received his law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2016, earning multiple academic honors. Walden has been recognized with the American Bar Association’s On the Rise Award, Knoxville News Sentinel’s 40 Under 40, and the University of Alabama School of Law’s Rising Young Lawyer Award. He lives in Jacksboro and remains active in his community and church. Walden serves as the secretary of the TBA Young Lawyers Division Board as well as the co-chair of the Rural Judicial Fellowship program.