TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Apr 12, 2022

Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Judge D. Kelly Thomas Jr. has announced he will retire from the bench on June 30. Thomas began his judicial career in 1990 after being elected to the Fifth Judicial District Circuit Court, Division II. He was re-elected in 1998 and 2006 before being appointed to the Court of Criminal Appeals by then-Gov. Phil Bredesen later that year. Prior to his judgeship, Thomas was an associate with Thomas & Cunningham and later a partner at Thomas & Thomas. He is a past president of the Blount County Bar Association and former president of the Tennessee Judicial Conference. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more on Thomas’ retirement plans.