Haslam Appoints Bivins to Court of Criminal Appeals

Kingsport native appointed to Middle Section of Tennessee

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced the appointment of Jeff Bivins to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, Middle Section of Tennessee.

Bivins, age 50, currently serves as Circuit Court Judge for the 21st Judicial District which includes Hickman, Lewis, Perry, and Williamson counties.

“While all of the applicants we considered were top notch, the breadth and depth of Jeff’s experience was distinctive,” Haslam said. “It includes not only his time on the bench in Williamson County but also his familiarity with the judicial selection system, the court of judiciary, and judicial elections, his private litigation experience, and his previous government service, both at the local level and the state level.  He has the opportunity and experience to be an outstanding appellate judge.”

Prior to his judicial service, Bivins was a partner with Boult, Cummings, Conners, and Berry. He served as assistant commissioner and general counsel for Tennessee Department of Human Resources during the Sundquist administration and was the executive vice president and general counsel for the Parker Bath Corporation in the private sector.  Bivins also served as a county commissioner in Williamson County.

He is a member of the Tennessee Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, Tennessee Judicial Conference, Criminal Pattern Instructions Committee of the Tennessee Judicial Conference, Tennessee Trial Judges Association, and the John Marshall American Inns of Court.  He served nearly 20 years as a member of the Tennessee Bar Association.

“I am deeply honored to accept Governor Haslam's appointment to the Court of Criminal Appeals,” Bivins said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed serving on the trial court bench and now look forward to this next chapter of my life in public service.  I will work tirelessly to become an excellent appellate judge, while maintaining the highest ethical and moral standards in this new position."

A Kingsport native, Bivins received his bachelor’s degree from East Tennessee State University, where he graduated magna cum laude, and he received his law degree from Vanderbilt University.  He and his wife, Gail, have two daughters and live in Franklin.