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Tuesday, November 10, 2026Nov 10

Longtime 12th Judicial District Judge retires, recalls first DNA case in Tennessee and dramatic trials

Staff Photo by Ben Benton / Criminal Court Judge Thomas W. "Rusty" Graham listens as a defense attorney discusses his client's Fifth Amendment rights during a 2016 murder trial in Marion County, Tenn.
Staff Photo by Ben Benton / Criminal Court Judge Thomas W. "Rusty" Graham listens as a defense attorney discusses his client's Fifth Amendment rights during a 2016 murder trial in Marion County, Tenn. Staff Photo by Ben Benton / Criminal Court Judge Thomas W. "Rusty" Graham listens as a defense attorney discusses his client's Fifth Amendment rights during a 2016 murder trial in Marion County, Tenn.

Longtime 12th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Thomas W. “Rusty” Graham has retired from the bench after holding his post since 1990, but he’ll keep helping until Sept. 1 when a successor takes over.

Though Graham officially retired June 30, he will remain on the bench on a special designation through the end of August, according to a news release this month from the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts in Nashville.

“l haven’t focused on retirement yet,” Graham said in the release.

“Right now, I have four grandsons. One is a senior in high school, and the other three are under 6 years old. Because of the ages, I’m sure I will be spending considerable time with the three youngest grandsons,” he said.

Graham served four terms on the bench over the span of more than three decades in the sprawling 12th Judicial District, which consists of Bledsoe, Franklin, Grundy, Marion, Rhea and Sequatchie counties.