Former Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Tom Greenholtz is one of three finalists to fill Sharon Lee’s seat on the Tennessee Supreme Court when she retires Aug. 31.
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments met Wednesday to consider the five applicants for the upcoming vacancy and announced the three candidates who made the short list to take over for Lee when she steps down.
Greenholtz is joined by fellow applicants Kristi M. Davis and Dwight E. Tarwater, according to a news release. The selections were made following a public hearing and public interviews.
Greenholtz said in a phone call with the Chattanooga Times Free Press that it is an honor to be considered.
“It is an enormous privilege just to be considered for a position on the Supreme Court,” Greenholtz said. “The Governor’s Council itself was patient, it was diligent and did its work well.”
The council has forwarded the three names to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration, the release said. Lee’s selection will then move through the confirmation process before the General Assembly.
Greenholtz, who has been licensed to practice law in Tennessee since 1999, according to his Supreme Court application, presided over Hamilton County Criminal Court and its “drug court” before being appointed to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals by Lee in 2022.
Despite only serving at the Court of Appeals for four months, Greenholtz submitted an application for the upcoming Supreme Court vacancy.
“The opportunities to serve in the Supreme Court, to serve the state as a whole, frankly don’t come around that often,” Greenholtz said.
Supreme Court justices face yes-no retention votes every eight years. They represent the state’s grand divisions — West, Middle and East Tennessee.
Davis, of Knoxville, is a judge on the state Court of Appeals. Tarwater, also of Knoxville, is partner in the firm of Paine, Tarwater, Bickers LLP.
Contact La Shawn Pagán at lpagan@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476.