--- title: "Caleb Bayless | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/caleb-bayless-tn-circuit-court-judge-giles-lawrence-maury-wayne" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Caleb Bayless Tennessee Circuit Court, Judicial District 22 (Giles, Lawrence, Maury, Wayne) · Circuit Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Tennessee Circuit Court, Judicial District 22 (Giles, Lawrence, Maury, Wayne) - State: Tennessee - Role: Circuit Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Before becoming a judge, Bayless was Assistant District Attorney General for the 22nd Judicial District, a role he held since 2011. - M. Caleb Bayless is a Circuit Court Judge for Tennessee’s 22nd Judicial District, elected in 2022, serving Giles, Lawrence, Maury, and Wayne counties - As a Circuit Judge, he hears felony criminal cases, civil cases over $25,000, divorce, custody, property disputes, and appeals from lower courts - He previously worked in the 22nd District Attorney’s Office - Judge Bayless serves in Division IV of the 22nd Judicial District Circuit Court, which covers Giles, Lawrence, Maury, and Wayne counties ### Education - NASHVILLE SCHOOL OF LAW Law School 2010 - TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY Undergraduate 2006 ### Additional information - Elected: August 4, 2022, to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Stella Hargrove - He also presides over trials, plea agreements, pretrial hearings, and motions ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### media coverage and recording Scope: statewide Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 30 allows media coverage of public judicial proceedings subject to the presiding judge's control and requires written media requests at least two business days before the proceeding unless waived. Evidence excerpt: Requests by representatives of the media for such coverage must be made in writing to the presiding judge not less than two (2) business days before the proceeding is scheduled to begin. [Rule 30: Media Guidelines](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### recording restrictions Scope: statewide Tennessee Rule 30 prohibits media coverage of jury selection, jurors, closed proceedings, and certain minor or juvenile-court participants. Evidence excerpt: Media coverage of jury selection is prohibited. [Rule 30: Media Guidelines](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote technology Scope: statewide Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 55 permits teleconferencing, video conferencing, or other technology for court proceedings at the discretion of the trial or appellate court. Evidence excerpt: The use of teleconferencing, video conferencing or other technology to conduct court proceedings or other court business remotely is permissible at the discretion of the trial or appellate court. [Rule 55: Use of Technology for Court Proceedings](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-55-use-technology-court-proceedings) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/caleb-bayless) - [Official roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/caleb-bayless) - [Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/caleb-bayless) - [Rule 30: Media Guidelines](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines) - [Rule 55: Use of Technology for Court Proceedings](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-55-use-technology-court-proceedings) - [Caleb Bayless](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/caleb-bayless) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/caleb-bayless-tn-circuit-court-judge-giles-lawrence-maury-wayne", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/caleb-bayless-tn-circuit-court-judge-giles-lawrence-maury-wayne", "name": "Caleb Bayless | KnowJudges", "description": "Caleb Bayless, Tennessee Circuit Court, Judicial District 22 (Giles, Lawrence, Maury, Wayne). 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Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines). Collected 2026-07-26.