Cheryl A. Blackburn at a glance
- Current role
- Criminal Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Tennessee · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Cheryl A. Blackburn
Criminal Court Judge · Tennessee Criminal Court, Judicial District 20 (Davidson)
Judicial assignments
- Tennessee 20th Judicial DistrictTrial Court Judge
Official directory evidence was retrieved through its search index. The complete current roster has not been certified.
Source checked October 15, 2026. Roster source
These published assignments do not certify a complete bench.
Biography
Professional career
- Cheryl A. Blackburn held the role of a Criminal Court Judge in Davidson County, Tennessee, beginning her tenure in 1996 and retiring in May 2025 after 29 years on the bench, making her the longest-serving criminal court judge in the county at the time of her retirement.
Education
Additional information
- Defense attorneys in a 2024 rape trial filed motions questioning her competency, citing her struggles with reading jury instructions, understanding motions, and making extemporaneous rulings NewsChannel 5 Nashville.
- During her career, she presided over numerous high-profile criminal trials, including death penalty cases and the 2019 trial of Emanuel Samson.
- Year Elected/Appointed: 1996
- Appointed by Governor Sundquist and credited her professional preparation to mentors such as Generals Thomas Shriver and Torry Johnson
- While Blackburn had a long and notable career in criminal law, her final years on the bench were marked by controversy regarding her competency and courtroom management, which has prompted discussions about judicial oversight and transparency in Tennessee courts
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
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.
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 ↗
Statewide
Tennessee Rule 30 prohibits media coverage of jury selection, jurors, closed proceedings, and certain minor or juvenile-court participants.
Media coverage of jury selection is prohibited.Rule 30: Media Guidelines ↗
Remote appearances
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.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Rule 30: Media Guidelines
Tennessee Criminal Court, Judicial District 20 (Davidson)
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. 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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster ↗Rule 30: Media Guidelines
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Rule 30: Media Guidelines ↗Rule 55: Use of Technology for Court Proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Rule 55: Use of Technology for Court Proceedings ↗