Clara W. Byrd at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Tennessee · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Clara W. Byrd
Circuit Court Judge · Tennessee Circuit Court, Judicial District 15 (Jackson, Macon, Smith, Trousdale, Wilson)
Judicial assignments
- Tennessee 15th Judicial DistrictCircuit Court Judge
Reported in the official 2025–2026 Tennessee Blue Book. Later appointments or departures may not yet appear in this edition.
Source checked October 15, 2026. Roster source
These published assignments do not certify a complete bench.
Biography
Professional career
- as a Sunday school teacher, pianist, and bulletin editor
Education
- NASHVILLE SCHOOL OF LAW Law School 1982
- THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE-CHATTANOOGA Undergraduate 1977
Additional information
- , serving since her election in 1998 and re‐elected in 2006, 2014, and 2022
- Circuit Court Judge for Tennessee’s 15th Judicial District, serving since 1998, with jurisdiction over Jackson, Macon, Smith, Trousdale, and Wilson counties
- She was unopposed in the 2014 general election
- J.D. in 1982
- B.A. in 1977
- Attorney, General Civil and Family Law
- Before joining the bench, Byrd practiced law in general civil and family law
- Biography of Judge Clara W. Byrd
- After law school, Byrd practiced
- in private practice before her election to the bench
- Alabama
- and raised throughout the South, Byrd’s father was a Baptist minister who worked in Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, and Georgia
- Her academic qualifications include her
- and her
- domestic relations, civil litigation, estate, and probate law
- The district covers
- Lebanon & Mount Juliet Chamber of Commerce
- Lebanon Business
- Cedar Grove Baptist Church
- Byrd enjoys
- boating and gardening
- when not on the court
- She and her husband, Bob, share their home with three dogs and two cats
- Official court information
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 Circuit Court, Judicial District 15 (Jackson, Macon, Smith, Trousdale, Wilson)
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 ↗