--- title: "Dwight E. Tarwater | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/dwight-e-tarwater-tn-supreme-court-justice-statewide" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-22" --- # Dwight E. Tarwater Supreme Court of Tennessee · Justice ## Profile - Court: Supreme Court of Tennessee - State: Tennessee - Role: Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-08-22 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Dwight E. Tarwater is an American judge born in 1955 who has held the role of a justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court since September 1, 2023, appointed by Governor Bill Lee and confirmed by the Tennessee General Assembly - On February 2, 2023, Governor Bill Lee nominated Tarwater to replace retiring Justice Sharon G. Lee - After clerking for Judge Houston M. Goddard on the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Tarwater joined Egerton, McAfee, Armistead & Davis, becoming a partner in 1984. ### Education - University of Tennessee College of Law in — J.D. (1980) - obtained a B.A. in political science from the University of Tennessee in 1977, later named a Torchbearer — the university’s highest honor for academic, leadership, and service excellence. ### Additional information - From 2014 to 2019, Tarwater held the role of General Counsel to Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam - Inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2006 and has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America - In 1987, he co‐founded Paine, Tarwater & Bickers LLP, where he handled complex litigation in over 20 states, including high‐profile asbestos cases. - Dwight Edward Tarwater was born on April 28, 1955, in Knoxville, Tennessee. - Date of birth: 1955-04-28 - overseeing legal, political, and governmental issues, including criminal justice reform, legislative review, and clemency matters - He graduated from Bearden High School ## 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://tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/justices) - [Official roster](https://tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/justices) - [Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/justices) - [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) - [Wikidata: Dwight E. Tarwater](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q117231128) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/dwight-e-tarwater-tn-supreme-court-justice-statewide", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/dwight-e-tarwater-tn-supreme-court-justice-statewide", "name": "Dwight E. Tarwater | KnowJudges", "description": "Dwight E. Tarwater, Supreme Court of Tennessee. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-22", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/dwight-e-tarwater-tn-supreme-court-justice-statewide#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/dwight-e-tarwater-tn-supreme-court-justice-statewide#judge", "name": "Dwight E. 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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.