--- title: "Gary McKenzie | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/gary-mckenzie-tn-criminal-court-judge-clay-cumberland-dekalb-overton-pickett-putnam-white" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Gary McKenzie Tennessee Criminal Court, Judicial District 13 (Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, White) · Criminal Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Tennessee Criminal Court, Judicial District 13 (Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, White) - State: Tennessee - Role: Criminal 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, McKenzie held the role of Deputy District Attorney General for the 13th Judicial District, with responsibilities including prosecuting homicides and major violent crimes in Cumberland, White, and DeKalb counties He also held roles as lead prosecutor for Cumberland County (2001) and special methamphetamine prosecutor (2004) McKenzie is a veteran of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the Tennessee Army National Guard (2005–2015) - Judge Advocate General, TN Army National Guard - Gary S. McKenzie is a Criminal Court Judge, Part I for Tennessee’s 13th Judicial District, which covers Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, and White counties ### Education - UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS Law School 2000 - TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY Undergraduate 1997 ### Additional information - Year Elected/Appointed: 2014 ## 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/gary-s-mckenzie) - [Official roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/gary-s-mckenzie) - [Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/gary-s-mckenzie) - [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) - [Gary McKenzie](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/gary-s-mckenzie) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/gary-mckenzie-tn-criminal-court-judge-clay-cumberland-dekalb-overton-pickett-putnam-white", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/gary-mckenzie-tn-criminal-court-judge-clay-cumberland-dekalb-overton-pickett-putnam-white", "name": "Gary McKenzie | KnowJudges", "description": "Gary McKenzie, Tennessee Criminal Court, Judicial District 13 (Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, White). 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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.