--- title: "James Gass | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-gass-tn-circuit-court-judge-cocke-grainger-jefferson-sevier" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # James Gass Tennessee Circuit Court, Judicial District 4 (Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson, Sevier) · Circuit Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Tennessee Circuit Court, Judicial District 4 (Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson, Sevier) - 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 - James L. Gass is a Circuit Court Judge for Tennessee’s 4th Judicial District, serving since his 2017 election, with a long career in public and private legal service - Partner at Ogle, Gass & Richardson in Sevierville (1998–present) - In September 2026, Judge Gass was reviewing a motion by the Public Defender’s Office to disqualify the Sevier County District Attorney General’s Office following issues involving the district attorney - James L. Gass serves as a Circuit Court Judge for the 4th Judicial District, which includes Sevier, Cocke, Jefferson, and Grainger counties ### Education - J.D. from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1983 and a B.A. from Samford in 1980 ### Additional information - Initially appointed by Governor Bill Haslam in October 2017 to fill a temporary vacancy caused by the illness and later death of Judge Richard R. Vance. - Elected in 2017 and has been handling criminal cases in the district. ## 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/james-l-gass) - [Official roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/james-l-gass) - [Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/james-l-gass) - [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) - [James Gass](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/james-l-gass) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-gass-tn-circuit-court-judge-cocke-grainger-jefferson-sevier", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-gass-tn-circuit-court-judge-cocke-grainger-jefferson-sevier", "name": "James Gass | KnowJudges", "description": "James Gass, Tennessee Circuit Court, Judicial District 4 (Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson, Sevier). 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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.