--- title: "Jo Atwood | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jo-atwood-tn-circuit-court-judge-rutherford-cannon" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Jo Atwood Tennessee Circuit Court, Judicial District 16 (Rutherford, Cannon) · Circuit Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Tennessee Circuit Court, Judicial District 16 (Rutherford, Cannon) - 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 ### Education ### Additional information - Before joining the judiciary, Atwood was a managing partner at Atwood and Moore since 1995 - Year Elected/Appointed: 2020 - Appointed by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee in May 2020 to the 16th Judicial District Circuit Court to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Hon. - handling over 7,000 clients in a wide range of civil litigation. - She previously practiced in the Law Offices of Henry, Kious & Hall - She is a charter member of the Middle Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women ## 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/jo-atwood) - [Official roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/jo-atwood) - [Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/jo-atwood) - [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) - [Jo Atwood](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/jo-atwood) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jo-atwood-tn-circuit-court-judge-rutherford-cannon", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jo-atwood-tn-circuit-court-judge-rutherford-cannon", "name": "Jo Atwood | KnowJudges", "description": "Jo Atwood, Tennessee Circuit Court, Judicial District 16 (Rutherford, Cannon). Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jo-atwood-tn-circuit-court-judge-rutherford-cannon#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jo-atwood-tn-circuit-court-judge-rutherford-cannon#judge", "name": "Jo Atwood", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jo-atwood-tn-circuit-court-judge-rutherford-cannon", "jobTitle": "Circuit Court Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Tennessee Circuit Court, Judicial District 16 (Rutherford, Cannon)" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/jo-atwood" ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Tennessee", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/tennessee" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jo Atwood", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jo-atwood-tn-circuit-court-judge-rutherford-cannon" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Rule 30: Media Guidelines](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-c1debbfd57a23e78c6318aec) — 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](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines). Collected 2026-07-26.