--- title: "Joy Buck Gothard | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joy-buck-gothard-tn-municipal-court-judge-putnam" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Joy Buck Gothard Tennessee Municipal Court, Putnam County · Municipal Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Tennessee Municipal Court, Putnam County - State: Tennessee - Role: Municipal 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 - Elected/appointed as Municipal Court Judge in 2022 - She held the role of a law clerk to Federal Judge L. Clure Morton (1985–1987) - For legal services, her firm’s site provides consultation information and practice area details - City Judge, Cookeville — municipal court and city administrative matters ### Education - B.S. in Business Administration from Tennessee Tech University. ### Additional information - She graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1985 (Order of the Coif, top 10% of her class) - The first woman to serve as City Judge for the City of Cookeville. - She is a Martindale-Hubbell AV-rated attorney, a member of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Probate and Tax Section and the Putnam County Bar Association ## 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/municipal-courts/judges/joy-buck-gothard) - [Official roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/municipal-courts/judges/joy-buck-gothard) - [Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/municipal-courts/judges/joy-buck-gothard) - [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) - [Joy Buck Gothard](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/municipal-courts/judges/joy-buck-gothard) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joy-buck-gothard-tn-municipal-court-judge-putnam", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joy-buck-gothard-tn-municipal-court-judge-putnam", "name": "Joy Buck Gothard | KnowJudges", "description": "Joy Buck Gothard, Tennessee Municipal Court, Putnam County. 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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.