--- title: "Pamela Lynn Reeves | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/pamela-lynn-reeves-2688" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Pamela Lynn Reeves U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee · Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee - State: Tennessee - Role: Judge - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, District Court, E.D. Tennessee, 2014-present - Pamela Lynn Reeves (1954–2020) was the first woman to serve as a U.S. District Court judge in the Eastern District of Tennessee and later as its Chief Judge, recognized for her pioneering work in employment and sexual harassment law - Nominated by President Barack Obama on January 6, 2014, Reeves was confirmed by the Senate on March 5, 2014, and commissioned as a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee on March 7, 2014 - Began her legal career in 1979 as an associate at Griffin, Burkhalter, Cooper & Reeves, later moving to Morrison, Morrison, Tyree & Dickenson (1985–1987) and then Watson, Hollow & Reeves (1987–2002) ### Education - She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee in 1976 with a BA in history, then earned her Juris Doctor in 1979 from the George C. Taylor College of Law at UT. ### Additional information - She became Chief Judge on April 1, 2019, serving until her death on September 10, 2020 - Reeves received the Judicial Excellence Award and the Professionalism Award from the Tennessee Bar Association in 2019. - Private practice, Knoxville, TN, 1979-2014 - She co‐founded Reeves, Herbert & Anderson, P.A. in Knoxville in 2002 - The first woman President of the Tennessee Bar Association (1998–1999) - Date of birth: 1954-01-01 - focusing on mediation and litigation in employment and contract matters. - Trailblazer in sexual harassment law - representing both plaintiffs and defendants, and mediating such cases. - Her career included high‐profile work, such as defending the snail darter in a Supreme Court case - The University of Tennessee honored her with its Distinguished Alumna Award shortly before her death. - She was remembered for her advocacy, leadership, and as a pioneer for women in the federal judiciary - Birth place: Marion, VA ## 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.courtlistener.com/person/2688/pamela-lynn-reeves/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2688/pamela-lynn-reeves/) - [U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2688/pamela-lynn-reeves/) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2688/pamela-lynn-reeves/) - [Reeves, Pamela Lynn | Federal Judicial Center](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/reeves-pamela-lynn) - [Wikidata: Pamela L. Reeves](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16186439) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/pamela-lynn-reeves-2688", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/pamela-lynn-reeves-2688", "name": "Pamela Lynn Reeves | KnowJudges", "description": "Pamela Lynn Reeves, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/pamela-lynn-reeves-2688#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/pamela-lynn-reeves-2688#judge", "name": "Pamela Lynn Reeves", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/pamela-lynn-reeves-2688", "jobTitle": "Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2688/pamela-lynn-reeves/" ], "birthDate": "1954", "birthPlace": "Marion, VA", "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Tennessee" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Tennessee College of Law" } ] }, { "@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": "Pamela Lynn Reeves", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/pamela-lynn-reeves-2688" } ] } ] } ```