Richard H. Dinkins at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Tennessee · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Richard H. Dinkins
Judge · Tennessee Court of Appeals
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, Court of Appeals of Tennessee, 2008-present
- Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge (2008–2022), appointed by Gov
- From 1999 to 2003, he practiced with Dodson, Parker, Behm & Dinkins, serving as counsel to the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency and Fisk University
- Began his legal career in 1977 as a third-year law student clerk for civil rights legend State Senator Avon N. Williams Jr., later joining the firm Williams & Dinkins
- He also held the role of cooperating counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense Fund
Education
- Vanderbilt Law School in — J.D. (1977)
- He attended Denison University in Ohio (B.A., 1974)
- Vanderbilt University — J.D.
Additional information
- Judge Dinkins passed away on October 1, 2023, at age 71.
- His kindness and dedication were widely celebrated, including a viral 2019 video of him holding a new attorney’s toddler during her oath
- Born August 30, 1952 in Nashville, Tennessee, Dinkins grew up in a family deeply involved in the civil rights movement; his father, the late Reverend Charles L. Dinkins Sr., was a prominent NAACP leader.
- Over 20 years, he was the lead attorney in the historic Nashville school desegregation case and in other high-profile civil rights and discrimination cases.
- Birth place: Nashville while his father, the late Reverend Charles L
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
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.
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 ↗
Statewide
Tennessee Rule 30 prohibits media coverage of jury selection, jurors, closed proceedings, and certain minor or juvenile-court participants.
Media coverage of jury selection is prohibited.Rule 30: Media Guidelines ↗
Remote appearances
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.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Rule 30: Media Guidelines
Tennessee Court of Appeals
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
Court of Appeals of Tennessee current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View Court of Appeals of Tennessee current judicial profile ↗Rule 30: Media Guidelines
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Rule 30: Media Guidelines ↗Rule 55: Use of Technology for Court Proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Rule 55: Use of Technology for Court Proceedings ↗