--- title: "Sharon Gail Lee | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sharon-gail-lee-5731" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-22" --- # Sharon Gail Lee Supreme Court of Tennessee · Judge ## Profile - Court: Supreme Court of Tennessee - State: Tennessee - Role: Judge - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-08-22 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Tennessee Supreme Court, 2008-present - American jurist who held the role of a justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court from 2008 until her retirement in 2023, and as Chief Justice from 2014 to 2016 - She held the role of Chief Justice from September 2014 to August 2016 - Advanced access to justice initiatives, launched Tennessee’s first business court pilot, implemented electronic filing, and reviewed indigent defense systems ### Education - a J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1978 - She graduated from Webb School of Knoxville in 1971, initially studied pre‐medicine at Vanderbilt University, then obtained a B.S. in accounting from the University of Tennessee in 1975 ### Additional information - Lee received numerous awards, including the Tennessee Bar Association’s Outstanding Judicial Service Award (2023), Legal Aid of East Tennessee’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2023), and the University of Tennessee Distinguished Alumna Award (2022) - In October 2008, Governor Phil Bredesen appointed her to the Tennessee Supreme Court, where she was re‐elected in 2010, 2014, and 2022. - Practitioner, 2007-2007 - The first woman appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals’ Eastern Section in 2004, later elected to the court in 2006 - From 1978 to 2004, Lee practiced law in Madisonville - Born December 8, 1953. - Date of birth: 1953-12-08 - handling a wide range of cases from boundary disputes to criminal matters, and held the role of Monroe County Attorney, Madisonville City Judge, and city attorney for Vonore and Madisonville. - Birth place: Knoxville ## 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/5731/sharon-gail-lee/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5731/sharon-gail-lee/) - [Supreme Court of Tennessee current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5731/sharon-gail-lee/) - [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/5731/sharon-gail-lee/) - [A Passion for Justice: Sharon G. Lee - Winston College of Law](https://winston.utk.edu/2023/09/27/a-passion-for-justice-sharon-g-lee) - [Wikidata: Sharon Gail Lee](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7490066) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sharon-gail-lee-5731", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sharon-gail-lee-5731", "name": "Sharon Gail Lee | KnowJudges", "description": "Sharon Gail Lee, Supreme Court of Tennessee. 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