William M. Barker
Encyclopedia
William Michael Barker (born on September 13, 1941 in Chattanooga, Tennessee
) was Chief Justice
of the Tennessee Supreme Court
from 1995-2009.
Barker is married with three children. After graduating from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
in 1964, he earned his Juris Doctor
from the University of Cincinnati College of Law
in 1967. After a brief enlistment with the United States Army
Medical Corps, he enetered private practice until 1983. That year Governor Lamar Alexander
appointed him to the bench, and Barker eventually served on the Tennessee Supreme Court. He was elected chief justice
by his peers on October 4, 2005. Chief Justice Barker, along with his fellow justices, was subject to a retention election in August 2006 under the provisions of the "Tennessee Plan
" and was overwhelmingly reelected to an eight-year term http://tennessee/gov/sos/election/results/2006-8/retention/pdf. Chief Justice Barker retired in 2009 and was succeeded by Associate Justice Janice M. Holder
. He now serves as of counsel
for the firm of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel in his hometown of Chattanooga.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
) was Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Tennessee Supreme Court
Tennessee Supreme Court
The Tennessee Supreme Court is the state supreme court of the state of Tennessee. Cornelia Clark is the current Chief Justice.Unlike other states, in which the state attorney general is directly elected or appointed by the governor or state legislature, the Tennessee Supreme Court appoints the...
from 1995-2009.
Barker is married with three children. After graduating from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a public university located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The University, often referred to as UTC or simply "Chattanooga" , is one of three universities and two other affiliated institutions in the University of Tennessee System; the others being in...
in 1964, he earned his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Cincinnati College of Law
University of Cincinnati College of Law
The University of Cincinnati College of Law is the fourth oldest continually running law school in the United States and a founding member of the Association of American Law Schools. It was started in 1833 as the Cincinnati Law School...
in 1967. After a brief enlistment with the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Medical Corps, he enetered private practice until 1983. That year Governor Lamar Alexander
Lamar Alexander
Andrew Lamar Alexander is the senior United States Senator from Tennessee and Conference Chair of the Republican Party. He was previously the 45th Governor of Tennessee from 1979 to 1987, United States Secretary of Education from 1991 to 1993 under President George H. W...
appointed him to the bench, and Barker eventually served on the Tennessee Supreme Court. He was elected chief justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
by his peers on October 4, 2005. Chief Justice Barker, along with his fellow justices, was subject to a retention election in August 2006 under the provisions of the "Tennessee Plan
Tennessee Plan
The Tennessee Plan is a system of judicial appointment used in Tennessee. The system attempts to limit the influence of partisan politics over the state's judiciary...
" and was overwhelmingly reelected to an eight-year term http://tennessee/gov/sos/election/results/2006-8/retention/pdf. Chief Justice Barker retired in 2009 and was succeeded by Associate Justice Janice M. Holder
Janice M. Holder
Janice M. Holder is an American judge who is a Tennessee Supreme Court justice and was Chief Justice of Tennessee from 2008 to 2010. She is the first woman ever to hold the chief justice position.-Education:...
. He now serves as of counsel
Of counsel
Of counsel is often the title of an attorney who is employed by a law firm or an organization, but is not an associate or a partner. Some firms use titles like "counsel," "special counsel," and "senior counsel" for the same concept...
for the firm of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel in his hometown of Chattanooga.