Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee will be formally invested into the role of Chief Justice by Gov. Bill Haslam at a ceremony in Knoxville Wednesday, September 17.
The investiture will take place at 1 p.m.
EDT in the Historic Post Office Building, Tennessee Supreme Court, 505 Main Street, Knoxville. A reception will follow.
Justice Lee will be the third woman to serve as Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court. Justice Lee was appointed to the Court in 2008 by Gov. Phil Bredesen and was elected Chief Justice by the justices of the Court in August for a one-year term that began September 1.
Before her appointment to the Supreme Court, Justice Lee served as a Judge on the Tennessee Court of Appeals from 2004-2008. From 1978-2004, she practiced law in her hometown of Madisonville and also served as a municipal judge, a mediator, and a county and city attorney. Justice Lee received both her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Tennessee.
Chief Justice Lee is active in her community, serving on several boards including the YWCA Knoxville and the East Tennessee Historical Society. She also is involved with the Volunteer Ministry Center and the 2014 Congressional Medal of Honor Convention.
Chief Justice Lee has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Chief Justice William E. Barker Equal Access to Justice Award, the YWCA Knoxville 30 Remarkable Women over the past 30 years, the Lizzie Crozier French Leadership Award from the East Tennessee Women's Leadership Council, YWCA Knoxville Tribute to Women Honoree, the Woman of Achievement Award from the Girl Scouts Council of the Southern Appalachians, the Spirit of Justice Award by the East Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women, and the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Promise Award.
Chief Justice Lee has two daughters.