Gary R. Wade

Gary R. Wade is the Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court. He was appointed to the court on May 30, 2006 by Governor Phil Bredesen and took office on September 1, 2006. He is one of four justices on the five-justice court appointed by Bredesen.

Wade became Chief Justice on September 1, 2012. His two-year term will expire on August 31, 2014.

Wade was retained by Tennessee's voters to a full eight-year term on the court on August 7, 2008. His current term expires on August 31, 2014.^[1]

The state's Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission has recommended Justice Wade be retained for another term in the August 7, 2014 retention election.^[2]

Education

Wade received his B.S. degree cum laude from the University of Tennessee in 1970 and his J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1973.^[3]

Career

Wade was in private practice from 1973 to 1987. He served as the mayor of Sevierville from 1977 to 1987. Wade was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals in 1987, and was elected 1988. He was re-elected in 1990, 1998 and 2006. Wade served as presiding judge of the court from 1998 to 2006. He was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court in September 1, 2006.

Awards

2011: Scouts of America Great Smoky Mountain Council Good Scout Award
2010: Recipient of the Legacy Award from Friends of the Smokies^[4]
2009: Lincoln Memorial University Commencement, Keynote Speaker
2007-2008: Power100, Business TN
2007: Raymond L. Gardner Alumnus of the Year, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity
2007: United States Department of Interior Citizens Award for Exceptional Service
2006: East Tennessee Regional Leadership Award
2006: University of Tennessee College of Law Commencement, Keynote Speaker
2005, 2008: American Legion Boys State, Keynote Speaker
2005: Garden Club of America Conservation Award
2004: Appellate Judge of the Year, American Board of Trial Advocates
2004: Judicial Excellence Award, Knoxville Bar Association^[3]
2004: Citizen of the Year, Sevierville Chamber of Commerce
2004: Sevier County High School Wall of Fame
2001: Thornton Athletic Student Life Center Award, University of Tennessee
2000: Walters State Community College Commencement, Keynote Speaker
1999: Lions Club International Melvin Jones Fellow
1997-Present: United Way Leadership Society
1996: Pellissippi State Technical Community College Commencement, Keynote Speaker
1996: Superintendent's MVP - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
1987: Sevierville Chamber of Commerce Award
1987: Gary R. Wade Boulevard
1987: Key to City Award by City of Sevierville
1987: American Heart Association Presidential Award
1983, 84, 85, 97: Sevier County Mover and Shaker of the Year by The Mountain Press
1980: Outstanding Young Men of America, Who's Who in American Law

Associations

Member, American Bar Association

1995-1996: Delegate

Member, Tennessee Bar Association

1980-1988: House of Delegates
1995-1996: Board of Governors
2008-Present: Fellow, Young Lawyers Division

Member, Knoxville Bar Association

2004 Board of Governors

Member, Sevier County Bar Association
1988-Present: Member, American Inns of Court
2009-Present: Fellow, American Bar Foundation
2008-Present: Fellow, Knoxville Bar Foundation
2006-Present: Phi Delta Theta Educational Foundation

1998-Present: Tennessee Bar Association Fellow, Young Lawyers Division
Walters State Community College Foundation

2005-2006: President
1998-Present: Board of Trustees

1996-Present: Founder and secretary, Tennessee Judicial Conference Foundation
1996-Present: Member, Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society
1994-Present: Fellow, Tennessee Bar Foundation
1994-Present: Dean's Circle, University of Tennessee
1993-Present: Board of Visitors, University of Tennessee
1993 - Present: Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, co-founder, past president, and president emeritus
1987-Present: Tennessee Judicial Conference; President, 1995-1996

1998-2006: Member, Council of Chief Judges
2004-2005: Member, Governor's Task Force on Sentencing
2003-2005: Maryville College Board of Trustees; Finance Committee, 2004-2005
1998-2005: UT Development Council
1997-2002: Pellissippi State Technical Community College, President's Associates
1990-1997: Eta South Province President, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity
1996: Member, Special Joint Committee (Senate Joint Resolution 477) on Special and Pro Tempore Judges
1995-1996: Tennessee Bar Association Board of Governors
1995-1996: Leadership Knoxville Class
1993-1996: Member, Commission on Future of the Tennessee Judicial System
1990-1994: Member, Tennessee Sentencing Commission
1980-1988: Tennessee Bar Association House of Delegates
1985-1987: Member, Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund, Board of Directors and Treasurer
1983-1987: Member, Tennessee Municipal Attorneys Association
1983-1987: Member, National Association of Municipal Law Officers
1973-1987: Member, Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association
1973-1984: Member, Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Board of Directors, 1978-1984^[3]

Community Involvement

1972: Sevierville Lions Club, Past President
1972-1987: Sevier County Volunteer Legal Assistance Program
1977-1979: Sevierville Community Center Capital Campaign, Chair
1984, 1985, 1986: Sevier County Heart Association, Chairman
1984-1986, 2004-2006: Sevier County United Way, Board of Directors
1986-1987: East Tennessee Chapter of American Heart Association, Vice President
1989-1994: First United Methodist Church of Sevierville, Finance Chair
1996-2000: First United Methodist Church Conference, Finance Chair, Maryville District
Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

1993-2005: Co-Founder and President
2005-2006: Board Chair
2007-Present: Chairman Emeritus

1996-2002: East Tennessee Foundation Board of Directors
1996: Honorary Chair, Boys & Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains Capital Campaign
1997-1998: Board of Directors, YMCA Metropolitan Knoxville
1997-2004: Board of Directors, AAA East Tennessee
1997: Board of Directors, United Way of Greater Knoxville Campaign Cabinet
1997-2008: Board of Directors, Tennessee's Resource Valley
1998-2000, 2006-Present: East Tennessee Historical Society Board of Directors
1998-Present: Sevier County High School Foundation Board of Directors
Knoxville Zoological Gardens

2000-2006: Board of Directors
2002-2004: Vice Chair
2005-2006: Chair
2006-Present: Honorary Director

2000-2003: Board of Directors, Fort Sanders Foundation
2000-2002: Nine Counties, One Vision, Chair, Transportation Committee
2001-2006: ALCOA Community Advisory Board
2002-2004: Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Board
2003-2005: Board of Directors, Friends of Headrick Chapel
2004-Present: Sevier County Library Foundation
2004-2006: Board of Directors, Museum of Appalachia, Vice Chair
Leadership Sevier