TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

Madison County Judge Suspended

Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Apr 16, 2026

The Board of Judicial Conduct has suspended Madison County General Sessions Judge Mark Patey due to “mental health issues.” According to a letter dated April 15, board chair Chancellor Jeffrey Atherton writes that that the board has received information that Patey is “suffering from mental health issues that substantially interfere with the prompt, orderly, and efficient performance” of duties. Therefore, the board “has determined that the public interest and proper administration of justice warrants suspending Judge Patey's judicial authority, effective immediately, until further orders …”. The move comes after Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeffrey Bivins assigned four judges to preside over civil and criminal cases in Patey’s court on April 1. The Board of Judicial Conduct has suspended Madison County General Sessions Judge Mark Patey due to “mental health issues.” According to a letter dated April 15, board chair Chancellor Jeffrey Atherton writes that that the board has received information that Patey is “suffering from mental health issues that substantially interfere with the prompt, orderly, and efficient performance” of duties. Therefore, the board “has determined that the public interest and proper administration of justice warrants suspending Judge Patey's judicial authority, effective immediately, until further orders …”. The move comes after Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeffrey Bivins assigned four judges to preside over civil and criminal cases in Patey’s court on April 1. WBBJ reached out to Patey on April 2 and has his response in this article.

Attachments:

Law-Related Blogs AND PODCASTS

Check out other law-related blogs and podcasts generated from the Tennessee legal community or of interest to the Tennessee lawyers.