TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

Longtime Shelby County Judge Dies at 92

Posted by: Azya Thornton on May 1, 2026
News Type: Passages

Former Judge Bernard "Bernie" Weinman died April 20 at age 92. He earned his law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1961 and, after five years in practice, was appointed by Mayor William B. Ingram as a judge of the Memphis City Courts, becoming the youngest and first Jewish judge on the court. During his tenure, he served as chief administrative judge, instituted new programs and advocated for indigent defendants. Elected to the Shelby County Criminal Court in 1974, he served as Division II judge for 30 years, presiding over high-profile cases and issuing rulings including a case of first impression, later affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, allowing victim impact statements in capital sentencing hearings. After retiring, he served as an assistant disciplinary counsel for the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary, on the Shelby County Civil Service Commission and practiced with his son at Weinman and Associates. A funeral was held at Temple Israel on April 23. Donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.

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