TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Nov 10, 2020

Former Judge Wilfred “Wil” Vincent Doran of Fisherville passed away on Aug. 27 at age 88. Doran was born in Texas, a first generation American to Italian immigrants. After serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, he earned his law degree from the Southern Law University, or what is now known as the University of Memphis. Doran began his legal career in private practice and as a public defender, later joining the firm of Neely, Green and Fargarson. In 1968, he was appointed by Gov. Ellington as a general sessions judge and, after two years, was appointed to the Shelby County Chancery Court, sitting for 14 years. After leaving the bench, he served as an assistant district attorney general in the Grand Jury Section for five years. Upon retirement, he often sat as a designated or special judge throughout West Tennessee, including the Court of Appeals. He also served as vice president of the Tennessee Judge’s Conference. Doran was laid to rest at the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery in Memphis.