TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Oct 22, 2021

Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville, a member of the Legislative Black Caucus, is calling on Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery to investigate the conduct of Rutherford County Juvenile Judge Donna Davenport, WKRN reports. Dixie's letter cited recent reporting by Propublica and NPR that alleges the court “routinely violated federal law in its detaining of minors.” Dixie’s request comes a day after 11 members of Congress asked the U.S. Justice Department to investigate the allegations and encourage the state to collect better data on juvenile cases. Slatery’s office acknowledged receiving the letter, saying it “will respond ... at the appropriate time.” Judge Davenport said pending litigation prohibits her from commenting on any of the allegations.