Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has appointed Barry Ross Tidwell of Murfreesboro as Circuit Court Judge in the 16th Judicial District, which includes Rutherford and Cannon counties.

Tidwell's appointment follows the death of Judge M. Keith Siskin in July.

Tidwell, 47, has served as Rutherford County General Sessions Judge since 2014. Previously, he was an attorney in general practice at Bulloch, Fly, Hornsby & Evans from 2013-2014.

Tidwell was a partner at Price & Tidwell from 2006-2012 and Tidwell Cartee from 2003-2006. He practiced as a sole practitioner from 2000-2003 and was a law clerk for Judge Cheryl Blackburn in the 20th Judicial District from 1997-2000.

"We are pleased to have someone of Barry Tidwell's experience to take on this important position after the tragic loss of Judge Siskin," Haslam said. "This appointment will serve the citizens of the 16th Judicial District well."

"I would like to thank the governor for having the confidence in me to appoint me to fill Keith Siskin's seat," Tidwell said. "It has been an honor to serve Rutherford County as a General Sessions judge for the past three years, and I look forward to serving the citizens of Rutherford and Cannon counties on the Circuit Court bench."

Tidwell received a law degree from the Nashville School of Law in 1998 after attending Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro from 1988-1992. He is currently board chairman of Habitat for Humanity Tennessee and has been a member of the board since 2013. He has been a member of the Murfreesboro Downtown Barrister Chapter of the Lions Club since 2014 and a board member of Ezell-Harding Christian School since 2014.

Tidwell has been a deacon at Rural Hill Church of Christ since 2003. He and his wife, Bippy, have been married for 25 years and have four children.