RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN – In Murfreesboro, the Honorable J. Mark Rogers is retiring on September 1, 2023. Judge Rogers, who graduated from MTSU in 1974 and later the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1977, has served as a local judge for almost 20-years.

The Judge was appointed by former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen on July 16, 2004 to fill the vacancy that was left by Judge Steve Daniel, who retired in '04. Rogers was elected to serve two years later in 2006, followed by his reelection in 2014 and later in 2022. His current seat doesn't expire until year 2030.

Prior to being elected as a Circuit Court Judge for Rutherford and Cannon Counties, Rogers worked as an attorney in private practice for nearly 30-years with the law firms of Rogers & Eischeid; Reed, Rogers & Trail; and Rochelle and Callis. He is a member of the Rutherford/Cannon County Bar Association and was a past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association. In 2009, Rogers was honored to be the Trial Judge of the Year, according to the Southeastern Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Because Judge Rogers has 7-years left in his term, a new judge to fill his position will have to be appointed. Currently, the Trial Court Vacancy Commission is working to accept applications for the Circuit Court Judgeship in the Sixteenth Judicial District, which covers Rutherford and Cannon Counties. Attorneys interested in the seat have until July 26, 2023 to apply.

The Tennessee Courts report, “Qualified applicants must be licensed attorneys who are at least 30 years of age, have been residents of the state for five years, and are residents of the 16th Judicial District. Interested applicants must complete the Trial Court Vacancy Commission Application, which is available at www.tncourts.gov, and submit it to the Administrative Office of the Courts by noon CDT on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Applicants must submit by the deadline: (1) the original signed (unbound) application; and (2) a digital copy of the application, in order to have his/her name placed on the list of candidates for consideration for the judicial vacancy for which he/she is applying. Complete application instructions can be found at: http://www.tncourts.gov/administration/judicial-resources.”

The Commission will hold a public hearing to consider applicants on Wednesday, August 30th in the Rutherford County Commission Meeting Room in the Historic Courthouse located at South Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, at 9:00 a.m. CDT. For more information, visit https://www.tncourts.gov/administration/judicial-resources