NASHVILLE (AP) - The Tennessee Supreme Court has adopted new ethics rules for state judges.

One rule deals with the disability and impairment of a judge or attorney. It instructs judges to take "appropriate action" if they believe another judge or attorney is impaired by drugs, alcohol or other physical, mental or emotional condition.

Last year, a Knox County judge resigned after it was revealed he had been addicted to prescription painkillers that he was buying illegally.

In addition to the new ethics rules, the court also adopted a procedure for pursuing the recusal of a judge and a new process for getting an expedited appeal if a motion for recusal is denied.

All the changes take effect Sunday.