NASHVILLE (AP) — The 12-member Tennessee Court of Appeals has elected D. Michael Swiney of Knoxville as chief judge.
The chief judge is responsible for assigning cases, ensuring that legal proceedings advance in a timely manner and other administrative duties. The term lasts one year.
Swiney was engaged in private practice from 1979 to 1999, when then-Gov. Don Sundquist, a Republican, named him to the appeals court bench.
Swiney last year wrote the opinion reinstating a defamation lawsuit against former Republican state Sen. Stacey Campfield for publishing false information on his blog about a Democratic candidate in 2008.
Swiney wrote in the opinion that "Contrary to the vintage Cole Porter song, 'Anything Goes' will not suffice when it comes to publishing factual falsehoods about political rivals."