Sharon G. Lee

Justice Sharon Lee, former Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court, consults with clients on complex litigation and appellate matters. As an experienced practitioner and appellate judge, she is a skilled and effective Rule 31 listed mediator.

Justice Lee practiced law for twenty-six years. Her practice included civil and criminal litigation and handling real estate, wills, estates, and transactional matters. She also served as a county attorney, municipal attorney, municipal judge, and mediator. In 2004, Justice Lee was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals and was then appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2008 where she served until 2023. She was Chief Justice from 2014-2016. Justice Lee won statewide retention elections in 2004, 2008, 2010, 2014 and 2022.

University of Tennessee, J.D., 1978
University of Tennessee, B.S., Accounting, 1975

State of Tennessee
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
United States District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee

Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians’ Trefoil Luncheon Honoree (2024)
Tennessee Bar Association Justice Frank F. Drowota III Outstanding Judicial Service Award (2023)
Knoxville Bar Association Judicial Excellence Award (2023)
Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services Lifetime Achievement Award (2023)
Legal Aid of East Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee (2023)
Grayfred Gray Public Service in Mediation Award (2023)
University of Tennessee College of Law Legal Clinic Bernstein-Ritchie Award (2023)
American Legion Auxiliary Girls State proclamation, June 1, 2023, “Sharon Lee Day” (2023)
George P. Thomas Award for Service to the Monroe County Veterans Court (2023)
University of Tennessee Distinguished Alumna Award (2022)
American Legion Auxiliary Girls State “Lee County” in honor of Justice Lee (2022)
University of Tennessee Centennial Alumnus, recognizing 100 outstanding alumni in the past 100 years (2017)
Tennessee Municipal Judges Conference, annual “Sharon Lee Excellence Award” (2016)
Legal Aid of East Tennessee’s Chief Justice William M. Barker Equal Access to Justice Award (2014)
ABOTA Tennessee Chapter Courage Award (2014)
YWCA of Knoxville 30 Remarkable Women over the past 30 Years Honoree (2014)
Congressional Medal of Honor Convention, Honorary Co-Chair (2014)
Volunteer Ministries Center Carry the Torch Luncheon, Honorary Chair (2013)
East Tennessee Women’s Leadership Council Lizzie Crozier French Award (2013)
University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award (2011)
Webb School of Knoxville Distinguished Alumni Award (2010)
YWCA of Knoxville Tribute to Women Honoree (2010)
Girl Scouts Council of the Southern Appalachians Woman of Achievement Award (2009)
East Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women Spirit of Justice Award (2010)
National Association of Women Judges’ Spotlight Award (2004)
Million Dollar Advocates Forum, members limited to trial lawyers who have demonstrated exceptional skills, experience, and excellence in advocacy by obtaining a verdict or settlement over one million dollars (2000)

Tennessee Judicial Conference
American Bar Foundation, Fellow
Tennessee Bar Foundation, Fellow
Knoxville Bar Foundation, Fellow and Board member
Tennessee Bar Association, House of Delegates Member
Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women, Director
East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women, President
Monroe County Bar Association, President (2 terms), Vice-President, and Secretary
Knoxville Bar Association, Board of Governors
National Association of Women Judges, District 6 Director
University of Tennessee College of Law, Law Fund Member, Dean’s Circle,
and Alumni Advisory Council
Knoxville Executive Women’s Association, Secretary and Executive Board
Webb School of Knoxville, Board of Trustees
East Tennessee History Center, Board of Directors
YWCA Knoxville, Board of Directors
YWCA Knoxville Foundation, Board of Directors
Boys and Girls Club of Monroe County, Board of Directors
Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, Board of Directors
Webb School of Knoxville, Alumni Council
Madisonville Elementary School PTA, President (2 terms), Madisonville Middle School PTA, Vice President, and Secretary
Liaison with Supreme Court of Japan for judges enrolled at Vanderbilt Law School (2016-2023)
First United Methodist Church, Madisonville, Lay reader, Pastor-Parish Chair, children’s Sunday School teacher
Administered oaths of office to Governor Bill Haslam; City of Knoxville Mayors Bill Haslam, Madeline Rogero, Indya Kincannon; and other elected state and county officials

University of Tennessee College of Law commencement speaker (2014, 2023)
Nashville School of Law commencement speaker (2015)
Tennessee Wesleyan University commencement speaker (2014, 2024)
Hiwassee College commencement speaker (2015)
“American Heros with Common Bonds, The stories of American soldiers who fought in World War II, were captured and held in German prison camps, and have children who are judges and lawyers in Tennessee,” presented to lawyers, judges, civic clubs, and school groups since 2009.
Frequent CLE presenter for over twenty years
To Tweet or not to Tweet, cover story Tennessee Bar Journal, Sept 2021
The Frank Drowota Trust helps to fill the Justice Gap, co-author, Tennessee Bar Journal, July 2024
2024 Update-The Drowota Trust, Tennessee Bar Journal, March/April 2025
Book Review: A Sense of Justice, co-author, Tennessee Bar Journal, March/April 2023
E-Filing in Tennessee Courts, Tennessee Bar Journal, February 2022
E-Filing for Busy Trial Lawyers, The Tennessee Trial Lawyer, Summer 2022
The KBA Travels to Panama, Knoxville Bar DICTA, May 2024 (co-author)
The Judicial Selection Process, TLAW newsletter, December 2004
The History of the Tennessee Supreme Court, Knoxville Bar DICTA
Opening and Closing Arguments, co-author, Harrison Publishing Company

‘A Justice for the People’ Justice Sharon G. Lee Looks Back on Storied Career That Took Her From Rural Tennessee to State’s Highest Court

A Passion for Justice: Sharon G. Lee – University of Tennessee College of Law