U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
25 judges profiled from their own signed orders: how each rules on motions, with the orders quoted. Court-wide standing orders ↓
John Daniel BreenSenior status
District judge, appointed by George W. Bush (Republican)
Mark S. Norris Sr.
District judge, appointed by Donald Trump (Republican)
Samuel H. Mays Jr.Senior status
District judge, appointed by George W. Bush (Republican)
Jon Phipps McCallaDeceased
District judge, appointed by George H. W. Bush (Republican)
John Thomas Fowlkes Jr.Retired
District judge, appointed by Barack Obama (Democratic)
Annie T. Christoff
Magistrate judge
Jon A. York
Magistrate judge
Tu M. Pham
Magistrate judge
Bernice Bouie DonaldElevated to Sixth Cir. 2011
District judge, appointed by Bill Clinton (Democratic)
Brian Charles Lea
District judge, appointed by Donald Trump (Republican)
Charmiane G. Claxton
Magistrate judge
Thomas L. Parker
District judge, appointed by Donald Trump (Republican)
Sheryl H. Lipman
District judge, appointed by Barack Obama (Democratic)
Robert Malcolm McRae Jr.Deceased
District judge, appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson (Democratic)
Eli Shelby HammondDeceased
District judge, appointed by Rutherford B. Hayes (Republican)
James Dale ToddNo longer serving
District judge, appointed by Ronald Reagan (Republican)
Odell HortonDeceased
District judge, appointed by Jimmy Carter (Democratic)
Julia Smith GibbonsElevated to Sixth Cir. 2002
District judge, appointed by Ronald Reagan (Republican)
Jerome TurnerDeceased
District judge, appointed by Ronald Reagan (Republican)
John Donelson Martin Sr.Deceased
District judge, appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democratic)
John Ethridge McCallDeceased
District judge, appointed by Theodore Roosevelt (Republican)
John William RossDeceased
District judge, appointed by Warren G. Harding (Republican)
Marion Speed BoydDeceased
District judge, appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democratic)
Harry Bennett AndersonDeceased
District judge, appointed by Calvin Coolidge (Republican)
S. Thomas Anderson
District judge, appointed by George W. Bush (Republican)
Standing orders for every case in this court
Orders the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee applies to all of its cases, whichever judge has them, as published on the court's website (checked October 9, 2026). Courts revise these, so confirm the current version before you file. The court's local rules ↗
- Order Establishing Protocol for Service of Sealed Documents ↗
- Procedures for the Filing, Service, and Management of Highly Sensitive Documents ↗
Sealing
After filing a sealed document, serve it by another method permitted by the procedural rules; electronic filing no longer serves it automatically.
“a party filing a sealed document must serve all such documents by other means provided by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.”
Sealing
Authorized parties seeking access to a sealed filing must submit a Request for SDS Access through CM/ECF.
“Authorized parties to a case shall be able to access sealed documents, including documents filed by parties or the Court, after they are filed by completing a Request for SDS Access through CM/ECF.”
Sealing
Do not attach a proposed highly sensitive document to the electronic motion requesting that designation.
“The motion shall not attach a copy of the proposed HSD.”
Sealing
Submit a designated highly sensitive document to the clerk in two paper copies.
“The party shall submit the HSD in the form of two paper copies.”