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Nominee William E. Phillips II emphasizes trial experience and a 'calling' in confirmation hearing
Summary
During his confirmation hearing, Judge William E. Phillips II described a 20-year practice spanning civil and criminal matters, his service as a circuit court judge since October 2021, and said he felt "called" to appellate service. He recounted a child-protection case that shaped his perspective.
Judge William E. Phillips II told Judiciary committee members he values ground-level trial work and hopes to bring that perspective to the Tennessee Court of Appeals if confirmed.
Phillips described his circuit-court work as "the general trial court for the state of Tennessee" handling domestic relations, terminations, adoptions, torts and jury trials. On why he is seeking the appellate seat, he said, "I love my job... I felt called to the position," and described encouragement from colleagues and family in deciding to pursue the appellate post.
During questioning Phillips recounted a termination-of-parental-rights case he handled after being assigned by the Supreme Court. He said authorities found a 14-year-old "hidden under a couch" and severely emaciated; the judge described subsequent medical care and the child’s decision to testify. Phillips said the case was "terrible at one point and inspiring in another way," and said experiences like that have influenced his approach to the bench.
Members praised his record of accepting indigent appointments and his range of practice areas from criminal defense to civil litigation in a smaller-town practice. Chairman Hicks’s introduction listed Phillips’s education (Sewanee; University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law) and local civic roles in Rogersville.
