James Kenneth Porter

Background

Porter, James Kenneth was born on April 6, 1934 in Newport, Tennessee, United States. Son of John Calhoun and Bessie Betis (Crouch) Porter.

Education

Bachelor of Science, U. Tennessee, 1955; Juris Doctor, U. Tennessee, 1957.

Career

Partner, Porter, Porter & Dunn, Porter & Porter, Newport, 1957-1974; state representative, Tennessee General Assembly, Nashville, 1961-1965; minority floor leader, Tennessee General Assembly, Nashville, 1963-1965; county attorney, Cocke County, Tennessee, 1961-1963; commissioner County Election Commission, Cocke County, Tennessee, 1966-1972; chairman, Cocke County, Tennessee, 1968-1970; member, Tennessee Senate, Nashville, 1972-1974; state circuit judge, 4th Judicial Circuit, Newport, 1974-1993; retired, 1993; state presiding judge, 4th Judicial Circuit, Newport, 1984-1986, 88-90, 1992-1993; judgeship nominee, United States District Court (eastern district), Tennessee, 1986; Tennessee Court Appeals nominee, 1990. Delegate S.E. Law Review Conference, Durham, North Carolina, 1957, National Conference State Legislator Leaders, Boston, 1963. Discussion leader National Judicial College, Reno, 1981, faculty adviser, 1982.

Member Governor's Correction Overcrowding Commission, Nashville, 1985-1986.

Achievements

• James Kenneth Porter has been listed as a reputable judge by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Active Farm Bureau, 1962-1982. Member of advisory county, trustee Walters State Community College, Morristown, Tennessee, 1975-1986. Member American Bar Association (Tennessee judicial delegate 1984), Tennessee Judicial Conference (vice president 1980-1981), Tennessee Trial Judges Association (board directors 1976-1986, president 1982-1985), Tennessee Bar Association (special trial counsel 1973-1976), Cocke County Bar Association, Smoky Mountain Country Club (board directors 1964-1967, vice president 1966-1967), Order of Coif, Sigma Alpha Epsilon (Highest Effort Law award 1986), Phi Delta Phi.

Interests

• Avocations: golf, gardening, guitar.

Connections

Married Evelyn Janet Rhodes, September l7, l955. Children: Jane Caroline, James Kenneth Junior.

Father:

John Calhoun Porter

Mother:

Bessie Betis (Crouch) Porter

Spouse:

Evelyn Janet Rhodes

child:

Jane Caroline Porter

child:

James Kenneth Junior Porter