On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported that Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Holly Kirby will retire on June 30, 2026. The announcement was made via a press release from the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts on September 23.

Justice Kirby, a Memphis native and graduate of the University of Memphis and its Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, has had a distinguished career marked by several firsts for women in Tennessee’s legal system. She clerked for Judge Harry Wellford on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit before joining the Memphis law firm Burch, Porter and Johnson.

In 1990, Kirby became the first female partner at Burch, Porter, and Johnson. Five years later, she was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, making her the first woman to serve on that court. She is also the first University of Memphis graduate to sit on the court.

Governor Bill Haslam appointed Kirby to the Supreme Court in 2014, following her nearly two decades on the appellate court. She served as Chief Justice from 2023 until September 2025, becoming the fourth woman in Tennessee history to hold that position.

During her tenure as Chief Justice, Kirby secured $26 million to aid Tennessee residents who cannot afford legal representation. She also established a commission to oversee the administration and compensation of appointed counsel. Furthermore, she addressed increasing threats to the judiciary, leading efforts to strengthen laws against the intimidation of judicial officials and to protect judges, their families, and justice system employees.

Throughout her career, Justice Kirby has participated in thousands of appellate decisions and authored over a thousand opinions. She has also won six statewide elections. Her contributions have been recognized with awards such as the Marion Griffin-Frances Loring Award, the Distinguished Leadership Award from Women in Numbers, and recognition as Community Mother of the Year by the Tennessee Justice Center. The Tennessee Bar Association presented her with its President’s Award in 2025.

Chief Justice Jeff Bivins acknowledged Kirby as a dedicated public servant, highlighting her intelligence, collegiality, and dedication throughout her service on the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court, and as Chief Justice.

 

 

Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal