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Justice Muecke Barker Concludes Extraordinary Professional Career, Retires at Chambliss
After 13 years at Chambliss and serving in the legal field for over 50 years, Justice Muecke Barker retired at the close of 2021.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to practice with this firm following my retirement from the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2008. After serving as a judge for over 25 years, returning to the practice of law with this outstanding law firm has provided a most satisfying way for me to conclude my professional career,” said Justice Barker when reflecting on his decision to retire.
Justice Barker began working with the firm in the fall of 2008 after serving in the United States Army and the Tennessee Judicial System for decades. In 1983, Gov. Lamar Alexander appointed him to the bench, where he eventually served on the Tennessee Supreme Court. During his judgeship, he was elected for two eight-year terms and was consistently the highest rated circuit court judge by the Chattanooga Bar Association’s bi-annual polls.
After being appointed to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals in 1995, Gov. Don Sundquist appointed him to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1998, and he was unanimously elected by his colleagues to serve as the Chief Justice. In 2008 upon retiring from his judicial seat, Justice Barker was named Appellate Judge of the Year by the Tennessee Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
“After an outstanding career as a jurist for many years in the Hamilton County Circuit Court, the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals and the Tennessee Supreme Court, Chambliss was fortunate to have Muecke Barker join our firm in 2008. Muecke has been a great mentor to me, other Chambliss lawyers, and countless lawyers in the community. His quick wit and humor, and “war stories” from days gone by are what make him special to so many of us. I’ll particularly miss his “Cheshire cat” grin that typically preceded one of his humorous stories.” – Hal North, Litigation Shareholder
Since joining Chambliss, Justice Barker served and guided clients through mediation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution. He also served as a great colleague and leader. We thank him for his many years of service and mentorship, and wish him the very best in this next chapter.
“For those who had the chance to share time and – more notably – actively practice with him [Justice Barker] while he has been at Chambliss, their lives have been made even more the richer. His career is an example of what any young attorney dreams to achieve – an excellent reputation, a valued peer, a kind and humble man, and the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Tennessee.” – Mark Cunningham, President and Managing Shareholder
