Judge Higgins is the senior jurist of the General Sessions Court. He was elected to the bench in 1980 and re-elected in 1982, 1990, 1998 and 2006. He is a graduate of Cohn High School, Vanderbilt University and the YMCA Night Law School (now known as the Nashville School of Law). After obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree from Vanderbilt, Judge Higgins served two years active duty in the United States Army Signal Corps and rose to the rank of Captain by the time of his honorable discharge from the Army Reserve.
As a lawyer Judge Higgins practiced law in West Nashville for 13 years prior to becoming a judge. He was also elected to represent the 24th district for three terms as Metro Councilman.
Judge Higgins is married to Janice (Livingston) Higgins; they have three children and seven grandchildren. His son Jim is an attorney here in Nashville.
He currently is a member of the Nashville Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference, Lawyers Association for Women, American Judges Association, American Bar Association, and the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.
Judge Higgins is active in the community where he currently serves on the Board of Youth Encouragement Services and the Advisory Board of The Woman's Club of Nashville. He has previously served on the Boards for the Rochelle Center; St. Luke’s Community Center; Richland Village Children’s Home; and the Nashville City Civitan Club. He is currently a member of the American Legion, Post 5; Cohn/West Nashville Community Education Council; NAACP; Capital City Golf Association; West Nashville Masonic Lodge; and Al Menah Shrine. He is a member of the Church of Christ.
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