The Nashville Banner is the recipient of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Fourth Estate award for 2025, given annually to a journalist or news organization that promotes public understanding of the rule of law and improvements in the judicial system.
“Nashville Banner news staff demonstrated tenacious and courageous reporting last year as they worked to bring visibility to issues impacting the operations of the Nashville criminal court system,” said TBA President Ed Lanquist. “We thank them and honor them for that important contribution.”
The award recognizes the Banner’s dogged reporting of the Davison County criminal court system, the practice of sealing records and efforts to increase transparency, including through litigation.
The Banner’s coverage included:
- Is Longtime Davidson County Judge Cheryl Blackburn Asleep at the Bench? by Steven Hale and Kailee Shores
- In Davidson County Criminal Courts, Existence of Sealed Files Hidden From Public View by Connor Daryani
- Public Loses Access to Davidson County Criminal Cases as Courthouse Computers are Removed by Connor Daryani
- Criminal Judges Sealing Files, Leaving No Public Record in Davidson County Courts by Connor Daryani
- In High Profile Murder Case, Our Request for Information Results in Sealing Order from Judge by Connor Daryani
- Column: Why is One Nashville Judge Hiding Documents Critical of Another Judge? by Steve Cavendish
- Tennessee Supreme Court to Hear Banner Case Seeking Judicial Records by Conor Daryani
“Covering the courts means more than just watching trials; it means covering the system as well,” said Editor Steve Cavendish. “The courts have to work for everyone and they have to be accessible to the public because transparency creates credibility. We’re grateful for the recognition because this was very much a team effort.”
The award will be given at the TBA’s annual convention in June.
