Former Chief of State High Court Dies

Justice Birch

Former chief justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court, Adolpho A. Birch, has died. Friends confirm he passed away Thursday at age 78.

The new Metro Courthouse was named the A.A. Birch building, and at its ribbon cutting, then-Chief Justice William Barker praised his colleague, noting Birch once sold hotdogs and newspapers and even drove a taxi to put himself through law school.

Birch was the first African American to lead the state’s high court. After leaving the bench, he became somewhat involved in politics, making campaign appearances as recently as this year. Four years ago, he endorsed then-mayoral candidate Karl Dean in a crowded field, which included an African American. In an interview with WPLN, Birch dismissed the idea that race is the main factor in voters’ minds.

“It used to be many, many years ago when the communities of black people simply were lumped together and asked, ‘well what are your people going to do?’ Well, I don’t think that’s quite the question anymore.”

Birch’s time on the bench reaches back to 1969, when he became a General Sessions Court judge in Davidson County. Gov. Ned McWherter appointed Birch to the state Supreme Court in 1993.

Friends are remembering Birch as a figure who quietly commanded respect.

Nashville’s former Vice Mayor Howard Gentry says he looked up to Birch, even before it was “Judge Birch.”

“I cut his grass when I was 15, 16 years old. And he had my respect back in those days.”

Gentry will be sworn in as the new Criminal Court Clerk next week. He says he had hoped Birch would be there.

Former Metro Councilman Ludye Wallace remembers a modest man. The two played golf together.

“I was proud to introduce him and make known to people that might not have recognized him that this is Chief Justice A.A. Birch. He didn’t like it, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it.”

Wallace later helped get the new Metro courthouse named after his friend. He says that meant more to Birch than he let on. Because instead of being recognized for breaking a color barrier, Wallace says Birch saw it as an honor for being at the top of his field.