An ordinance naming the complex consisting of the Ben West Building and the new Criminal Courts Building on Second Avenue North, adjacent to the Ben West Building, jointly as the "Justice A. A. Birch Complex".

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government is in the process of constructing a new criminal courts building to join the existing Courthouse and Ben West Building in housing our city's courts; and

WHEREAS, Justice Adolpho A. Birch, Jr., has faithfully served the citizens of Davidson County as a lawyer, judge, and Supreme Court Justice; and

WHEREAS, Justice Birch received his J.D. degree from Howard University in 1956, where he served on the Howard Law Review; and

WHEREAS, Justice Birch served as an assistant public defender in Davidson County from 1963 to 1966, and as an assistant district attorney general in Davidson County 1966-1969; and

WHEREAS, from the years 1969-1987 Justice Birch served Davidson County first as a General Sessions Court judge and then as a Criminal Court judge; and

WHEREAS, Justice Birch was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals in 1987, where he served until being appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1993; and

WHEREAS, upon being elected to the Supreme Court in 1994, Justice Birch became the only African American to be elected state-wide to a governmental position in Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, in honor of the exemplary service of Justice Adolpho A. Birch, Jr., to the citizens of Nashville and Davidson County, it is fitting and proper that the new criminal courts building, currently known as the Beverly Briley Building, and the Ben West Building be jointly named as the "Justice A.A. Birch Complex" in his honor.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the complex consisting of the Ben West Building and the new criminal courts building on Second Avenue North, adjacent to the Ben West Building and known as the Beverly Briley Building, be jointly named the "Justice A.A. Birch Complex".

Section 2. The biographical information for Justice Birch is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit A in accordance with Section 13.26.020 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws.

Section 3. This Ordinance shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Ronnie Greer, Mike Jameson