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Circuit Court Judge, Montgomery and Robertson counties (Tenn.)

Hon. William R. Goodman III

Bench Watch Brief · Profile in brief

William R. “Bill” Goodman III is a Tennessee circuit judge for Montgomery and Robertson counties, elected in 2014 and re-elected unopposed in 2022. Matthew Konen entered his 2021 not-guilty plea in Goodman's courtroom; news reports haven't named the judge who presided at Konen's 2026 trial. Goodman practiced law for 37 years, most recently in Springfield, Tenn., before taking the bench.

Before the bench

Private practice, 1977-2014, most recently at Goodman and Walker in Springfield, Tenn.

Highlights and issues

  1. Notable ruling

    Keeps bond at $1 million, adding a curfew, for a man charged in a courthouse shooting

  2. Reversed on appeal

    Appeals court vacates consecutive sentences he imposed for lack of findings (State v. Clark)

  3. Election

    Re-elected unopposed (99.5% in Montgomery County)

  4. Reversed on appeal

    Appeals court orders a new trial, finding he wrongly admitted a defendant's statement (State v. McKinney)

Tracker · covers 2020–2026 · updated November 14, 2026

Judge William R. Goodman III's record in serious criminal cases

Bench Watch logs decisions by Judge William R. Goodman III of Tennessee's Circuit Court for Montgomery and Robertson counties in serious criminal cases, from Court of Criminal Appeals opinions and news reports. It isn't a complete record. In the one case where both sides' requests were reported, he sentenced near the top of the range.

12 entries · select a column to sort

Bench Watch Data

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Judge William R. Goodman III's record in serious criminal cases

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Source
2026State v. Miracle A'sha Bailey and Robert Jaylen HollandSentences: first-degree murder (joint jury trial)Effective life for eachAffirmed on appealSource
2025State v. Christopher Glenn ClarkSentence: first-degree murderLife plus 25 yearsConsecutive terms vacated on appeal for lack of findingsSource
2025State v. Scott Alan Haynes Jr.Sentence: second-degree murder and reckless endangerment18 years, plus 2 consecutiveThe defense argued several mitigating factors; he found oneLower part of the 15-to-25-year range; affirmedSource
2024State v. Gustavio RousseauSentence: attempted first-degree murder (open guilty plea)24 years, consecutive to an 8-year aggravated robbery sentenceState: 25 years (the maximum); defense: 15 (the minimum)Near the top of the range; affirmedSource
2024A Montgomery County man (name withheld to protect a child)Sentence: attempted aggravated sexual battery of children (best-interest pleas)6 years on each of two counts, consecutive (12 years); probation deniedThe maximum on each count; affirmedSource
2024State v. Kireek Kaseem SteeleSentence: rape, rape of a child and three other sexual offenses (jury trial)30 years effectiveAffirmedSource
2023State v. Timothy HutchersonSentence: second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder23 years effectiveAffirmedSource
2023State v. Yvette Adele SleeConviction: first-degree felony murder (bench trial). The child died in 2018 of complications from injuries for which she was convicted of aggravated child abuse and attempted murder in 2013; the appeals court affirmed Jan. 27, 2023Found her guilty as indictedAffirmedSource
2022Election yearState v. DeAngelo LeQuinte BerrySentence: felony murder and aggravated robberyLife plus 9 yearsConsecutive order upheld; affirmedSource
2022Election yearState v. Michael MimmsSentence: facilitation of first-degree murder and conspiracyConcurrent 15-year termsAffirmedSource
2022Election yearState v. Kemontea Dovon McKinneyTrial ruling: admitting the defendant's statementAdmitted itReversed: all convictions set aside and a new trial ordered; on retrial, the premeditated-murder charge is limited to second-degree murderSource
2020State v. Jordan Michael Hazel (sentenced 2020)Plea: three counts of first-degree murderAccepted a plea deal for three life sentences with parole eligibility after 110 yearsA negotiated pleaSource

We flag election years because studies of judges in Pennsylvania, Washington and North Carolina found sentences grew harsher as contested elections approached. A flag isn't a finding about this judge; it lets you compare.

How we built this, and what's missing

Sources