Statement on the passing of Tennessee Judge Duane Slone
August 26, 2024 -- The National Center for State Courts is deeply saddened by the news of Judge Duane Slone’s passing. He leaves behind a lasting legacy, both on and off the bench. As a circuit court judge in Tennessee’s Fourth Judicial Circuit, he was an innovator dedicated to transforming the way courts approached substance abuse cases by providing increased screening, support, and treatment. His groundbreaking work to assist individuals with opioid use disorder led to his recognition as the recipient of NCSC's 2019 William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence.
“We must understand that addiction is a preventable, treatable condition and people recover,” Judge Slone said in 2019. “We must go as far upstream as possible, meet people where they are, and provide hope and healing. I believe it is our duty as judges to find a way to help them.”
“Judge Slone’s leadership in our nation’s battle against the opioid epidemic was truly remarkable,” said NCSC President Mary McQueen. “His family’s experience gave him a deep and very personal understanding of substance use and its lasting impacts.”
His commitment to helping courts become part of the solution spanned beyond his home state of Tennessee. Judge Slone chaired the eight-state Appalachian/Midwest Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative, served on the National Judicial Opioid Task Force, and participated in numerous other local, state and national efforts.