Grafton Green

Grafton Green (August 25, 1872 – January 27, 1947) was an American jurist who served on the Tennessee Supreme Court from 1910 to 1947, including over 23 years as chief justice.

Green was born in Lebanon, Tennessee, the son of Nathan Green Jr., who taught law for 63 years at Cumberland School of Law of Cumberland University and served as the law school's chancellor. His paternal grandfather, Nathan Green Sr., had been a judge on the Tennessee Supreme Court for 20 years. As of 2011, he is the person who served the longest on Tennessee's highest court.

In 1927, Green presided over the appeal of John T. Scopes, who had been convicted of teaching evolution. The court found the law against the teaching of evolution constitutional, but overturned Scopes' conviction on a technicality. Five years later, Green also presided over Evans v. McCabe, 52 S.W. 2d 159 (1932), which held that the state constitution prohibits personal income taxes on wages, but not on interest-bearing investments.

A bust of Green is displayed in the Tennessee Supreme Court Building in Nashville.