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Ted Crozier Jr.
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Ted Crozier Jr. is the Republican judge for the 19th Circuit Court Part III seat, which serves Montgomery and Robertson counties in Tennessee. He advanced from the primary election on March 1, 2016, and won the seat in the general election on August 4, 2016.
Crozier campaigned on his career in the military, as an attorney and, particularly, as clerk and master of the 19th District Chancery Court. His military career spanned more than two decades. After his honorable discharge and retirement from the armed forces, he worked for five years as an extradition officer and earned his law degree. He first worked as a partner in a private firm before becoming clerk and master.[1][2][3]
Education
Crozier graduated from the Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Ga., in 1971. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating with a B.S. in 1976. He went on to earn his J.D. from the Nashville School of Law in 2000.[1][2]
Military service
Croizer joined the U.S. Army Reserve in June 1971, after graduating from the Benedictine Military School. He completed his basic training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina. He was then transferred to Fort Belvoir and attended United States Military Academy Preparatory School from August 1971 to June 1972. The following month, he began attending the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated on June 2, 1976, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry. He served until June 30, 1995, when he was honorably discharged following his retirement as a Major. During his service, he was stationed in multiple locations in the U.S. and in Germany.[3]
Croizer received the following awards during his service:[3]
- Overseas Ribbon (3)
- Army Service Ribbon
- National Defense Service Medal (2)
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- Army Achievement Medal (4)
- Army Commendation Medal (3)
- Meritorious Service Medal (3)
- Expert Infantryman’s Badge
- Air Assault Badge
- Parachute Badge
- U.S. Army Ranger Tab
Career
Following his military career, Crozier went on to hold the following positions:[2]
- 2016-Present: Judge, 19th District Chancery Court
- January 2005–2016: Clerk and Master, 19th District Chancery Court
- December 2000–January 2005: Partner attorney, Rassas, North and Crozier, PLLC
- July 1995–December 2000: Extradition officer, State of Tennessee
Campaign themes
2016
Crozier provided the following statements on his campaign website:
| “ | The next judge in the Circuit Court in Montgomery County needs to be a person of diverse experiences. Not only do they need to understand the needs of life-long county residents, but also relate to our ever-increasing transplants from the military and corporate world. Since this court position at present has become strictly a civil court, the candidate for this position must also have the appropriate legal experience and demeanor. I believe I am the perfect candidate to meet those needs. ...
Working daily with our local judges, I hear the concerns of the people who need help from our courts. I’ve learned that it takes more than just knowing the law to do the job. It takes someone who is not afraid to do what is right. I believe I have the background, experience, drive and demeanor to be an outstanding judge. I will treat litigants and attorneys with respect and decide cases based on the facts of the case and the law. I will never forget that I serve the people.[4] |
” |
| —Ted Crozier Jr.'s campaign website (2016)[5] | ||
The Leaf-Chronicle asked Crozier in a candidate profile, "Why did you decide to run for this office? What is your top goal if you are elected? What are your top issues?" He responded:
| “ | Service to community and country has always been my family’s tradition. After graduating from West Point, I spent 20 years serving our country as a U.S. Army officer, five years serving our state as Tennessee’s Extradition Officer and 11 years serving our county as the Clerk and Master for Chancery Court. This service has created in me a strong moral character and I believe it is time for me to share my abilities at a higher level of service as Circuit Court judge.
The Circuit Court needs a judge with a unique blend of skills that relate to both the military and our civilian community. My extensive military background as an infantry officer has given me the ability to understand situations unique to our men and women at-arms. As a private attorney, I practiced extensively in our state courts concentrating in criminal law. As Clerk and Master, I have gained a wealth of experience in civil matters. I have heard hundreds of cases and issued rulings on these cases with none being overturned. This has prepared me for the Circuit Court, Part III judgeship which, at this time, is strictly hearing civil cases.[4] |
” |
| —Ted Croizer Jr. (2016)[6] | ||
Elections
2016
General election
General elections for unexpired local judicial terms and newly created judicial seats in Tennessee were held on August 4, 2016. Ted Crozier Jr. defeated Merriel Bullock-Neal in the general election for the unexpired term in Part III of the Tennessee 19th Circuit Court.
| Tennessee 19th Circuit Court Part III, General Election (Unexpired Term), 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Ted Crozier Jr. |
70.25% | 9,115 | |
| Independent | Merriel Bullock-Neal | 29.75% | 3,860 | |
| Total Votes | 12,975 | |||
| Source: Tennessee Election Results, "August 4, 2016 Unofficial Election Results," accessed August 4, 2016 | ||||
Primary election
Primary elections for partisan judicial seats in Tennessee were held on March 1, 2016. The top vote recipient in each party's primary advanced to the general election on August 4, 2016. No Democrats filed for any of the local judicial seats up for election in 2016, meaning only Republican primaries were necessary. Independent candidates did not face primary elections. While the court serves both Montgomery and Robertson counties, Robertson did not hold a primary. Only Montgomery County voters were able to participate in the primary selection. Ted Crozier Jr. defeated Roger Nell and Herb Patrick in the Republican primary for the unexpired term in Part III of the Tennessee 19th Circuit Court.[7]
| Tennessee 19th Circuit Court Part III, Republican Primary (Unexpired Term), 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Ted Crozier Jr. |
51.88% | 7,979 | |
| Republican | Roger Nell | 25.96% | 3,993 | |
| Republican | Herb Patrick | 22.04% | 3,390 | |
| Write-in votes | 0.12% | 19 | ||
| Total Votes (100) | 15,381 | |||
| Source: Montgomery County Election Commission, "Montgomery County 2016 Presidential Primary & County Republican Primary Election Results," accessed March 1, 2016 | ||||
Polls
A straw poll conducted prior to the primary election by the Montgomery County Bar Association found Roger Nell and Jill Ayers as the leading candidates in their respective Place III and IV races for the 19th Circuit Court. Fifty-two percent of poll participants favored Nell, while 37 percent favored Ted Crozier Jr. and 10 percent favored Herb Patrick. Ayers, meanwhile, polled at 62 percent in the Part IV race; her challenger, Robert Bateman, followed with 37 percent. The results were published in The Leaf-Chronicle on January 15, 2016.[8]
Selection method
Judges of the circuit court are elected in partisan elections. Each county may opt to hold nonpartisan elections instead. Judges serve eight-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving.[9][10]
The presiding judge of each court is elected to a one-year term by peer vote.[11]
Qualifications
To serve on the court, a judge must be:[9]
- authorized to practice law in state;
- a district resident for at least one year;
- a state resident five years; and
- at least 30 years old.
Awards and associations
- Montgomery County Bar Association, Past President[12]
- Tennessee Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Association of the United States Army
- Military Officers Association of America
- 101st Airborne Division Association
- Tennessee State Court Clerks Association
- County Officials Association of Tennessee
- Hilldale Kiwanis, Past President
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Crozier is the son of retired Colonel Ted A. Croizer and Mary Tom Croizer (née Wall). He attends Madison Street United Methodist Church. Crozier is married to Ann Marie Croizer (née Gilbert), who teaches in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. They have two adult children.[13]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ted Croizer, Jr. for Judge, "Meet Ted A. Crozier, Jr.," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ted Croizer, Jr. for Judge, "Legal Expertise," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Ted Croizer, Jr. for Judge, "Military Service," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Ted Crozier, Jr., "Home," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ The Leaf-Chronicle, "Crozier: Candidate for Circuit Court, Division III," January 27, 2016
- ↑ The Tennessean, "What's on the March 1 ballot in Tennessee," February 9, 2016
- ↑ The Leaf-Chronicle, "Jill Bartee Ayers, Roger Nell favorites in poll of judicial races," January 15, 2016
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Tennessee," archived September 11, 2014
- ↑ Justia - Tennessee Code, "16-15-202. Election Term," accessed November 20, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee State Courts, "Understanding Your Court System: A Guide to the Judicial Branch," accessed September 11, 2014
- ↑ Ted Croizer, Jr. for Judge, "Community Service," accessed February 22, 2016
- ↑ Ted Croizer, Jr. for Judge, "Family Man," accessed February 22, 2016
Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee
State courts:
Tennessee Supreme Court • Tennessee Court of Appeals • Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals • Tennessee Circuit Court • Tennessee Chancery Courts • Tennessee Criminal Court • Tennessee Probate Court • Tennessee General Sessions Court • Tennessee Juvenile Court • Tennessee Municipal Court
State resources:
Courts in Tennessee • Tennessee judicial elections • Judicial selection in Tennessee
