Tom Greenholtz
2022 - Present
2030
3
Tom Greenholtz is a judge of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Eastern Section. He assumed office on September 1, 2022. His current term ends on September 1, 2030.
Greenholtz (Republican Party) ran for re-election for judge of the 11th Judicial District Criminal Court in Tennessee. He won in the general election on August 4, 2016.
Greenholtz was a judge on the Hamilton County Criminal Court in Tennessee. He was appointed by Governor Bill Haslam (R) on September 18, 2015, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Rebecca J. Stern.[1]
Education
Greenholtz received a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1996 and a J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law in Knoxville in 1999.[1]
Career
Greenholtz was a shareholder of the law firm Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel from 2006 until his judicial appointment in 2015. His professional experience also includes working as an arbitrator, an adjunct professor of political science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a law clerk for Tennessee Supreme Court Justice William M. Barker.[1]
Elections
2016
General election
General elections for unexpired local judicial terms and newly created judicial seats in Tennessee were held on August 4, 2016. Incumbent Tom Greenholtz ran unopposed in the Hamilton County Criminal Court general election.
| Hamilton County Criminal Court, General Election (Unexpired Term), 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Tom Greenholtz Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 20,354 | |
| Total Votes | 20,354 | |||
| 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. Incumbent Tom Greenholtz defeated Mike Little and Boyd Patterson in the Hamilton County Criminal Court Republican primary.
| Hamilton County Criminal Court, Republican Primary (Unexpired Term), 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Tom Greenholtz Incumbent |
47.22% | 19,944 | |
| Republican | Mike Little | 30.74% | 12,985 | |
| Republican | Boyd Patterson | 21.56% | 9,105 | |
| Write-in votes | 0.48% | 201 | ||
| Total Votes (100) | 42,235 | |||
| Source: Hamilton County Election Commission, "Election Night Results," accessed March 1, 2016 | ||||
Endorsements
Former State Chief Justice William M. "Mickey" Barker endorsed Greenholtz, saying, "I can think of no better person suited by temperament, education, maturity of judgment and knowledge of law to serve as criminal court judge." Chattanooga City Councilman Larry Grohn also voiced support for Greenholtz's re-election, saying, "He has already proven his abilities during the past few months on the bench. He is certainly qualified to serve in the courtroom and has proven to be equally committed to service beyond the court bench."[2]
Greenholtz was endorsed by the Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors PAC for the Republican primary race. The group's chairman Travis Close stated to Greenholtz, "We are certain that your principles and values, as well as your judicial philosophy most closely embody those for which the realtor community stands and that you will continue to be an effective advocate for our entire community."[3]
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.[4][5]
The presiding judge of each court is elected to a one-year term by peer vote.[6]
Qualifications
To serve on the court, a judge must be:[4]
- 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.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 WRCB TV, "Gov. Haslam appoints Tom Greenholtz as criminal court judge," September 18, 2015
- ↑ The Chattanoogan.com, "Judge Tom Greenholtz Is The Real Deal - And Response (2)," February 15, 2016
- ↑ The Chattanoogan.com, "Judge Tom Greenholtz Receives Endorsement Of Greater Chattanooga Realtors," February 19, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 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
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
