Twentieth Circuit Court, Tennessee
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The 20th Judicial District Circuit Court resides in Tennessee in Davidson County. Click on the links below to learn more about the court's...
Jurisdiction
This court holds the following jurisdiction:[1]
| “ | Circuit Courts are courts of general jurisdiction in Tennessee. Circuit court judges hear civil and criminal cases and appeals of decisions from Juvenile, Municipal, and General Sessions Courts. The jurisdiction of circuit courts often overlaps that of the chancery courts. Criminal cases are tried in circuit court except in districts with separate criminal courts established by the General Assembly.[2] | ” |
Judges
| Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee 20th Judicial District Circuit Court Division I | David Briley | Democratic | September 1, 2022 |
| Tennessee 20th Judicial District Circuit Court Division II | Amanda McClendon | Democratic | |
| Tennessee 20th Judicial District Circuit Court Division III | Phillip Robinson | Democratic | |
| Tennessee 20th Judicial District Circuit Court Division IV | Stephanie Williams | Democratic | September 1, 2024 |
| Tennessee 20th Judicial District Circuit Court Division V | Joseph P. Binkley | Democratic | |
| Tennessee 20th Judicial District Circuit Court Division VI | Thomas White Brothers | Democratic | |
| Tennessee 20th Judicial District Circuit Court Division VII | Andra Hedrick | Democratic | September 1, 2022 |
| Tennessee 20th Judicial District Circuit Court Division VIII | Lynne Ingram | Democratic | September 1, 2022 |
Elections
Tennessee is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. To learn more about judicial selection in Tennessee, click here.
- Tennessee local trial court judicial elections, 2025
- Tennessee local trial court judicial elections, 2024
- Tennessee local trial court judicial elections, 2023
- Tennessee local trial court judicial elections, 2022
- Tennessee local trial court judicial elections, 2021
- Tennessee local trial court judicial elections, 2020
- Tennessee local trial court judicial elections, 2019
- Tennessee local trial court judicial elections, 2018
- Tennessee local trial court judicial elections, 2017
- Tennessee local trial court judicial elections, 2016
- Tennessee judicial elections, 2014
- Tennessee judicial elections, 2012
- Tennessee judicial elections, 2010
Selection method
- See also: Judicial selection in the states
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.[3][4]
The presiding judge of each court is elected to a one-year term by peer vote.[5]
Qualifications
To serve on the court, a judge must be:[3]
- 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.
Judicial elections in Tennessee
- See also: Tennessee judicial elections
Tennessee is one of eight states that use partisan elections to initially select judges and then use retention elections to determine whether judges should remain on the bench. To read more about how states use judicial elections to select judges across the country, click here.
Primary election
Primary elections may be held for trial court judges. The political parties in each county determine whether or not there will be a primary election in their respective counties.
County primary elections
Counties that are having a primary election will have them on a Tuesday in May. The candidate who wins the county primary election in May will then move on to the county general election in August and run against other party candidates that won their respective primaries.[6]
Primary elections in Tennessee serve to designate a party's nomination and narrow the field down to one candidate from that party for a specific office. A candidate who wins their primary nomination will move on to the general election.[6] It is not uncommon for a candidate to run unopposed in their party primary and then go on to run unopposed in the general election as well. Similarly, candidates may win their primary and go on to run unopposed in the general election.
Voters do not need to declare their party affiliation when they register to vote. However, primary voters must declare whether or not they will be voting in the Democratic or Republican primary.[6]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Tennessee State Courts, "About the Trial Courts," accessed May 22, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 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
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Hamilton County, Tennessee Election Commission: Differences Between Primary Elections & General Elections, accessed May 4, 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
