TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

Chapman Suspends Campaign for 3rd District Judge

Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Apr 9, 2026
News Type: Election 2026

Morristown attorney Aaron Chapman is suspending his campaign for 3rd Judicial District Circuit Court judge and withdrawing from the appointment process to fill the seat in the interim, the Citizen Tribune reports. Chapman qualified to run in the Aug. 6 Republican primary to replace Judge William Erwin Phillips II of Rogersville, who was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals. He also applied to be appointed to the seat by the Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission. In a statement announcing the decision, Chapman said, “Upon much reconsideration I have found that I simply cannot be in a position to accept a potential appointment to the vacancy, pause my active practice, take further immediate efforts to wind down my practice, and effectively campaign for the August 6 election.” Two other candidates — Mark Stapleton of Rogersville and Crystal Jessee of Greeneville — also qualified to run for election. Because the vacancy commission was not able to forward three qualified applicants to the governor, Gov. Bill Lee may appoint any qualified individual to fill the vacancy until the election.

Law-Related Blogs AND PODCASTS

Check out other law-related blogs and podcasts generated from the Tennessee legal community or of interest to the Tennessee lawyers.