Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, on Monday filed to run for Williamson County clerk, the Nashville Post reports. Casada has represented Tennessee District 63 in the State House since 2003, and served as House Speaker from 2017 until 2019. He announced in November that he would retire from the House at the end of his term, leaving the District 63 House seat open without an incumbent for the first time in two decades. Current William County clerk Jeff Whidby earlier filed to run for the position.

Rutherford County native Ben Hall “Trey” McFarlin III has announced he will run for General Sessions Judge Part I, the judgeship to which he was appointed by the county commission last August, the Murfreesboro Post reports. McFarlin is a third-generation judge, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Ben Hall McFarlin Sr., who served as a Rutherford county judge and county executive, and his father, Ben Hall McFarlin Jr., who served as the previous general sessions judge. McFarlin began his practice at Burger, Scott & McFarlin in 2001, and was a general practice trial lawyer for 20 years prior to his appointment to the bench. He is a graduate of the University of Memphis School of Law.

Former Davidson County presiding night court Magistrate John Manson has joined law firm Lewis Thomason as special counsel, the Nashville Post reports. He will handle criminal law, domestic relations, estate planning and probate matters at the firm. Manson previously served as an environmental court referee, judicial commissioner for the General Sessions Court and special master and law clerk to the 20th Judicial District Circuit. Last month, Manson launched a judicial campaign for that court. The seat is currently held by retiring Judge Randy Kennedy. Also running is Metro Councilmember Larry Hagar and Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin probate and estate attorney Andra Hedrick.

Rutherford County Juvenile Court Judge Donna Scott Davenport will retire at the end of her term in September, WPLN reports. Davenport, who has served in the position since it was created in 2000, said she would “always look back at my time as judge as one of the greatest honors of my life.” Davenport has been the subject of an ongoing investigation by WPLN News and ProPublica over the arresting and jailing of more than a thousand children, and legislation had been introduced in the Tennessee General Assembly to have her removed from office. That effort was dropped today after Davenport announced her retirement, WPLN reports. Last month, the county settled a class-action lawsuit over these practices. Several lawyers have plans to run for the post, including Andrae Crismon and Jacob Flatt.

Probate and estate attorney Andra Hedrick has entered the race for judge in Davidson County’s Seventh Circuit Court, the Nashville Post reports. Hedrick has practiced with the Nashville law firm Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin since 2000 and has also taught estate planning at the Nashville School of Law. She is a member of the TBA’s Dispute Resolution and Estate Planning & Probate sections. “I am seeking to become Davidson County’s next — and first ever female — probate judge,” she said in a release. “This is a natural extension of my work for the last 23 years. If elected, I will apply my experience and deep understanding of estate and probate law to diligently serve all who come before me, with the utmost compassion, respect and impartiality.”

Rutherford County attorney Andrae Crismon yesterday announced his candidacy for juvenile court judge, WGNS Radio reports. Crismon recently announced his departure from the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands where he worked for nearly 15 years, serving eight years as managing attorney and finally as director of the Volunteer Lawyers Program. If elected, Crismon says he would “use every opportunity possible to provide a road map for the restoration of youth who have committed an offense,” and would implement a C.A.R.E platform – communication, adjudication, restoration and education. Crismon is pastor at Higher Ground Worship Center in Murfreesboro and has served on the board of directors for Greenhouse Ministries, Doors of Hope, and Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center. He is the Middle Tennessee delegate on the TBA’s Access to Justice Committee and a member of the TBA Leadership Law program’s 2015 class.

Memphis City Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon made his campaign for juvenile court judge official this weekend via an online announcement, the Daily Memphian reports. Sugarmon will challenge incumbent Judge Dan Michael in the nonpartisan race. The two previously faced off for the same role in 2014, which saw Michael win the seat by 3,752 votes. In his online message, Sugarmon, the son of the late Judge Russell Sugarmon and historian Miriam DeCosta Willis, highlighted his connection with Memphis and the city’s civil rights movement. He also spoke of the high number of juveniles who are transferred out of the court for trial as adults. 

Clarksville lawyer Joel Wallace has announced his candidacy for the 19th Judicial District Circuit Court, Division III. The seat is currently held by Judge Ted Crozier Jr. who is retiring, Mainstreet Clarksville reports. Wallace has practiced law since 2006 with the law firm of Cunningham, Mitchell & Rocconi. He served two terms on the Clarksville City Council from 2008 to 2016, and currently serves on a number of local boards and commissions. Wallace is a former member of the TBA Young Lawyers Division Board, current co-chair of the TBA Public Service Academy and a new member of the TBA’s 2022 Leadership Law class. He received both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Memphis. The 19th Judicial District serves Montgomery and Robertson counties.

Montgomery County Assistant Public Defender James Bagby has announced his candidacy for Division II general sessions and juvenile court judge. Bagby will run as an independent and will appear on the Aug. 4 ballot, ClarksvilleNow reports. Bagby grew up in Clarksville. He spent several years as an adult probation officer before becoming a law clerk and attending the Nashville School of Law. He has practiced law since 2008. He says that as a bilingual candidate he will be able to communicate better with those who appear in court.

Circuit Court Judge Adrienne Fry, the current Part 1 judge in the 19th Judicial District, has announced she will run for re-election, Mainstreet Clarksville reports. Fry was appointed to the seat last year by Gov. Bill Lee to fill a vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Ross Hicks. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law and has practiced for over a decade throughout both Montgomery and Robertson Counties. Fry lives in Clarksville and is involved in a number of non-profits, including TN Achieves Program, which helps mentor young people entering college.