Davidson County Night Court Magistrate John Manson last week announced his intentions to run for the county’s Division 7 Circuit Court, the Tennessee Tribune reports. Manson began practicing law at Nashville’s oldest African American law firm, Manson Johnson Conner PLLC. He has served as a judicial officer for more than 12 years, serving in domestic, civil, probate, environmental and criminal courts. “I believe that my experience dealing with the citizens of Nashville during particularly unpleasant moments in life makes me uniquely qualified for this role,” Manson said. He seeks to fill the vacancy that will be made when current Division 7 Judge Randy Kennedy retires next year.

Athens businessman and farmer Dennis Beavers, who worked on Republican Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and went on to serve as executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farms Services Agency in Tennessee, plans to run for the state Senate, the Times Free Press reports. In an interview with the paper, Beavers said he would run in District 11, the seat currently held by retiring Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville. Rep. Mark Hall, R-Cleveland, announced last month he also is running for the seat. The district covers Bradley, McMinn Meigs, Monroe and Polk counties but is expected to shift during legislative redistricting.

Vince Dean announced yesterday that he will seek another term as the Hamilton County Criminal Court clerk, Chattanoogan.com reports. Dean has served in the role since leaving the Tennessee General Assembly in 2014. He was appointed as the District 30 state representative in 2006. Prior to that appointment, Dean spent 27 years as a Chattanooga police officer, served as a member of the East Ridge City Council and then as mayor of East Ridge.

Davidson County Chancellor Russell T. Perkins last week announced that he will seek re-election in 2022. Perkins was first appointed as Chancellor of Part IV of the Davidson County Chancery Court by former Gov. Phil Bredesen, before being elected to the position in 2008 and again in 2014. Prior to his time on the bench, Perkins served in the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, worked in the Nashville law firm of Williams & Dinkins for nearly 12 years, and served in the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office for 14 years. “This position requires fairness, impartiality, and a respect for the rule of law,” Perkins said in a statement announcing his campaign. “I believe I have provided those during my 13 years on the bench.”

Hamilton County Circuit Court Clerk Larry Henry has announced he will seek another term, the Chattanoogan reports. Henry has held the position for seven years. “During that time, the Circuit and General Sessions Court Clerks’ Offices have improved online access to court records, made it easier to handle court-related business, and worked closely with Circuit and General Sessions Court judges as they decide civil cases in Hamilton County,” he said in a statement regarding his campaign.

Metro Nashville Councilmember Larry Hagar this week picked up a petition to run as a Democrat for Davidson County Division 7 Circuit Court, the Nashville Post reports. Hagar has served Metro’s District 11, which includes Old Hickory and other neighborhoods near Old Hickory Lake, since 2015. “I pretty well accomplished everything I set out to do in the district,” he told the Post. In his law practice, Hagar handles probate matters like those heard by Division 7. He seeks to fill the seat held by retiring Judge Randy Kennedy, whose legacy Hagar says he hopes to continue.  

Montgomery County General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge Sharon Massey Grimes has announced her candidacy for re-election, Clarksville Now reports. Massey Grimes has held the position since January, when she was appointed by the Montgomery County Commission to complete the unexpired term of her late husband, Judge Ray Grimes, who passed away from COVID in November 2020. She oversees adult and juvenile criminal and civil cases, juvenile truancy cases, orders of protection and the county Recovery Court. Massey Grimes earned her law degree from the Nashville School of Law. She was a practicing attorney for 23 years prior to being appointed judge.

The Tennessee Republican Party has decided to drop judges and judicial candidates from a new rule that requires a fee to run in primary elections because of a recent ethics opinion, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. The Judicial Ethics Committee issued an opinion on Sept. 7 that "generally prohibits a judge from paying an assessment to a political organization." The Republican State Executive Committee discussed the issue at length during its Dec. 4 meeting and subsequently voted this week to remove judges from the rule, which would have required judicial candidates to pay $500 to run as Republicans. Yahoo News has the story.

Davidson County General Sessions Judge Lynda Jones has announced she is seeking another term. Jones was initially elected to the position in 2014, and during her time on the bench has worked to develop the county’s Homelessness Court program. Jones is serving a five year term on the Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference Executive Committee and served as president of the conference last year. From 2019-2020, she was presiding judge of the General Sessions court and District 6 director of the National Association of Women Judges. She is currently chair of the General Sessions Court Committee for the Nashville Bar Association and fellow of the Nashville Bar Foundation.

The Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association today announced it has assembled an Elections Committee to vet candidates for races appearing on the August 2022 ballot in Shelby County. The chapter welcomed judicial candidates, district attorney candidates and court clerk candidates to participate in the vetting process by filling out a questionnaire by Jan. 12. After submitting the form, candidates will be scheduled for a 30-minute interview with a panel of attorneys. The Election Committee will then submit a report with recommendations to the Chapter’s Executive Board for further action. Those interested in assisting the Election Committee with interviews should contact BFJElectionsCommittee@gmail.com. Read more information on the press release.