U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, today endorsed Memphis City Council member JB Smiley Jr. in the 2022 Democratic gubernatorial primary. In a statement, Cohen touts Smiley’s connection to the state’s major cities. “Having a governor who understands the needs and importance of the cities as well as the towns is of importance for benefits to be extended equitably,” Cohen said. Read more in the Daily Memphian.

City Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod said the pay of the city court judge should be cut in half from the current $180,000 to $90,000, Chattanoogan.com reports. Coonrod said the $180,000 salary was based on city court having the same jurisdiction as the general sessions court, but that has not been the case for many years. City Council Chair Chip Henderson recommended that the council not take action until the city conducts a comparative pay study. City Attorney Emily O'Donnell also noted that a judge’s pay may not be cut during their current term. The council recently voted to suspend the court's Division II, leaving Division I to handle all matters. Two candidates — former local prosecutor Brian Bush and current city judge Sherry Pati — have announced their intentions to run for that seat.

Chattanooga City Court Judge Sherry Paty has announced that she will seek re-election for another term, Chattanoogan.com reports. Paty was first elected in 2006 and has served on the bench for 17 years. With the upcoming suspension of the court’s Division II, Paty says that “experience and reputation matter more than ever” and she has the credentials to manage the combined court. Paty earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. She is a member of the Tennessee Municipal Judges Conference and served as the group’s president from 2016-2018.

With 10 months before voters choose the next Shelby County district attorney, the push to unseat incumbent Amy Weirich has heated up with a new public education campaign designed to bring attention to Weirich’s “controversial” record. Flyers and a mobile billboard calling Weirich a “repeat offender” were seen near the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center on Wednesday. The campaign is coordinated by Memphis Watch, a newly formed organization that does not appear to have a web presence or be led by Memphians, according to a joint report from Report for America and MLK50: Justice Through Journalists published in the Memphis Flyer. The messages are similar to the website AmyWeirichFiles.com, which offers a blistering assessment of Weirich’s actions.

Former Knox County Law Director Richard “Bud” Armstrong last week kicked off his campaign for the county’s Chancery Court Part II, the Knoxville Focus reports.  Armstrong, who served as the county’s law director from 2013 until 2021, is one of two candidates who have challenged incumbent Chancellor Clarence Pridemore for the seat. The publication says Knoxville attorney Deno Cole is in the running as well. 

Chattanooga attorney Brian Bush yesterday announced that he is running for Chattanooga City Court Division I judge, the Chattanoogan reports. A campaign release said Bush “has a new vision for our city court that includes a system of rehabilitation and restoration that saves taxpayers both money and time.” After earning his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law, Bush became the legal liaison for the House of Refuge in Chattanooga and later served more than two years as an assistant district attorney. Bush is now an attorney at Spears, Moore, Rebman & Williams PC.

Hamilton County lawyer Coty Wamp officially announced her campaign for Hamilton County district attorney general today. She will seek the Republican Party nomination in the May 2022 election. Wamp currently serves as general counsel in the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. She previously spent three years as an assistant public defender in Hamilton County and an assistant district attorney in the 10th Judicial District. Wamp said her primary focus in seeking the job is to tackle violent crime. She also pledged to create a Gang and Violent Crime Unit.

Fourth Judicial District Circuit Judges Jim Gass, Carter Moore, Rex Henry Ogle and Duane Slone jointly announced their candidacy for re-election in 2022, the Newport Plain Talk reports. In a joint statement, the judges said they are proud to serve the people of Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties, and endorse each others’ re-election. Chancellor Telford Forgerty is not seeking re-election since he is retiring at the end of his current term.

Joseph P. Day this week announced that he is running for Davidson County Circuit Court Clerk. Day is currently the chief deputy of public relations and employee development at the clerk’s office, where he has served in various roles since 2001. A Nashville native, Day graduated from Tennessee State University and began work in the clerk’s office as a deputy clerk in the Traffic Warrant Division. Longtime Circuit Court Clerk Richard Rooker recently announced he will not seek another term. “I am extremely excited for Joseph to bring his vision, leadership skills and years of experience to this position,” Rooker said. Read the full press release.

Williamson County District Attorney General Kim Helper this week announced that she will be running for re-election in 2022, the Williamson Herald reports. Helper was appointed and then elected to the position in 2008, becoming the first female district attorney general in the 21st Judicial District’s history. She was reelected in 2014 and is one of only four female district attorney generals in the state. During her tenure, Helper has assisted in the addition of DUI and Veterans courts and enhanced the prosecution of crimes against women and DUI offenses by adding staff dedicated to those cases. Helper was appointed to former Gov. Bill Haslam’s Sentencing & Recidivism task force and in 2019 was appointed to Gov. Bill Lee’s Tennessee State Criminal Justice Investment Task Force.