A special judge ruled yesterday that Shelby County will not be required to open additional early voting sites during Holy Week, the Commercial Appeal reports. The ruling came after the NAACP Memphis Branch, #UpTheVote901 and the Black Clergy Collaborative of Memphis sued the Shelby County Election Commission to keep them from implementing a resolution opening just its downtown location on the first two days of early voting and five other sites on the fourth day. The groups say the resolution would disenfranchise minority voters throughout early voting in the upcoming county election. Much of the argument Monday centered on whether churches were willing to act as early voting sites during Holy Week. “The question is, do I disrupt the entire Shelby County election based on what I’ve heard at this point?" Judge James Butler asked. "And the court is not prepared to do that.”

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Friday issued an order taking jurisdiction of Akilah Moore v. William Lee, et al, which involves a challenge to the redistricting of state Senate seats. Future documents in the case will be available on the Public Case History page or by searching case number M2022-00434-SC-RDO-CV in the Public Case History. Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The political rivalry between state Rep. Darren Jernigan, D-Old Hickory, and former state Rep. Jim Gotto will go another round this year after Gotto submitted paperwork to challenge Jernigan. It will be the third time Gotto, a Republican, has faced off against Jernigan, losing to him in 2012 and 2014. The district spans parts of Old Hickory, Hermitage and Donelson and is viewed as a seat that might flip this year, Axios Nashville reports.

A number of races have been set in Rhea County, Chattanoogan.com reports. Twelfth Judicial District Attorney General Mike Taylor qualified as an independent and will face Courtney Lynch from Winchester in the general election. Also in August, current public defender and independent Jeff Harmon will face Assistant Hamilton County Public Defender Ted Engel, who is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Incumbent state Rep. Ron Travis will be unopposed in the Republican primary and face fellow Dayton native David L. Brown who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Finally, the county will be choosing a new state senator following redistricting. Patricia Waters, the lone Democratic contender, will face either Adam Lowe, Mark Hall or Dennis Beavers in the general election. Others may still join that race as the filing deadline has been extended to May 5 after a three-judge panel threw out the Senate redistricting map.

Fourteen Republicans and two Democrats have met the filing deadline to run for the newly redrawn 5th Congressional District, Tennessee Ledger reports. Republicans in the primary race are Geni Batchelor, Jeff Beierlein, Natisha Brooks, Sarah A. Grams, Beth Harwell, Baxter Lee, Richie Lee, Timothy Bruce Lee, Andy Ogles, Morgan Ortagus, Robby Starbuck, Stewart T. Parks, Kurt Winstead and Tres Wittum. A new state measure that would exclude Ortagus from running awaits the governor’s signature, but Ortagus supporters have already promised a lawsuit if the bill is enacted. The two Democratic filers are state Sen. Heidi Campbell and Justicia Rizzo.

Two Republicans are vying to succeed Judge Jean Stanley, who is not seeking reelection as the 1st Judicial District Circuit Court, Part II judge, the Johnson City Press reports. Suzanne Cook, a litigator and adjunct faculty member at the University of Tennessee College of Law, will face Lois Bunton-Shults-Davis, a past special master, receiver and mediator, on the May 3 primary ballot. Both candidates answered questions from the paper on why they want to serve on the bench, how they would describe their temperament, and what improvements they would like to see made to the judicial process.

Rep. Eddie Mannis, R-Knoxville, announced this week that he will not seek reelection in District 18, the Tennessee Journal reports. The Knoxville businessman in a statement said the recent death of his father had impacted his decision not to run again. “I have heard his final words, “Follow your heart,” over and over in my head,” Mannis said in the statement. “It has been a very difficult decision, but I must truly follow my heart.” Mannis is the 10th Republican to retire from the state House. The Tennessee Journal has compiled a full list of all General Assembly members who are not seeking re-election.

Lawrence County attorney William “Mike” Harris has announced his candidacy for Lawrence County General Sessions judge in the upcoming August election. A 1997 graduate of Nashville School of Law, Harris has served for the past five years as an assistant public defender with the 22nd Judicial District Public Defender’s office. Prior to taking that post, Harris spent 20 years as a sole practitioner in Lawrence County.

Cheatham County native Holly Waller has announced her candidacy for circuit court clerk, the Cheatham County Exchange reports. Waller is a senior deputy clerk and jury coordinator for Julie Hibbs, the current court clerk, who is retiring. Waller has been working and training alongside Hibbs for the last six years. The clerk serves the circuit, general sessions and juvenile courts. Prior to joining the clerk’s office, Waller had a career in human resources and accounting.

A number of Chattanooga area lawyers have announced bids for local judgeships or picked up papers to run. Stevie Phillips Persinger has announced a bid for Lookout Mountain judge, while Red Bank Judge Johnny Houston, Signal Mountain Judge Gary Humble and Soddy Daisy Judge Marty Lasley have reelection plans in the works. In East Ridge, Rich Heinsman announced he will run for municipal judge while Collegedale Judge Kevin Wilson has picked up papers for the post but has not yet qualified. The qualifying deadline is Thursday at noon. Read more about the candidates in Chattanoogan.com.