Community activist and former Shelby County commissioner Tami Sawyer announced yesterday she is challenging incumbent Joe Brown in next year's race for General Sessions Court clerk, the Commercial Appeal reports. Sawyer said in a press release "we are at a dangerous crossroad in Shelby County at the intersection of crime and poverty." The General Sessions Court clerk election will be held March 2024. Brown was elected in 2019 and previously served as the Memphis City Council Super District 8 Position 1 representative for 21 years.

Legal battles over redistricting could lead to new congressional maps in nearly a dozen U.S. states for the 2024 election, potentially flipping control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Reuters reports on several cases including Tennessee, New York, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Louisiana that could result in seat gains for both Democrats and Republicans. The two political parties are fighting over maps redrawn after the 2020 U.S. Census. In Tennessee, civil rights groups have sued over the state's congressional map, claiming Republican lawmakers illegally hurt voters of color by splitting up Nashville's Davidson County, home to a sizable Black community into three districts. The 2022 map dismantled a heavily Democratic seat, prompting former Rep. Jim Cooper to retire.

Franklin attorney, TBA Criminal Justice Section member and former YLD president David Veile launched his campaign for Circuit Court Judge for the 21st Judicial District. Veile has over 19 years of trial experience in civil and criminal law, and he also served seven years as a Metro Nashville police officer. The position became vacant with the recent retirement of Judge Michael Binkley. The Republican primary will be held March 5, 2024, and the general election will be Aug. 1. Read the press release. 

Nashville lawyer Tusca R. S. Alexis has announced her candidacy for the Fourth Circuit Court in Nashville. Originally from the Caribbean, Alexis earned her law degree from Drake University and moved to Nashville in 1989. She previously served in the Davidson County Public Defender’s Office and worked for the Law Office of Luvell Glanton. She opened her own firm in 2010 and launched a mediation practice in 2015. In a news release, covered by the Tennessee Tribune, Alexis says she has represented hundreds of indigent and under-privileged individuals during her 33 years of practice.

Knoxville Municipal Judge John Rosson held a press conference this week for his reelection campaign in the city courtroom – a move that allegedly violates the Code of Judicial Conduct. Rosson said yesterday he was not aware of any such rule, saying he “should have done more research." Rosson’s opponent, Tyler Caviness, told WBIR that the situation is about the rules and fairness. "I am not the judge, I couldn't go and hold a press conference in the city courtroom,” he said.

Chattanooga attorney Michele Coffman announced yesterday that she is running for Hamilton County Circuit Court Judge Division III, the Chattanoogan.com reports. The seat will be vacant when Judge Marie Williams retires. Coffman has more than 23 years of experience at her law firm McColpin & Coffman PLLC. In announcing her candidacy, Coffman said, “I’ve built my career as an attorney on my three defining principles of efficiency, transparency and respect … I plan to apply those same principles” on the bench. Coffman earned her law degree from Thomas Cooley Law School.

A Tennessee woman who drew national attention when she had to travel out of state to access a medically necessary abortion is now running for the state legislature, News Channel 5 reports. Allie Phillips announced Monday she's running for the Democratic nomination for Tennessee's House of Representatives District 75, a seat currently held by Clarksville Republican Rep. Jeff Burkhart. Phillips says her experience trying to access a medically necessary abortion in the state inspired her to run.

Hamilton County General Sessions Judge Alex McVeagh has officially launched his campaign to replace Circuit Judge Marie Williams in the Third Division of Hamilton County’s Circuit Court (11th Judicial District), the Chattanoogan reports. McVeagh serves as vice president of the TBA's Young Lawyers Division and is a TBA Delegate to the American Bar Association's House of Delegates. Judge Williams announced her plans to retire on Jan. 3 after serving 28 years.

Memphis environmental advocate Marquita Bradshaw is running for U.S. Senate again, the Nashville Post reports. Bradshaw last ran in 2020 when she won the Democratic primary over James Mackler. She went on to lose by 27 percentage points to Republican Bill Hagerty. Since the last election, she has launched the nonprofit Sowing Justice, an environmental justice organization. Now Bradshaw is aiming to take on Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn in 2024. In related news, the Tennessean reports that state Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, will also get in the race. The paper reports that two people with knowledge of her plans confirmed that campaign staff are being hired and an announcement is planned within weeks.

Stephanie Williams has announced she is a Democratic candidate for Davidson County Circuit Court. She is running in a special primary election set for March 5, 2024, to replace Judge Philip E. Smith, who died in 2022. Williams has 20 years experience as a family law attorney. Her career began in the Law Office of Richard Manson. From there, she founded the Family Justice Center and represented hundreds of litigants at reduced rates. Most recently she served nine years as the special master of the court under Smith. Williams is one of three candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. In January, Gov. Bill Lee appointed Stanley Kweller to fill the seat until the general election on Aug. 1, 2024.