This week brings the final installment of the Legislative Updates podcast for the regular session of the 114th Tennessee General Assembly. TBA lobbyists and attorneys Berkley Schwarz of Pier Strategies LLC and Brad Lampley and Ashley Harbin of Adams & Reese discuss the 2026 legislative session winding down, the possibility of a special session to redistrict the state's congressional map and a look forward to the 2026 election cycle. Tune in on the TBA website or through this link. Attorneys interested in supporting the TBA’s lobbying efforts may do so by contributing to LAWPAC. Late Friday afternoon, Gov. Bill Lee officially called for a special legislative session to review the state's congressional map. Read more in a press release.

Martesha Johnson Moore is running for a third term as Nashville Metro Public Defender (PD) and is unopposed, just as she was in 2022. She also spent more than a decade in the office before succeeding Dawn Deaner as department head. Moore recently talked to the Nashville Banner about what has — and has not — changed with the city’s criminal justice system, commenting on caseloads, cash bail, night court judges and more.

The Red Bank City Commission has appointed attorney Bryan Hoss to serve as city judge until a special election on Aug. 6 to fill the remainder of Judge Johnny Houston’s term following his medical disability, Chattanoogan.com reports. Hoss, who had been serving in an interim capacity, said he has picked up qualifying papers and plans to run in the election. Hoss has more than 20 years of legal experience, including work in criminal defense, civil litigation and appellate advocacy. He is a graduate of the McCallie School and the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.

The city of Red Bank has called a special election on Aug. 6 to replace longtime Judge Johnny Houston, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. After 25 years on the bench, Houston stepped down from judicial duties due to a medical issue, according to a city spokesperson. The city has appointed attorney Bryan Hoss to serve as the active judge on a monthly basis. The special election will coincide with the federal, state and county elections on Aug. 6. Petitions to run for the seat must be filed by June 12 at noon EDT. Candidates must be at least 30 years old, a Tennessee licensed attorney in good standing and a resident of the city for at least a year.

Tennessee voters will see new language on primary election ballot applications, which will require them to declare they are a bona fide member of the party whose primary they are voting in, Knox News reports. The language comes from an existing 1972 law, though it is now being highlighted on the ballot application. Every year before voters cast a ballot in person or by mail, they will have to sign a statement saying they are a member of the party in whose primary they're voting. The Tennessee Secretary of State's office in October instructed county election officials to highlight the statement that must be signed before voters can receive a ballot, Knox County elections administrator Chris Davis tells the paper.

A number of news outlets are providing profiles of judicial races in Davidson County. The Tennessean looks at the race between incumbent Davidson County Circuit Court Clerk Joseph Day and his challenger Howard Jones. The Nashville Banner has interviews with incumbent Davidson County 3rd Circuit Judge Bethany Glandorf, and challengers Audrey Anderson and Corletra Mance. The paper also features a Q&A with three candidates for Davidson County Criminal Court: incumbent Judge Jim Todd and challengers Dawn Deaner and Ronald Dowdy. The Banner also sent a questionnaire to the judicial candidates, including to General Sessions Court incumbent Judge Jodie Bell and her challenger Michael Robinson. Their responses are available here.

Knox News looks at three candidates running for General Sessions Court in Knox County. The profiles include answers from candidate questionnaires and candidates’ age, occupation and party affiliation. Candidates included are Ben Houston III, incumbent Andrea Kline and Rhonda Lee. Learn more about their goals for serving on the bench.

Early voting in the 2026 primary for state judicial offices and applicable county offices began yesterday, according to several news sources. The early voting period will run through the end of month. The last day to request absentee ballots is April 25. Election day is May 5. Track information unique to your area from the Tennessee Secretary of State’ office. Find contact information for your county election commission for more details.

The Nashville Bar Association (NBA) recently released the results of a member poll for candidates running this year for judicial seats in Davidson County. Members evaluated three candidates for Criminal Court Division III, three candidates for Circuit Court Division III and two candidates for General Sessions Court Division VI. The group reports that 309 responses were received by the deadline of April 5. Results are reported as raw ballot results with no attempt to extrapolate results. The NBA says it conducts these polls from time-to-time to provide “valuable insight” so voters can make informed choices with the resulting goal of creating a “Nashville judiciary that is highly qualified and dedicated to a fair and equitable legal system.”

Morristown attorney Aaron Chapman is suspending his campaign for 3rd Judicial District Circuit Court judge and withdrawing from the appointment process to fill the seat in the interim, the Citizen Tribune reports. Chapman qualified to run in the Aug. 6 Republican primary to replace Judge William Erwin Phillips II of Rogersville, who was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals. He also applied to be appointed to the seat by the Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission. In a statement announcing the decision, Chapman said, “Upon much reconsideration I have found that I simply cannot be in a position to accept a potential appointment to the vacancy, pause my active practice, take further immediate efforts to wind down my practice, and effectively campaign for the August 6 election.” Two other candidates — Mark Stapleton of Rogersville and Crystal Jessee of Greeneville — also qualified to run for election. Because the vacancy commission was not able to forward three qualified applicants to the governor, Gov. Bill Lee may appoint any qualified individual to fill the vacancy until the election.