The primary elections held on March 3 included a number of judicial races. In many instances these races involve judges who had been appointed to the bench following a judge’s retirement, illness, or death.
The winners of these primaries will go on to appear on their respective county general election ballots on August 6. Judges in Tennessee serve eight-year terms. Winners in August will sit on the bench until the next statewide judicial election in 2022.
Here are the results from March 3 judicial primary elections across the state:
Criminal Court, Division II – 6th Judicial District – Republican Primary
This district covers Knox County. Judge Kyle Hixson was appointed to this seat in December 2019 following the retirement of Judge Bob McGee.
Judge Kyle Hixson – 67.2%
Wesley Stone – 32.8%
Criminal Court, Part II – 13th Judicial District – Republican Primary
This district covers Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, and White Counties. Judge Wesley Bray was appointed to this seat in July 2019 following the retirement of Judge David Patterson. Judge Bray was unopposed in the primary.
Judge Wesley Bray – unopposed
Circuit Court, Division II – 15th Judicial District – Republican Primary
This district covers Jackson, Macon, Smith, Trousdale, and Wilson Counties. This election is for a vacancy on the bench resulting from the retirement of Judge John D. Wootten, Jr., who retired in late 2019. The winner of this primary will face independent Branden Bellar in August.
Judge Michael Collins – 41.7%
Shawn McBrien – 31.1%
Javin Cripps – 27.2%
Circuit Court, Part V – 19th Judicial District – Republican Primary
This district covers Montgomery and Robertson Counties. Judge Kathryn Wall Olita was appointed to this position in October 2018. This judgeship had been established earlier in the year by the Tennessee General Assembly. Judge Olita ran unopposed in this primary.
Judge Kathryn Wall Olita – unopposed
Chancery Court, Part I – 20th Judicial District – Democratic Primary
This district covers Davidson County. Current Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal ran unopposed in this primary. She was appointed to the bench in 2019 to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Chancellor Claudia Bonnyman.
Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal - unopposed
Criminal Court, Division IV – 20th Judicial District – Democratic Primary
This district covers Davidson County. Current Criminal Court Judge Jennifer Smith faced Tillman W. Payne III in this primary. Judge Smith was appointed to this court in 2018 following the retirement of Judge Seth Norman.
Judge Jennifer Smith – 59.5%
Tillman W. Payne III – 40%
Circuit Court, Division V – 21st Judicial District – Republican Primary
This district covers Hickman, Lewis, Perry, and Williamson Counties. Divisions I through IV of this court handle civil and criminal cases in Williamson County, while Division V handles civil and criminal cases in Hickman, Lewis, and Perry Counties. Judge Michael Spitzer was appointed to this seat in September 2018. The judgeship had been established by the Tennessee General Assembly earlier in the year.
Judge Michael Spitzer – unopposed
Circuit Court, Part III – 22nd Judicial District – Republican Primary
This district covers Giles, Lawrence, Maury and Wayne Counties. Judge Christopher Sockwell was appointed to this position in November 2018 following the retirement of Judge Robert Jones. Judge Sockwell ran unopposed in the primary.
Judge Christopher Sockwell – unopposed
General Sessions Court, Coffee County – Republican Primary
This election is to select a judge to fill out the remaining term of Judge Timothy Brock, who passed away in November 2019.
Greg B. Perry – 47.6%
Stacy Lindeman Lynch – 27.8%
Jason L. Huskey - 21.2%
Jess Stockwell – 3.4%
General Sessions Court, Division III - Wilson County – Republican Primary
Judge Ensley Hagan was appointed to this position by the Wilson County Commission in November 2018 to take over for retiring Judge John Gwin. He ran unopposed in the primary.
Judge Ensley Hagan – unopposed