Carol J. Chumney
Shelby County Deputy Divorce Referee & Hearing Officer- 3 years
Special Judge for Shelby County General Sessions Civil & Criminal Courts
Selected to interview with U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist for a judicial clerkship- 1987
Law Clerk to Judge Harry W. Wellford, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals-1986-87
Carol Chumney Law PLLC-including attorney for the election security lawsuit, Shelby Advocates for Valid Elections, et al v. Hargett, et al, 947 F. 3d 977 (6th Cir. 2020), cert. denied S.Ct. 2020 WL 5882333 (2020)(included participation by several national amici including the Brennan Law Center).
Adjunct Professor- Univ. of Memphis Political Science Dept.- 2008
Guardian Ad Litem- for Shelby County Juvenile Court cases (by judicial appointment)
Memphis City Councilmember- District 5-Chair of Public Safety & Homeland Security, O & M Budget, MLGW, Public Service & Neighborhood and Healthcare Committees
Glankler Brown Gilliland Chase Robinson & Raines- (partner & associate attorney)-16 years
Tennessee State Representative (D-89)- 13 years- House Majority Whip (first female); Chair of House Children & Family Affairs Committee; including prime sponsor of nationally recognized child care reform, the Memphis Plan law helping citizens to access healthcare through the Church Health Center, and “Hunters for the Hungry” law for food banks & soup kitchens; Officer of House Judiciary Committee; first regular female member of House Finance Budget Subcommittee
Ladies in Need Can Survive (domestic violence shelter)- “Unstoppable Award”- presented to Attorney Carol Chumney – 2018
U.S. Delegate to East Asia-Pacific ACYPL International Alumnae Summit- (presented to Speaker of Diet for U.S. delegation)-2006
American Business Women’s Assoc- Woman of the Year Luncheon- (guest speaker)-2004
Network for Health Insurance Continuance- Award of Excellence- “in recognition of tireless work for the people of Tennessee for healthcare issues”- 2004
Tenn. Development District Legislator of the Year Award-2003
Memphis Woman Magazine- 50 Women Who Make a Difference Award- 2003
Assoc. of Women Attorneys- Marion Griffin-Frances Loring Award- 2001
U.T. Health Science Leadership Award- 2001
Tenn. Sierra Club Appreciation Award-2001
Tennessee Assoc. for the Education of Young Children- “Children’s Champion Award”- 2000
“Outstanding Female Political Activist”- Rhodes College Democrats- 2000
Together for Children- “for her support & dedication in increasing quality childcare in the State of Tennessee”- 2000
Vollintine-Evergreen Neighborhood Assoc.- The Richard S. Borys Award for Outstanding Public Service- 1999
Kingsbury Elementary School P.T.O.- “for her dedication & support of the pupils of Kingsbury Elementary School- Thank you for our new playground!”- 1997
March of Dimes & TN Perinatal Assoc. “Legislator of the Year Award”- “for her contribution to healthier mothers and babies during 1996”
The Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Center- “in grateful appreciation for your generous support & continued commitment to the welfare of children”-1996
Tennessee Task Force Against Domestic Violence Award- 1996
Tennessee Trial Lawyers Award for Environment & Consumer Protection-1995
Toll Fellow for Council of State Governments- 1995
U.T. College of Law- Appreciation Plaque 1995
The Massage Therapists of Tennessee-“in grateful appreciation for the Massage Licensure Act of 1995”
Tenn. Citizen Action Leadership Award-1995
U.S. Young Political Leader delegate to Japan- (one of seven)- ACYPL- 1992
American Jurisprudence Award- Remedies – 1986
Lt. Governor of Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature- 1982-83
Alpha Lambda Delta- President [Freshman National Honor Society]- 1980
Former President Memphis Federal Bar Association-1991
Tennessee Bar Association- member and Law Tech ’21: Election & Technology CLE presenter
Tennessee Judicial Conference
Tennessee Trial Judges Association
Memphis Bar Association- member & CLE presenter
Association of Women Attorneys
American Bar Association
Bestselling Author of The Arena: One Woman’s Story (Lady Justice Publishing 2021)- National Federation of Press Women- First Place At-large Autobiography/Memoir- 2022; Silver medal -“IPPY Awards”- South-Best Regional Non-fiction 2022; Finalist -Foreword Indies Book of the Year Award
Editor-in-Chief, Memphis State Univ. Law Review (1985-86)
“Evidence- The 609[a][1] Balancing Tests: What Factors are Applicable in Tennessee? 15 Mem. St. U.L. Rev. – 1985
Columbia Law School – panelist at invitation of American Constitution Society-“Election Security and the Paperless Ballot: Litigation and Advocacy for a Stronger Democracy”-2019
Volunteer judge & mentor Shelby County Juvenile Youth Court
WLOK’s "Let’s Talk" Law guest host
Former Board Member Memphis Zoo
Economic Club of Memphis- member & former Board Member
Philanthropist for the Ladies in Need Can Survive domestic violence shelter in Frayser
Pro bono work for various nonprofit & religious organizations over the years
Provida- fundraising organization to benefit the Girls Club of Memphis (former member)
Court Involvement
Tennessee Supreme Court Foster Care Commission
Tennessee Supreme Court Gender Fairness Commission
Special Judge for Shelby County General Sessions Civil & Criminal Courts
Selected to interview with U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist for a judicial clerkship- 1987
Adjunct Professor- Univ. of Memphis Political Science Dept.- 2008
Guardian Ad Litem- for Shelby County Juvenile Court cases (by judicial appointment)
Ladies in Need Can Survive (domestic violence shelter)- “Unstoppable Award”- presented to Attorney Carol Chumney – 2018
Former President Memphis Federal Bar Association-1991
Editor-in-Chief, Memphis State Univ. Law Review (1985-86)
Evidence- The 609[a][1] Balancing Tests: What Factors are Applicable in Tennessee? 15 Mem. St. U.L. Rev. – 1985
Volunteer judge & mentor Shelby County Juvenile Youth Court
WLOK’s "Let’s Talk" Law guest host
D’Army Bailey Courthouse
Memphis, TN 38103
United States