Reviews trial-court records and legal arguments
Position guide
Appellate judge
Reviews decisions from lower courts on the Court of Appeals or Court of Criminal Appeals.
- Government level
- Tennessee · Judicial
- Typical term
- Eight-year retention cycle
- Who it serves
- Statewide court with regional sections
The job in plain language01 02 03 How the position worksHow someone reaches the position Who the office works with Real-world choices01 02 03 Before you vote
What this position is responsible for
Appellate decisions guide trial courts and affect how civil and criminal law is applied.
Issues written opinions
May affirm, reverse, or return cases for additional proceedings
Power is shared—not exercised alone.
Court of Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals judges are appointed through Tennessee’s selection process and later face statewide retention votes.
Appellate judges sit in panels, review written records and legal arguments, and issue opinions that guide trial courts. They do not ordinarily receive new evidence or retry factual disputes.
Decisions voters may notice
Whether a trial court applied the correct legal rule
Whether an error affected the result enough to require further proceedings
How statutes and prior opinions govern future civil or criminal cases
Questions worth asking
The answers may differ among candidates, but each question relates directly to the authority and responsibilities of this position.
- Does the judge explain decisions clearly and consistently?
- Does the record reflect impartiality, preparation, and respectful treatment of parties?
- Does the judge apply the court’s limited reviewing role rather than acting as a new trial court?
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