Conducts trials and hearings
Position guide
Circuit Court judge
Presides over a court of general jurisdiction, including civil and criminal matters assigned by Tennessee law.
- Government level
- Judicial district · Trial court
- Typical term
- Eight years
- Who it serves
- One Tennessee judicial district
The job in plain language01 02 03 04 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
Circuit judges decide significant disputes, trials, and criminal proceedings in their districts.
Rules on evidence and legal motions
Issues judgments, orders, and authorized sentences
Manages the court docket
Power is shared—not exercised alone.
Tennessee trial judges are elected within their judicial districts to eight-year terms. Circuit jurisdiction may overlap with chancery or be divided with separate criminal courts.
A circuit judge manages proceedings involving juries, clerks, attorneys, prosecutors, defenders, litigants, witnesses, and law enforcement while remaining neutral and subject to appellate review.
Decisions voters may notice
Legal motions, evidence, trials, judgments, and authorized criminal sentences
Case scheduling, courtroom administration, and management of crowded dockets
Appeals from some lower courts and remedies in civil disputes
Questions worth asking
The answers may differ among candidates, but each question relates directly to the authority and responsibilities of this position.
- Does the candidate show legal ability, fairness, patience, and appropriate courtroom temperament?
- How would the judge manage cases efficiently without sacrificing due process?
- Has the candidate demonstrated independence from parties, attorneys, and political pressure?
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