{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nMagistrate Shayla Purifoy currently serves in her judicial capacity and is running for election as Judge of General Sessions Civil Court Division 2 in Shelby County, Tennessee [2]. Her campaign committee, the Committee to Elect Shayla Purifoy, promotes a platform centered on fairness, impartiality, and respect, with the slogan \"Proven with Purifoy\" [2]. Purifoy describes herself as prepared for the role based on nearly a decade of judicial experience, noting that her background includes handling evictions, personal injury cases, collections, and emergency mental health commitments [10].\n\nThe 2026 election cycle includes a primary period from July 17 to August 1, with the general election scheduled for August 6, 2026 [4][6]. Purifoy is seeking to succeed Judge Phyllis B. Gardner, who retired from Division 2 and endorsed Purifoy\u2019s candidacy [14]. The Commercial Appeal noted that while many Shelby County races would face challengers in the August general election, several were effectively settled during the May primary period [3].\n\nCampaign activities have included community engagement events such as \"Conversations on the Veranda\" and meet-and-greets in neighborhoods like Douglass North Memphis [7][11]. Purifoy has received endorsements from notable local figures, including long-serving Shelby County Commissioner Walter Bailey- and retired Judge Phyllis B. Gardner [4][14]. The campaign continues to solicit volunteer support and financial contributions through its official website and social media channels as the election approaches [8][13].\n\n## Background and education\n\nShayla Nicole Purifoy is a native of Memphis, Tennessee, where she grew up in the Frayser neighborhood [5]. She attended Memphis Central High School before pursuing higher education at Rhodes College and the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law [5]. During her time at Rhodes College, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Urban Studies [12]. She subsequently received her Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis [12].\n\n## Career\n\nPurifoy earned a Bachelor of Arts in urban studies from Rhodes College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law [5]. She began her legal career providing free civil legal representation through Memphis Area Legal Services [5]. In 2016, she was appointed as a Judicial Commissioner by the Board of Shelby County Commissioners, a role in which she arraigned defendants, decided order of protection hearings, and set bonds [11].\n\nPurifoy served as a Magistrate on General Sessions Civil Court Division 2 in Shelby County for nearly a decade prior to her current campaign [2]. In this capacity, she presided over cases involving evictions, personal injury, collections, and emergency mental health commitments [10]. Her judicial record includes the opinion *Shayla Nicole Purifoy v. Devine Mafa*, issued by the Tennessee Court of Appeals in 2017 [1].\n\nA recipient of the Top 40 Under 40 Urban Elite Professionals award in 2019, Purifoy has been active in professional organizations such as the Historically African American Bar Association [12]. She is a Memphis native who grew up in the Frayser neighborhood and attended Memphis Central High School [5].\n\n## Office history\n\nShayla Nicole Purifoy was appointed as a Judicial Commissioner by the Board of Shelby County Commissioners in 2016 [12]. In this role, she arraigned defendants, decided order of protection hearings, and set bonds [12]. She later served as a Magistrate for General Sessions Civil Court, Division 2, in Shelby County, Tennessee [2]. During her tenure as Magistrate, Purifoy handled cases involving evictions, personal injury, collections, and emergency mental health commitments [10].\n\nPurifoy is currently running to be elected as the Judge of General Sessions Civil Court, Division 2. The general election for this position is scheduled for August 6, 2026, with early voting occurring from July 17 through August 1 [4][6]. As of today, the outcome of this election is unknown.\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nAs a sitting Magistrate and Judicial Commissioner for Shelby County, Purifoy\u2019s legislative record is not applicable, as these are judicial rather than legislative offices [12]. In her role as a Judicial Commissioner appointed by the Board of Shelby County Commissioners in 2016, she arraigned defendants, decided order of protection hearings, and set bonds [12]. As Magistrate for General Sessions Civil Court Division 2, she presides over civil matters including evictions, personal injury cases, collections, and emergency mental health commitments [2], [10].\n\nPurifoy has not sponsored legislation or served on legislative committees during her judicial tenure. Her professional focus has centered on judicial administration and community engagement rather than statutory lawmaking. She self-describes her approach as demonstrating fairness, impartiality, and understanding, asserting that everyone deserves to be treated with respect [2]. During her campaign for the judgeship, she has emphasized her \"nearly a decade of judicial experience\" as a key qualification for the role [10].\n\n## Family\n\nMagistrate Purifoy is married to Fish Moges [9]. Her mother is Angela Barksdale [7].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Shayla Nicole Purifoy v. Devine Mafa](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/court-appeals/opinions/2017/09/28/shayla-nicole-purifoy-v-devine-mafa)\n[2] [Committee to Elect Shayla Purifoy, General Sessions Civil Court, Division 2, Shelby County, TN](https://www.voteshayla.com/)\n[3] [While many candidates will face challengers in the August Shelby ...](https://www.facebook.com/commercialappeal/posts/while-many-candidates-will-face-challengers-in-the-august-shelby-county-general-/1999874990916588/)\n[4] [Magistrate Shayla Purifoy is honored to receive the endorsement of ...](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYMyImpknj4/)\n[5] [Meet Magistrate Shayla Purifoy. She is Memphis born ... - Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUTl_cFkVyN/)\n[6] [Shayla for Shelby! Proven with Purifoy! From the (Frayser) Bay to the ...](https://www.instagram.com/p/DWyaq5RBHPf/)\n[7] [A Mother's Day sneak peek of Conversations on the Veranda with ...](https://www.facebook.com/shaylapurifoy/videos/a-mothers-day-sneak-peek-of-conversations-on-the-veranda-with-magistrate-shayla-/819825284524302/)\n[8] [Shayla Purifoy, Magistrate on Instagram: \"Thank you for your belief ...](https://www.instagram.com/p/DWmbOT3ExXh/)\n[9] [I met a great couple today and she's running for JUDGE of general ...](https://www.instagram.com/p/DR-13QMFzOG/)\n[10] [With nearly a decade of judicial experience, Magistrate Shayla ...](https://www.instagram.com/p/DTj2nvNjb00/)\n[11] [So today Magistrate Shayla Purifoy pulled down on me in Douglass ...](https://www.instagram.com/p/DXvC3c8jPAN/)\n[12] [Cynthia Daniels & Co. - Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/CynthiaDanielsCo/posts/top-40-under-40-urban-elite-professionals-awardee-16-is-shayla-nicole-purifoy-sh/2537644126492684/)\n[13] [the Committee to Elect Shayla Purifoy.](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWmiY-Hk_xt/)\n[14] [Magistrate Shayla Purifoy endorsed by Judge Phyllis B. Gardner for ...](https://www.facebook.com/shaylapurifoy/posts/magistrate-shayla-purifoy-is-honored-to-receive-the-endorsement-of-judge-phyllis/122172759278953167/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"general_sessions_civil_court_judge_division_2","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"General Sessions Civil Court Judge Division 2"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Shayla","fullname":"Shayla Purifoy","lastname":"Purifoy","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"general_sessions_civil_court_judge_division_2","contest_title":"General Sessions Civil Court Judge Division 2","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":"shelby","office_key":"general_sessions_civil_court_judge_div_2","office_title":"General Sessions Civil Court Judge Div 2","party":"","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":"shelby","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"general_sessions_civil_court_judge_division_2","contest_title":"General Sessions Civil Court Judge Division 2","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":"shelby","office_key":"general_sessions_civil_court_judge_div_2","office_title":"General Sessions Civil Court Judge Div 2","party":"","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"general_sessions_civil_court_judge_div_2","office_title":"General Sessions Civil Court Judge Div 2","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Shayla Nicole Purifoy is a Magistrate running for General Sessions Civil Court Judge Division 2 in Shelby County, TN.","terms":[],"token":"6OKieXdOTT"}