{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nMitzi Pollard currently serves as a Magistrate Judge in the Juvenile and Family Courts of Shelby County [1]. In 2026, she is running for an unexpired term on the Circuit Court bench for Division 3 in Shelby County [7]. She has launched a campaign under the banner \"Pollard for Judge,\" which states that her platform is grounded in priorities of fairness, impartiality, and integrity [4].\n\nPollard\u2019s candidacy was confirmed through her campaign website and social media channels, where she describes herself as seeking to strengthen public trust in the courts [5]. Her professional background includes prior recognition as a Truancy Champion by the International Association for Truancy and Dropout Prevention in 2018 [6] and selection as a 2024 Fellow by the Memphis Bar Foundation [9]. She is a member of several organizations, including the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the Memphis Bar Association [8].\n\n## Background and education\n\nMitzi H. Pollard earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from North Carolina Central University in 1991 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2001 [3]. Before entering the legal profession, she worked as an engineer and computer programmer, bringing a unique problem-solving perspective to her later work as an attorney and judge [3].\n\n## Career\n\nBefore entering the legal profession, Pollard worked as an engineer and computer programmer [3]. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from North Carolina Central University in 1991 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2001 [3]. After passing the Tennessee Bar, she began her legal career [3].\n\nPollard has served as a magistrate judge in the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County [8]. During her tenure, she was selected for the Truancy Champion Award at the 2018 International Association for Truancy and Dropout Prevention annual conference [6]. In 2024, she was named a Fellow by the Memphis Bar Foundation, an honor awarded to only one percent of Memphis area attorneys each year [9].\n\nHer professional affiliations include the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the Tennessee Counsel of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the Memphis Bar Association, the Association for Women Attorneys, and the Leo Bearman, Sr. American Inn of Court [8].\n\n## Office history\n\nMitzi Pollard earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2001 [3]. Following her admission to the Tennessee Bar, she began her legal career before entering the judiciary [3]. She was appointed as a Magistrate Judge for the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County, serving under Judge Dan H. Michael [8]. During her tenure on the bench, Pollard was recognized as a 2018 Truancy Champion by the International Association for Truancy and Dropout Prevention [6]. In 2024, she was named a Fellow of the Memphis Bar Foundation, an honor awarded to only one percent of area attorneys that year [9].\n\nPollard is currently seeking election to an unexpired term as a Circuit Court Judge for Division 3 in Shelby County [7]. A commission was established in June 2025 to consider applicants for vacancies within the 30th Judicial District, which encompasses this court [2]. Pollard has officially launched her campaign for this position, describing her priorities as fairness, impartiality, and integrity [4]. As of May 2026, the outcome of this upcoming election is unknown.\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nMitzi Pollard\u2019s professional background includes work as an engineer and computer programmer before she entered the legal profession [3]. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from North Carolina Central University in 1991 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2001 [3].\n\nPollard self-describes her campaign for Circuit Court Division 3 as being grounded in priorities of fairness, impartiality, and integrity, aiming to strengthen public trust in the courts [4]. Her campaign website directs supporters to contribute to her bid for the unexpired term [7]. Specific details regarding her personal business interests, family wealth sources, ownership stakes, or significant financial-disclosure facts are not provided in the available sources.\n\n## Family\n\nMitzi Pollard is married to Charles Spell[7]. Her daughter, Charli Spell, has publicly supported her campaign for Circuit Court Division 3[7].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Mitzi Pollard - Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/juvenile-family-courts/judges/mitzi-pollard)\n[2] [Commission to Consider Applicants for Two Vacancies in the 30th ...](https://tncourts.gov/press/2025/06/13/commission-consider-applicants-two-vacancies-30th-judicial-district)\n[3] [Meet Pollard | Pollard for Judge](https://www.pollardforjudge.com/blank)\n[4] [Home | Pollard for Judge](https://www.pollardforjudge.com/)\n[5] [Pollard for Judge: Home](https://www.pollardforjudge.com)\n[6] [Magistrate Mitzi Pollard wins truancy award - Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/MSCJC/posts/congrats-to-juvenile-court-of-memphis-shelby-county-magistrate-mitzi-pollard-for/1456419577823244/)\n[7] [I'm so incredibly proud of my mom, Mitzi Pollard, who is officially ...](https://www.instagram.com/p/DQw7LxOEU0V/)\n[8] [Learning About Your Juvenile Court - Each week a magistrate judge ...](https://www.facebook.com/MSCJC/videos/magistrate-judges-of-memphis-and-shelby-county/331465895453701/)\n[9] [Congratulations to Magistrate Mitzi H. Pollard and Attorney Jesyca ...](https://www.facebook.com/MSCJC/posts/congratulations-to-magistrate-mitzi-h-pollard-and-attorney-jesyca-westbrook-pett/853713223456004/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"circuit_court_judge_division_3_unexpired","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"Circuit Court Judge Division 3 (unexpired)"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Mitzi","fullname":"Mitzi Pollard","lastname":"Pollard","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"circuit_court_judge_division_3_unexpired","contest_title":"Circuit Court Judge Division 3 (unexpired)","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":"Shelby","office_key":"county_circuit_judge_div_3","office_title":"County Circuit Judge Div 3","party":"","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":"shelby","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"circuit_court_judge_division_3_unexpired","contest_title":"Circuit Court Judge Division 3 (unexpired)","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":"Shelby","office_key":"county_circuit_judge_div_3","office_title":"County Circuit Judge Div 3","party":"","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_circuit_judge_div_3","office_title":"County Circuit Judge Div 3","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Mitzi Pollard is a Magistrate Judge running for Circuit Court Division 3 in Shelby County, holding a BS in Computer Science and a JD from the University of Memphis.","terms":[],"token":"8rhB374ar3"}