{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJodie Ann Bell is the incumbent Davidson County General Sessions Court judge for Division VI, seeking a full term in the 2026 election. The Metro Nashville Council elected Bell, a longtime Nashville defense attorney, to fill a vacant seat on the court in November 2025, choosing her over four other candidates, including attorney Michael Robinson [1]. Bell was re-elected in the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary, defeating Michael Johnson; no Republican candidate qualified for the seat, so the primary result determines the office [2].\n\n## Background and education\nBell graduated with her law degree from Golden Gate University in 1994 and has practiced law in Tennessee since 1997 [1].\n\n## Career\nBefore taking the bench, Bell spent nearly 30 years in litigation as a Nashville defense attorney. She is a member of the Nashville Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Lawyer's Association for Women. She has also served as a board member for Reconciliation Prison Ministries and the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers [1].\n\n## Family\nBell is married to former Nashville Mayor David Briley, who currently serves as a Davidson County Circuit Court judge [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] Julianne Akers, \"Metro Council selects Jodie Bell as General Sessions Court judge,\" Nashville Post, Nov. 19, 2025. https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/legal/metro-council-selects-jodie-bell-as-general-sessions-court-judge/article_96d85adf-ebe9-407f-809b-14288a6389ab.html\n[2] \"Here are the winners for Nashville clerk, school board and judge roles,\" WPLN News, May 5, 2026. https://wpln.org/post/here-are-the-winners-for-nashville-clerk-school-board-and-judge-roles/","campaigns":[{"contest":"general_sessions_judge_unexpired","county":"Davidson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"General Sessions Judge Division Vi"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"JODIE","fullname":"JODIE ANN BELL","lastname":"BELL","middlename":"ANN","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"general_sessions_judge_unexpired","contest_title":"General Sessions Judge Division Vi","county":"Davidson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"general_sessions_judge","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"general_sessions_judge_unexpired","contest_title":"General Sessions Judge Division Vi","county":"Davidson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"general_sessions_judge","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"D","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"general_sessions_judge","office_title":"General Sessions Judge Division Vi","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"terms":[],"token":"Xhtd7YLl4L"}