{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDr. Merriel Bullock-Neal is the Democratic candidate for the Division V General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge unexpired-term seat in Montgomery County in the Aug. 6, 2026 election, running against appointed incumbent Erin Poland Nolder [1][2]. She was one of three applicants (with Nolder and Samuel Knolton) who sought the December 2025 commission appointment to the seat, which went to Nolder [1].\n\n## Background and education\nBullock-Neal holds a law degree and a Ph.D. in special education, with support fields in clinical child psychology and family therapy, from American University [1].\n\n## Career\nShe is a general practitioner in civil and criminal law who has litigated in juvenile, general sessions, circuit, chancery, and appellate courts and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee [1].\n\n## Office history\nBullock-Neal has run for local judicial office before, including a 2010 bid for General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge, Division I, and a 2014 campaign for Juvenile Court Judge [1][3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [3 candidates make case for vacant General Sessions, Juvenile Judge seat](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/3-candidates-make-case-for-vacant-general-sessions-juvenile-judge-seat/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Who\u2019s on ballot for Montgomery County mayor, sheriff, commission, School Board](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/whos-on-ballot-for-montgomery-county-mayor-sheriff-commission-school-board/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Bullock-Neal announces candidacy for juvenile court judge](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/bullock-neal-announces-candidacy-for-juvenile-court-judge/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","campaigns":[{"contest":"general_sessions_judge_unexpired","county":"Montgomery","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"General Sessions And Juvenile Court Judge Division V Unexpired Term"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"MERRIEL","fullname":"MERRIEL BULLOCK-NEAL","lastname":"BULLOCK-NEAL","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"general_sessions_judge_unexpired","contest_title":"General Sessions And Juvenile Court Judge Division V Unexpired Term","county":"Montgomery","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 And Juvenile Court Judge Division V Unexpired Term","county":"Montgomery","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 And Juvenile Court Judge Division V Unexpired Term","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Democratic candidate for Montgomery County General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge (Div. V) in 2026; longtime Clarksville attorney with a law degree and a Ph.D.","terms":[],"token":"fWnAyEOWYO"}