{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Jennifer K. Peck","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"Jennifer K. Peck is a Republican candidate running for an unexpired term on the Circuit Court Judge Division 2 seat in Hamilton County, Tennessee, with the election scheduled for May 5, 2026 [6]. She currently holds this position, having been appointed by Governor Bill Lee on May 9, 2025, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Michael Dumitru [4]. Peck was sworn in shortly after her appointment and began hearing cases immediately, including docket calls and orders of protection [1].\n\nA lifelong resident of Chattanooga, Peck grew up on Signal Mountain and graduated from The Baylor School [10]. She earned her undergraduate degree from Auburn University in 1999 and her Juris Doctor from Regent University in 2007 [2]. Before entering public service, she built a law practice focused on domestic relations, litigation, and mediation [12]. In 2019, Peck joined Governor Bill Lee\u2019s administration at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. She served in key leadership roles, including Deputy Commissioner, Chief of Staff, and Chief Operating Officer [10]. In this capacity, she oversaw departmental operations and critical statewide functions, such as the Fire Prevention/State Fire Marshal\u2019s Office, the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, and the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board [12]. During her tenure in the governor's office, she also earned a Master of Business Administration from Tennessee Technological University [10].\n\nPeck announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination on December 8, 2025 [12]. She has received endorsements from her colleagues on the 11th Judicial District Circuit Court: Judges J.B. Bennett, Alex McVeagh, and Kyle Hedrick [12]. Peck states that her goal has always been to become a judge, a desire she renewed after law school [1]. She resides in Hixson with her husband, TJ, and frequently visits their son and daughter-in-law in Germantown [10]. Her campaign website is www.electjudgepeck.com [9].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Judge Peck Takes the Bench in Hamilton County, Realizing a Lifelong Goal | Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts](https://www.tncourts.gov/news/2025/06/03/judge-peck-takes-bench-hamilton-county-realizing-lifelong-goal)\n- [2] [Jennifer Peck | Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/jennifer-peck)\n- [4] [Governor Lee Announces 11th Judicial District Appointment | Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts](https://www.tncourts.gov/news/2025/05/09/governor-lee-announces-11th-judicial-district-appointment)\n- [6] [sample ballot](https://elect.hamiltontn.gov/Portals/12/HTML/RepSample.html)\n- [7] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n- [8] [2026 Election United States Senate - Tennessee - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/senate/TN/2026/)\n- [9] [Elect Judge Peck](https://www.electjudgepeck.com/)\n- [10] [Meet Judge Peck](https://www.electjudgepeck.com/meet-judge-peck.html)\n- [12] [Judge Jennifer Peck Announces Candidacy For Division II Circuit Court Judge - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2025/12/8/512231/Judge-Jennifer-Peck-Announces-Candidacy.aspx)","firstname":"Jennifer","lastname":"Peck","middlename":"K.","suffix":null,"token":"tpknwkIpiA"},"token":"jennifer_k_peck"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":"11","districtgroup":"tn_judicial_district","districtgroupname":"Judicial District","districtname":"11th Judicial District","job_type":"circuit_court_judge","o.office":"circuit_court_div_2_district_11","office":"circuit_court_div_2_district_11","officedescription":"A circuit court judge presides over the general civil and criminal trial court \u2014 jury and bench trials, dispositive motions, and sentencing. Decisions are subject to appellate review.","officequalities":"- Trial-court judge of general civil and criminal jurisdiction \u2014 presides over jury and bench trials, dispositive motions, and sentencing.\n- Judicial temperament: the willingness to listen, deliberate, and apply the law dispassionately to people whose lives are deeply affected by the outcome.\n- Impartiality and ethics under the Tennessee Rules of Judicial Conduct, including disqualification when conflicts arise.\n- Working knowledge of the substantive and procedural law applied in the court and the published precedent that controls.\n- Docket management: moving cases efficiently while honoring due process.\n- Clear written and oral explanation of rulings, so the parties and the public can follow the reasoning.","officeterm":8,"officetitle":"Circuit Court Division 2","partisan":1,"pgr":"primary","quantity":null,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"circuit_court_judge_div_2_unexpired"}