{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Mitzi Pollard","chatgptsummary":"Mitzi Pollard's biography shows relevant experience as a Magistrate Judge in Juvenile and Family Courts, demonstrating familiarity with Tennessee court procedures and judicial temperament through awards like the 2018 Truancy Champion recognition. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience presiding over general civil trials or managing complex criminal sentencing dockets.","notes":"","party":"","person":{"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/)","firstname":"Mitzi","lastname":"Pollard","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"8rhB374ar3"},"token":"mitzi_pollard"},{"candidatename":"Chris Frulla","chatgptsummary":"Chris Frulla's biography shows he has served as a Shelby County Circuit Court Judge since September 2025, following thirteen years of legal practice at Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell, PLC. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior experience presiding over jury trials or managing complex sentencing proceedings before his appointment.","notes":"","party":"","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nW. Christopher Frulla currently serves as a judge on the Shelby County Circuit Court for Division 3 [3]. He was appointed to fill an unexpired term in the 30th Judicial District after Governor Bill Lee selected him from a list of three nominees provided by the judicial nominating commission in August 2025 [6]. Frulla officially took the bench in September 2025 [2].\n\nIn 2026, Frulla is seeking election to a full eight-year term as a Circuit Court Judge for Division 3 [4]. The race is non-partisan, consistent with Tennessee's judicial election structure [4]. As of May 2026, Frulla has been actively campaigning for the position, holding strategy meetings and securing endorsements from local figures such as Bishop Wright and Stevie Moore [8].\n\n## Background and education\n\nW. Christopher Frulla attended the College of Charleston for his undergraduate studies, graduating in 2006 [3]. He subsequently earned his law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2012 [3].\n\n## Career\n\nBefore entering the judiciary, Frulla practiced law as an attorney at Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell, PLC from 2012 to 2025 [3]. He holds a bachelor\u2019s degree from the College of Charleston, earned in 2006, and a law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, completed in 2012 [3][7].\n\nFrulla was appointed to the Shelby County Circuit Court Division 3 in 2025 to fill an unexpired term in the 30th Judicial District [5][6]. He assumed the bench in September 2025, transitioning from his legal practice to a role responsible for the disposition of all case types within the division [2][4].\n\n## Office history\n\nW. Christopher Frulla served as an attorney at Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell PLC from 2012 to 2025 [3]. In July 2025, a judicial nominating commission submitted three names to Governor Bill Lee for a vacancy in the 30th Judicial District Circuit Court [5]. In August 2025, Governor Lee appointed Frulla to fill this vacancy [6].\n\nFrulla was elected to the Shelby County Circuit Court Division 3 in 2025 to serve an unexpired term [2][3]. He assumed his duties on the bench in September 2025 [2]. Circuit court judges in Shelby County are elected to non-staggered, eight-year terms on a non-partisan basis, with all nine divisions responsible for the disposition of all case types [4]. Frulla is currently seeking re-election to this position [8].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nW. Christopher Frulla\u2019s professional background prior to his judicial appointment was rooted in law practice rather than private business ownership or commercial enterprise [3]. He served as an attorney at Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell, PLC from 2012 until his election to the bench in 2025 [3].\n\nPublicly available records and biographical summaries do not disclose specific details regarding family wealth sources, personal business ownership stakes, or significant financial disclosures beyond his legal employment history [1][2][3]. His career narrative emphasizes his transition from legal practice to the judiciary, with no reported commercial sales or independent business ventures cited in official court profiles [2][7].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [W. Christopher Frulla | Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/w-christopher-frulla)\n[2] [From Artifacts to Arguments, Judge Frulla Takes the Bench in Shelby ...](https://www.tncourts.gov/news/2025/09/25/artifacts-arguments-judge-frulla-takes-bench-shelby-county)\n[3] [W. Christopher Frulla--Division Three | Shelby County, TN](https://www.shelbycountytn.gov/2509/W-Christopher-Frulla)\n[4] [Division Judges | Shelby County, TN - Official Website](https://www.shelbycountytn.gov/341/Division-Judges)\n[5] [Commission Sends Three Names to Governor for 30th Judicial District Circuit Court Vacancy | Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts](https://www.tncourts.gov/press/2025/07/16/commission-sends-three-names-governor-30th-judicial-district-circuit-court-vacancy)\n[6] [Governor Lee Announces 30th Judicial District Appointments | Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts](https://www.tncourts.gov/news/2025/08/29/governor-lee-announces-30th-judicial-district-appointments)\n[7] [Get to know a bit more about one of our impressive alums and one ...](https://www.facebook.com/memphislawschool/posts/get-to-know-a-bit-more-about-one-of-our-impressive-alums-and-one-of-shelby-count/1386188316844928/)\n[8] [We had a great campaign strategy meeting last week. I am blessed ...](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYcrdm4Fj6L/)","firstname":"Chris","lastname":"Frulla","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"Z2F2cyoPcU"},"token":"chris_frulla"}],"choices":null,"description":"","district":"shelby","districtgroup":"county","districtgroupname":"County","districtname":null,"job_type":"circuit_court_judge","o.office":"county_circuit_judge_div_3","office":"county_circuit_judge_div_3","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 in a Tennessee circuit court \u2014 presides over jury and bench trials, dispositive motions, and sentencing under TCA.\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 assigned court (cited per court below) and the published precedent that controls.\n- Docket management \u2014 moving cases efficiently while honoring due process and the time pressures that fall on litigants and witnesses.\n- Clear written and oral explanation of rulings, so the parties and the public can follow the reasoning.","officeterm":8,"officetitle":"County Circuit Judge Div 3","partisan":0,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":"","source":null,"title":"Circuit Court Judge Division 3 (unexpired)"}