{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Ray Lepone","chatgptsummary":"Ray Lepone's biography shows over twenty-five years as a Shelby County Deputy District Attorney and current service as a Division 1 Criminal Court judge since September 2025, demonstrating direct experience with felony trials and judicial administration in Tennessee. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior legislative experience or independent campaign fundraising experience.","notes":"","party":"","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nRay Lepone currently serves as a judge for Division 1 of the Shelby County Criminal Court in Tennessee [1]. He was appointed to this unexpired term by Governor Bill Lee in September 2025, filling the seat previously held by Judge Paula Skahan following her retirement [4][10]. Prior to his judicial appointment, Lepone served as a Deputy District Attorney in Shelby County for more than 25 years, rising through the ranks under former District Attorney Amy Weirich and continuing under District Attorney Steve Mulroy during her first term [6][7].\n\nLepone is running for election to retain the Division 1 judgeship in 2026 [5]. He self-describes as a candidate with extensive experience as a prosecutor, judge, and appellate lawyer who earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee [11]. The vacancy for which he is seeking election was created by the retirement of Judge Skahan, leading to an initial appointment process that considered multiple applicants for vacancies in the 30th Judicial District [2][3].\n\n## Background and education\n\nRaymond John Lepone was born in 1956 [1]. He self-describes as a Catholic [11]. He attended the University of Memphis for his undergraduate studies and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law [11].\n\n## Career\n\nRay Lepone served as a Deputy District Attorney in Shelby County for more than two decades [6]. He was appointed to this role by District Attorney General Amy Weirich and sworn in during February 2018 [9]. Lepone continued his service in the office under subsequent District Attorneys Amy Weirich and Steve Mulroy [7].\n\nPrior to his appointment as a judge, Lepone worked as an appellate lawyer [11]. He earned his law degree from the University of Memphis [11]. In September 2025, Governor Bill Lee appointed Lepone to fill the vacant seat in Division 1 of the Shelby County Criminal Court, which had previously been held by Judge Paula Skahan following her retirement [4]. Lepone was sworn in as judge later that month [7].\n\n## Office history\n\nRay Lepone served as a Deputy District Attorney in Shelby County, a role for which he was appointed by District Attorney General Amy Weirich and sworn in on February 16, 2018 [9]. He continued in this capacity under District Attorney Steve Mulroy during his first term [7].\n\nIn September 2025, Governor Bill Lee appointed Lepone to fill the vacancy in Criminal Court Division 1 of Shelby County, a seat previously held by Judge Paula Skahan following her retirement [4][7][10]. He was sworn in as judge for this position later that month [7].\n\nLepone is currently running for an unexpired term on the bench of Criminal Court Division 1 [5][11].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nRay Lepone\u2019s legislative record is not documented in the provided sources, as his career has been focused on prosecutorial and judicial roles rather than elected legislative office. During his tenure as a prosecutor, he served as Deputy District Attorney in Shelby County under District Attorney General Amy Weirich and later under Steve Mulroy [7]. He was sworn into this position in February 2018 by Judge Jennifer Nichols [9].\n\nPrior to his appointment to the bench, Lepone did not hold a legislative seat or sponsor bills. In September 2025, Governor Bill Lee appointed him to fill the unexpired term of Criminal Court Division 1, previously held by Judge Paula Skahan following her retirement [4][10]. He was sworn in as judge that same month, with congratulations extended by the Shelby County District Attorney\u2019s Office and the Tennessee Attorney General\u2019s Office [7][8].\n\nLepone is currently seeking election to continue serving on the bench for an unexpired term [11]. The outcome of this upcoming election has not yet occurred as of May 2026 [12].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Raymond John Lepone | Tennessee Administrative Office of the ...](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/raymond-john-lepone)\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] [Shelby County to get two new judges - Daily Memphian](https://dailymemphian.com/article/54590/shelby-county-tennessee-new-judges-circuit-criminal-court)\n[4] [New Shelby County judge appointed to Criminal Court Division 1 ...](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/new-shelby-county-judge-raymond-lepone/522-b565636f-7c3a-4f10-b536-2237e875036e)\n[5] [Ray Lepone is vying for the vacant judgeship in Shelby County ...](https://www.facebook.com/commercialappeal/posts/ray-lepone-is-vying-for-the-vacant-judgeship-in-shelby-county-criminal-court-her/1767993530771403/)\n[6] [Deputy DA Ray Lepone retiring, chief prosecutor Paul Hagerman ...](https://dailymemphian.com/article/37639/shelby-county-deputy-da-ray-lepone-retiring-paul-hagerman-successor)\n[7] [Shelby County District Attorney's Office - Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ShelbyCountyDA/posts/we-congratulate-ray-lepone-a-longtime-member-of-the-shelby-county-district-attor/1382955933834332/)\n[8] [Tennessee Attorney General's Office's Post - LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tennessee-attorney-general-s-office_former-shelby-county-deputy-da-ray-lepone-activity-7367275566074327041-8IYq)\n[9] [Congratulations to Ray Lepone, who was sworn in as Deputy District ...](https://www.facebook.com/TNDistrictAttorneys/posts/congratulations-to-ray-lepone-who-was-sworn-in-as-deputy-district-attorney-in-sh/956371731180732/)\n[10] [Governor Bill Lee appoints Ray Lepone as Shelby County judge](https://www.facebook.com/sccriminalcourtclerk/posts/governor-bill-lee-has-appointed-ray-lepone-as-judge-of-division-1-of-the-shelby-/1081225557514812/)\n[11] [Judge Ray Lepone on Instagram: \"Hello, Memphis and Shelby ...](https://www.instagram.com/p/DTvwgkUjvTF/)\n[12] [Photo by Judge Ray Lepone (@judgeraylepone) \u00b7 May 14, 2026](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYUsWUBDX0_/)","firstname":"Ray","lastname":"Lepone","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"2CHp5Zo2Zg"},"token":"ray_lepone"},{"candidatename":"Jahari Dowdy","chatgptsummary":"Dowdy practices criminal defense as managing attorney at her Memphis firm, providing direct experience with indictments and pretrial motions relevant to Shelby County\u2019s felony docket. Her office\u2019s proximity to downtown courts suggests familiarity with local procedural logistics. As a 1999 honor graduate of Southern University A&M and 2002 law school graduate, she holds the requisite legal education. Bio does not indicate prior judicial experience, specific knowledge of Tennessee criminal statutes or precedent, demonstrated judicial temperament in ruling on contested matters, or detailed docket management strategies for high-volume felony cases.","notes":"","party":"","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nJahari Dowdy is a defense attorney who has served as a judge on the Criminal Court Division 1 in Shelby County, Tennessee [1]. In 2026, he is seeking re-election to an unexpired term on this bench [1]. Dowdy previously declared his candidacy for the 30th Judicial District Criminal Court Division IX in the 2024 election cycle [1].\n\n## Background and education\n\nJahari Dowdy is a defense attorney who has declared candidacy for the 2024 30th Judicial District Criminal Court Division IX election [1]. He is also seeking to become the next Shelby County Criminal Court judge [2].\n\nPublic records indicate that Dowdy owns property located at 1630 Barton Street in Memphis, Tennessee, alongside Marquise Dowdy [3].\n\n## Career\n\nJahari Mabry Dowdy is a licensed attorney in Tennessee [6]. He maintains a profile with the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee and is listed as a criminal defense lawyer in Memphis [7][8]. Dowdy operates the Law Office of JM Dowdy PLLC, located at 200 Poplar Ave in Memphis [5].\n\nIn addition to his legal practice, Dowdy has engaged in real estate investment. Public tax assessment records list him as a co-owner of property located at 1630 Barton Street and 2873 Tutwiler Road in Memphis, alongside Marquise Dowdy [3][4].\n\n## Office history\n\nJahari Dowdy declared his candidacy for the 2024 election for the 30th Judicial District Criminal Court Division IX [1]. He also ran for Shelby County Criminal Court judge, a race in which he sought to succeed the incumbent [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Jahari Dowdy - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jahari_Dowdy)\n[2] [Defense attorney Jahari Dowdy wants to be the next Shelby County Criminal Court judge](https://www.yahoo.com/news/defense-attorney-jahari-dowdy-wants-122735594.html)\n[3] [Property valuation of Barton Street, Memphis, TN: 1627 (KENNETH E EAST & JUDY C EAST), 1630 (MARQUISE DOWDY & JAHARI DOWDY), 1643 (ROBIN AND JESSIE RODGERS LATIKER), 1656 (CALVIN ROUNDS & KATINA ROUNDS), 1657 (JAMES E MOBLEY & MARGIE S MOBLEY), 1660 (MURRAY S ALPERIN), 1669 (MEMPHIS 2004.0 LP) (tax assessments)](https://www.city-data.com/shelby-county/B/Barton-Street-7.html)\n[4] [Property valuation of Tutwiler, Memphis, TN: 2655 (CHARLES ALEXANDER), 2664 (T L NORWOOD & MOZELLA NORWOOD), 2873 (MARQUISE DOWDY & JAHARI M DOWDY), 2881 (ELARGIE WATSON JR), 2887 (ANNIE M BOYCE), 3050 (ON-CALL PROPERTY LLC), 3053 (CHARLES E BRIGGS), 3054 (TIANA HUDSON), 3057 (BETTY B JEFFERSON), 3060 (CHARLES CHAPIUS) (tax assessments)](https://www.city-data.com/shelby-county/T/Tutwiler-27.html)\n[5] [Law Office of JM Dowdy PLLC - Memphis, TN - Lawyer Directory - Find Attorneys & Legal Services Near You](https://catalog.lawyer/lawyers/united-states/tennessee/memphis/criminal-defense-lawyers/law-office-of-jm-dowdy-pllc-memphis-tn/)\n[6] [Dowdy, Jahari Mabry, Memphis](https://www.tbpr.org/attorneys/024144)\n[7] [Jahari Mabry Dowdy Profile | Memphis, TN Lawyer | Martindale.com](https://www.martindale.com/attorney/jahari-mabry-dowdy-157748927/)\n[8] [Jahari M. Dowdy - a Memphis, Tennessee (TN) Lawyer](https://lawyers.findlaw.com/profile/view/5113361_1)","firstname":"Jahari","lastname":"Dowdy","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"SAwzXwthoh"},"token":"jahari_dowdy"}],"choices":null,"description":"","district":"30","districtgroup":"tn_judicial_district","districtgroupname":"Judicial District","districtname":"30th Judicial District","job_type":"criminal_court_judge","o.office":"criminal_court_div_1_district_30","office":"criminal_court_div_1_district_30","officedescription":"A criminal court judge presides over felony criminal cases \u2014 pretrial motions, trials, and sentencing under Tennessee law. Decisions are subject to appellate review.","officequalities":"- Trial-court judge in Tennessee criminal court: presides over felony cases \u2014 indictments, pretrial motions, jury trials, sentencing under TCA Title 40.\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":"Criminal Court Div 1","partisan":0,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":"","source":null,"title":"Criminal Court Judge Division 1 (unexpired)"}