← Back to Shelby County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06
Contest for Criminal Court Judge Division 8 (unexpired)
County
general - Non-partisan - Criminal Court Div 8
About this office
A criminal court judge presides over felony criminal cases — pretrial motions, trials, and sentencing under Tennessee law. Decisions are subject to appellate review.
Term length: 8 years.
This role calls for
- Trial-court judge in Tennessee criminal court: presides over felony cases — indictments, pretrial motions, jury trials, sentencing under TCA Title 40.
- Judicial temperament: the willingness to listen, deliberate, and apply the law dispassionately to people whose lives are deeply affected by the outcome.
- Impartiality and ethics under the Tennessee Rules of Judicial Conduct, including disqualification when conflicts arise.
- Working knowledge of the substantive and procedural law applied in the assigned court (cited per court below) and the published precedent that controls.
- Docket management — moving cases efficiently while honoring due process and the time pressures that fall on litigants and witnesses.
- Clear written and oral explanation of rulings, so the parties and the public can follow the reasoning.
Derived from the office's statutory duties and operational reality. Candidate summaries below map each candidate's documented experience to these requirements.
Special election to fill the unexpired term resulting from Judge Chris Craft's resignation on 2026-06-11. The winner serves the remainder of the original term ending 2030-09-01.
Campaigns
Ruchee Patel
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Ruchee Patel's biography shows extensive experience as a criminal-defense attorney in Shelby County courts, handling felony cases involving drug trafficking, firearms, and white-collar crimes. She is admitted to the Tennessee Supreme Court and federal appellate courts, demonstrating working knowledge of relevant substantive and procedural law. No controversy or disciplinary record appears in the provided text. Bio does not indicate prior judicial experience or specific docket management history as a presiding judge.
David "Hawk" Allen
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David "Hawk" Allen's biography shows relevant experience as an Assistant Public Defender handling felony cases from indictment through jury trial in Shelby County courts. He holds a law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and completed graduate studies in criminal justice. The biography documents no controversies or disciplinary records. Bio does not indicate prior judicial experience or docket management experience.
Latonya Sue Burrow
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Burrow's biography shows she is a criminal-defense attorney in Memphis with repeated experience running for Shelby County judicial seats since 2010. The record documents three prior election losses but contains no evidence of disciplinary action or ethical violations. Bio does not indicate prior experience as a trial judge presiding over felony cases or managing a criminal court docket.
Katie Ratton
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Katie Ratton's biography shows relevant experience as a former Assistant District Attorney and Assistant Public Defender in Shelby County, alongside current service as an Assistant City Attorney for Memphis. These roles suggest familiarity with criminal procedure and courtroom dynamics required for presiding over felony cases. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior judicial experience or specific docket management history in a trial court setting.
Joe Ozment
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Joe Ozment's thirty-year criminal defense practice and Rule 13 capital case qualification demonstrate relevant trial experience for presiding over felony cases in Shelby County Criminal Court Division VIII. His leadership roles in criminal defense organizations suggest familiarity with local legal procedures and ethical standards. The biography notes a prior unsuccessful judicial campaign in 2022 but contains no record of disciplinary action or controversies. Bio does not indicate prior judicial experience or specific docket management history.
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