{"county":"Shelby","description":"","district":"shelby","districtgroup":"county","id":38,"key":"county_circuit_judge_div_2","lastchangeby":null,"name":"Carol J. Chumney ","next_election":"2022-11-08","notes":"48","officegroup":"county_circuit_court","partisan":0,"party":"","qualities":"- 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.","quantity":1,"source":null,"state":"TN","term_end":"2030-09-01","term_start":"2022-09-01","term_years":8,"terms":[{"current":1,"description":"","electiondate":"2022-08-06","name":"Carol J. Chumney ","person":{"biography":"Judge Chumney was elected Shelby County Circuit Court Judge, Division Two, in 2022.\n\nEducation: \nB. A. in History with Honors & Economics, magna cum laude, Univ. of Memphis (formerly MSU) as a Presidential Scholar; first female President of Student Government Assoc.; ODK \u201cMSU Leader of the Year,\u201d \u201cOutstanding Economics Student,\u201d Liberal Arts Honor Society-1983\n\n J.D., University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law as a Herff Law Scholar- 1986 \n\nCareer Experience: \nBestselling Author of The Arena: One Woman\u2019s Story (Lady Justice Publishing 2021)- National Federation of Press Women- First Place At-large Autobiography/Memoir- 2022; Silver medal -\u201cIPPY Awards\u201d- South-Best Regional Non-fiction 2022; Finalist -Foreword Indies Book of the Year Award \n\nColumbia Law School \u2013 panelist at invitation of American Constitution Society-\u201cElection Security and the Paperless Ballot: Litigation and Advocacy for a Stronger Democracy\u201d-2019 \n\nShelby County Deputy Divorce Referee & Hearing Officer- 3 years \n\nCarol Chumney Law PLLC-including attorney for the election security lawsuit, Shelby Advocates for Valid Elections, et al v. Hargett, et al, 947 F. 3d 977 (6th Cir. 2020), cert. denied S.Ct. 2020 WL 5882333 (2020)(included participation by several national amici including the Brennan Law Center). \n\nAdjunct Professor- Univ. of Memphis Political Science Dept.- 2008 \n\nSpecial Judge for Shelby County General Sessions Civil & Criminal Courts \n\nGuardian Ad Litem- for Shelby County Juvenile Court cases (by judicial appointment) \n\nMemphis City Councilmember- District 5-Chair of Public Safety & Homeland Security, O & M Budget, MLGW, Public Service & Neighborhood, and Healthcare Committees \n\nGlankler Brown Gilliland Chase Robinson & Raines- (partner & associate attorney)-16 years \n\nTennessee State Representative (D-89)- 13 years- House Majority Whip (first female); Chair of House Children & Family Affairs Committee; including prime sponsor of nationally recognized child care reform, the Memphis Plan law helping citizens to access healthcare through the Church Health Center, and \u201cHunters for the Hungry\u201d law for food banks & soup kitchens; Officer of House Judiciary Committee; first regular female member of House Finance Budget Subcommittee \n\nTennessee Supreme Court Foster Care Commission \n\nTennessee Supreme Court Gender Fairness Commission\n\n Selected to interview with U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist for a judicial clerkship - 1987 \n\nLaw Clerk to Judge Harry W. Wellford, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals - 1986-87 \n\nEditor-in-Chief, Memphis State Univ. Law Review (1985-86) \n\n\u201cEvidence- The 609[a][1] Balancing Tests: What Factors are Applicable in Tennessee? 15 Mem. St. U.L. Rev. \u2013 1985 \n\nAchievements:\nLadies in Need Can Survive (domestic violence shelter)- \u201cUnstoppable Award\u201d- presented to Attorney Carol Chumney \u2013 2018 \n\nU.S. Delegate to East Asia-Pacific ACYPL International Alumnae Summit- (presented to Speaker of Diet for U.S. delegation)-2006 \n\nAmerican Business Women\u2019s Assoc- Woman of the Year Luncheon- (guest speaker)-2004 \n\nNetwork for Health Insurance Continuance- Award of Excellence- \u201cin recognition of tireless work for the people of Tennessee for healthcare issues\u201d- 2004 \n\nTenn. Development District Legislator of the Year Award-2003 \n\nMemphis Woman Magazine- 50 Women Who Make a Difference Award - 2003\n\n Assoc. of Women Attorneys- Marion Griffin-Frances Loring Award - 2001 \n\nU.T. Health Science Leadership Award- 2001 \n\nTenn. Sierra Club Appreciation Award-2001 \n\nTennessee Assoc. for the Education of Young Children- \u201cChildren\u2019s Champion Award\u201d- 2000 \n\n\u201cOutstanding Female Political Activist\u201d- Rhodes College Democrats - 2000 \n\nTogether for Children- \u201cfor her support & dedication in increasing quality childcare in the State of Tennessee\u201d- 2000 \n\nVollintine-Evergreen Neighborhood Assoc.- The Richard S. Borys Award for Outstanding Public Service- 1999 \n\nKingsbury Elementary School P.T.O.- \u201cfor her dedication & support of the pupils of Kingsbury Elementary School- Thank you for our new playground!\u201d- 1997 \n\nMarch of Dimes & TN Perinatal Assoc. \u201cLegislator of the Year Award\u201d- \u201cfor her contribution to healthier mothers and babies during 1996\u201d \n\nThe Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Center- \u201cin grateful appreciation for your generous support & continued commitment to the welfare of children\u201d-1996 \n\nTennessee Task Force Against Domestic Violence Award- 1996 \n\nTennessee Trial Lawyers Award for Environment & Consumer Protection-1995 \n\nToll Fellow for Council of State Governments- 1995 \n\nU.T. College of Law- Appreciation Plaque 1995 \n\nThe Massage Therapists of Tennessee-\u201cin grateful appreciation for the Massage Licensure Act of 1995\u201d \n\nTenn. Citizen Action Leadership Award-1995 \n\nU.S. Young Political Leader delegate to Japan- (one of seven)- ACYPL - 1992 \n\nAmerican Jurisprudence Award- Remedies \u2013 1986 \n\nLt. Governor of Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature- 1982-83 \n\nAlpha Lambda Delta- President [Freshman National Honor Society]- 1980 \n\nBoards, Committees, Civic:\nVolunteer judge & mentor Shelby County Juvenile Youth Court \n\nWLOK\u2019s Let\u2019s Talk Law guest host \n\nFormer Board Member Memphis Zoo \n\nEconomic Club of Memphis- member & former Board Member \n\nPhilanthropist for the Ladies in Need Can Survive domestic violence shelter in Frayser \n\nPro bono work for various nonprofit & religious organizations over the years \n\nProvida- fundraising organization to benefit the Girls Club of Memphis (former member) \n\nProfessional Affiliations: \nFormer President Memphis Federal Bar Association-1991 \n\nTennessee Bar Association- member and Law Tech \u201921: Election & Technology CLE presenter \n\nTennessee Judicial Conference \n\nTennessee Trial Judges Association \n\nMemphis Bar Association- member & CLE presenter \n\nAssociation of Women Attorneys \n\nAmerican Bar Association","firstname":"Carol","lastname":"Chumney","middlename":"J.","token":"5yWLAgGl4Q"},"term_end":"2030-09-01","term_start":"2022-09-01"}],"title":"County Circuit Judge Div 2","type":"judicial","url":null,"whenchanged":"2026-04-25 19:49:19"}