General Sessions Judge

General Sessions Judge

The Metropolitan General Sessions Court of Nashville-Davidson County is a high volume limited jurisdiction court that hears nearly 70 percent of litigation in Davidson County including civil, misdemeanor, felony, traffic, environmental, and metropolitan ordinance violations. There are 95 General Sessions Courts in Tennessee.

Civil jurisdiction is restricted to specific monetary limits and types of actions. Criminal jurisdiction is limited to preliminary hearings in felony cases and misdemeanor trials in which a defendant waives the right to a grand jury investigation and trial by jury in Circuit or Criminal Court. General sessions judges are elected to eight-year terms. They must be at least 30 years of age and a resident of the state for five years and of the district for one year.

​Gale B. Robinson, Division I

​Gale B. Robinson is a Nashville native who has presided over Division I of Davidson County’s General Sessions Court since 1990. The incumbent judge is running unopposed for his fifth consecutive term. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a Juris Doctorate from the Nashville School of Law.

Prior to his election, Robinson worked for the Davidson County Sheriff’s Department and clerked for Judge A.A. Birch, who went on to become the first black Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court. In 1996, Robinson was given the Jane Wheatcraft award from the Tennessee Task Force Against Domestic Violence. In 2000, he received the “Good Guys Award” from the Nashville Women’s Political Caucus.

In addition to being a General Sessions Court judge, Robinson is president and owner of Phillips-Robinson funeral home. He lives in Goodlettsville and is a member of the Jackson Park Church of Christ, the Madison-Rivergate Chamber of Commerce, the Historic Nashville Business Association, the Scottish & York Rite Masons, and the Al Menah Shrine.

Melissa Blackburn, Division II

Judge Melissa Blackburn is running for reelection and was first elected in 2014. A Nashville native and mother of four, she attended Lipscomb High School and University before studying at Nashville School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree in 1993.

Before becoming a judge, Blackburn ran her own practice. She specialized in employment law, representing clients who faced discrimination and unfair wage practices. She went on to become the Director of Capital Campaign for the Nashville Habitat for Humanity, where she raised over $8 million to create new homes for nearly 400 Nashville families.

Judge Blackburn is passionate about serving those with mental health needs, as well as veterans recovering from trauma. She worked with the mayor’s office to help approve the Police Department of Nashville’s first mental health crisis intervention team, and currently serves as presiding judge of the Mental Health and Veterans Courts. Blackburn was recently selected for the 2022-2023 class of Leadership Nashville, a selective executive leadership program for local leaders.

Ana L. Escobar, Division III

Ana L. Escobar is running for re-election for General Sessions Court Judge in Division III. She is a first-generation immigrant from Bogota, Colombia, who moved to Nashville with her family when she was three years old. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in political science from Vanderbilt University and a Juris Doctorate from George Washington University.

The incumbent started her career as an assistant public defender, then practiced privately with the Nashville firm Funk and Kay, and then moved on to become Deputy Director of the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts. In 2015, Escobar became an assistant district attorney, where she led the D.A.’s Domestic Violence Unit and prosecuted over 500 domestic violence cases. In 2018, she became Tennessee’s first Latinx judge.

Escobar believes in treating victims and defendants with dignity. She is passionate about creating pathways for safe and productive lives rather than delivering punishment. In her own words, Escobar feels that the courts “should provide equal justice, create safer communities, and strive for constant improvement.”

Allegra Walker, Division IV

Allegra Walker has served as a judge since 2014. Walker holds a B.S. in Economics from Fisk University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Toledo. She runs unopposed for reelection.

Before becoming a judge, Walker worked as an assistant public defender and an assistant district attorney in Davidson County. At the district attorney’s office, she primarily prosecuted domestic and family violence cases. Walker is now one of three judges that preside over the General Sessions Court’s domestic violence cases. In 2020, she received the Women of Legend and Merit Award from Tennessee State University and in 2021, she was named a Woman of Influence by the Nashville Business Journal.

Last year, Walker held the first General Sessions job fair for people on probation seeking work. She also runs an annual oratorical contest for local high school students. Of her sentencing philosophy, Walker says, “Jail is not my automatic go-to. When I have to do tough sentencing, I’m really at the end of my rope — like I’ve already tried some alternative things.”

Robin Kimbrough Hayes, Division V

Robin Kimbrough Hayes is a Kentucky native earned a bachelor’s degree from Fisk University, a master’s degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and a Juris Doctorate from Emory University. Hayes served as the Assistant Attorney General in Tennessee’s Attorney General’s Office and the Associate General Counsel for the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.

In addition, Hayes has recently been appointed a seat on the Tennessee Democratic Party Advisory Board. She is a spiritual counselor at the Dr. Lloyd Elam Mental Health Center at Meharry Medical College helping those dealing with drug and alcohol dependency, an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, and a member of the NAACP, NOAH, and the Nashville Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Hayes is committed to using her legal skills “to advance social justice for the least in our communities.” If elected, Hayes would host court after hours, conduct community meetings, support bond reform, and “utilize restorative justice in criminal and civil matters.”

Jim Todd, Division VI

Jim Todd is a Nashville native, and graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1984 with his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Communication and received his J.D. from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1993.

He has practiced law for over 25 years and was appointed lead prosecutor for Criminal Court Division VI and special prosecutor for violent and gang-related juvenile offenders. Todd was also a special assistant for Senator Al Gore in D.C. and Tennessee Governor McWherter. During his time as a prosecutor, Todd fought to reform the Drug-Free School Zones law which increases misdemeanors to felonies and disproportionately affects minorities. Todd also sent a resolution on bail reform to Metro Council that would expedite the time it takes for judges to review cases.

His extensive community leadership positions include Juvenile Justice Reform Commission, NAARAL, Chair of Nashville’s Sexually-Oriented Business Licensing Board, Board of Nashville Ballet, and Nashville Urban League. According to Todd, “To make the justice system more just, we need judges who treat everyone in the courtroom with respect and further, listen to all sides in every case.”

Marcus Floyd, Division VII

A Nashville resident since childhood, Marcus Floyd attended Hillsboro High School and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from MTSU and a law degree from Belmont University. Floyd has worked as probation officer and a judicial law clerk, in addition to his work as both a prosecutor and defense attorney. He acted as an assistant district attorney general under District Attorney Glenn Funk.

Floyd influenced the MNPD Body Camera program which has now been extended for use by every Metro officer. Floyd served as Public Safety and Justice Policy Advisor to Mayor Briley and helped to establish the Community Oversight Board. He is also a founding member of Nashville’s Conviction Review Unit which was established to investigate wrongful convictions. He presently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Hands on Nashville.

Marcus has said, “As judge, I will be committed to using transparency and accountability to strengthen public trust and public safety and ensuring equity through concrete solutions like ensuring alternative pretrial services based on ability to pay...”

Rachel L. Bell, Division VIII

Rachel L. Bell is running for re-election as General Session Judge in Division VIII. Bell is a third-generation Nashvillian with a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Memphis and a Juris Doctorate Degree from Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.

Bell was the Managing Partner of Bell & Kinslow law firm prior to being elected to General Sessions Court Judge in Division VIII in 2012 and 2014. Shortly after taking the bench, Judge Bell created Music City Community Court which has created several community initiatives focused on preventive and diversionary justice.

Bell currently and previously served on several boards, a few include Hands of Nashville, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Women in Numbers, and Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce. Bell is the first LGBTQ judge in Davidson County. In 2021, Judge Bell was presented with the Tennessee Human Rights Award for Outstanding Service and was the recipient of the 2021 Janice M. Holder Award. Bell cares deeply about equal justice, and her mantra is, “Justice does NOT stop at the courthouse steps!”

Brian A. Horowitz, Division IX

Brian A. Horowitz grew up in Nashville and attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he earned a degree in finance. Horowitz later attended Massey School of Business at Belmont University, where he received his MBA before earning his JD from Nashville School of Law.

In 2019, he opened his own firm, Wahoo Verde, which focuses on criminal defense and boasts humorous slogans such as, “When you got the legal shitz... Call Brian Alexander Horowitz!”. His law firm sells the opportunity to have dinner & drinks with Horowitz on its website, offering it as a method for consultation. Horowitz currently sits on the Board of Directors for Benton Hall Academy, a private school for children who learn differently.

Running as a Republican, he has stated that he believes in decriminalizing poverty, and putting that into practice by taking a defendant’s financial background into account when evaluating court fines and fees. He believes in being a judge for the average person.

Sam Coleman, Division X

Sam Coleman is a graduate of Tennessee State University, where he earned a B.S. degree in political science, and a masters degree in public administration. He went on to graduate from Nashville School of Law in 1989.

Coleman began his public service in 1978 working for the Corrections Department and later, as an administrator for the Department of Youth Development. Coleman specialized as an attorney in criminal, civil, probate, landlord and tenant law. He served as Metro Council Member for District 32 from 2003 to 2011 and District 33 from 2015 until being appointed a judge in 2017.

Coleman serves as a pro bono attorney with Legal Aid of Nashville and is an adjunct instructor at Nashville Paralegal Career School and the Tennessee Correction Academy. He is a member of the NAACP, the American Bar Association, and the Nashville Bar Association. He believes that the law is the “manifest will of the people” and that it must “be administered with compassion and applied equitably.” He has pledged to serve the court fairly and with integrity.

Lynda Jones, Division IX

Lynda Jones was born in Lima, Ohio, but has been a resident of Nashville for more than 30 years. Jones holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and a law degree from the University of Memphis.

For 22 years she was the managing partner of Jones Law Group. In 2011, she was named Advocate of the Year by the Nashville Alliance for the Mentally Ill. She was first elected to be a General Session Judge in 2014. During her first term, she oversaw the creation of Nashville’s Homelessness Court, a program connecting people experiencing homelessness to resources and information to help them avoid accruing a criminal record of non-violent charges directly related to their homelessness. She is the presiding Judge of the Homelessness Court.

Jones currently serves on the board of Dismas House, an organization that empowers formerly incarcerated Tennesseans as they enter back into society. She is also a member of Nashville’s Behavioral Health and Wellness Advisory Council.

John Aaron Holt, Division XI

Incumbent and native Nashvillian, John Aaron Holt, graduated from David Lipscomb University in 1977 with his Bachelor of Science degree and Nashville School of law in 1982. Prior to his election as judge in 1998, he served as an attorney in private practice for thirteen years. He served two terms as a Metro Councilman, as well as presiding judge over the Davidson County General Sessions Court from 2001-2003.

In 2019, Holt was investigated and disciplined alongside Criminal Court Judge Monte Watkins, who was recently defeated by Khadija Babb in the May 3rd County Primary election, for reportedly paying prostitutes and for marijuana usage during a trip to Costa Rica with former judge Casey Moreland who is currently serving time on corruption charges.

Holt is a member of the Nashville Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association and the American Judges Association. He’s also a donor of the Tennessee Innocence Project, a group focused on overturning wrongful convictions.