Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.
This race. One name is on the ballot for this seat.
Tennessee › Davidson County › Criminal Court Judge Division III — 20th Judicial District (Unexpired Term)
DECIDED at the August 6, 2026 county general election: Dawn Deaner was elected unopposed with 98.6 percent, per the Davidson County Election Commission's official results. This office will not appear on the November 3 ballot. On Davidson County's August 6, 2026 county general ballot, per the Election Commission's certified sample ballot. The listed nominee won the May 5 county primary; the printed ballot also provides a write-in line. RESULTS ARE IN: this race was decided on August 6, 2026. Totals from the county Election Commission are unofficial until the county canvass, due no later than Monday, August 24 (Tenn. Code 2-8-101); Tennessee has no automatic recount.
Democratic
Dawn Deaner is the founder and executive director of the Choosing Justice Initiative, a nonprofit she describes as empowering people without wealth to pursue justice, per her campaign site. She previously led Nashville's Metropolitan Public Defender office for a decade, where she implemented public defender workload reforms and created a Court Watch program and a driver's license diversion program, per her campaign site.
Who is running for Criminal Court Judge Division III — 20th Judicial District (Unexpired Term) in 2026?
The Criminal Court Judge Division III — 20th Judicial District (Unexpired Term) race was decided at the 2026 primary - Dawn Deaner won the seat - and does not appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot. One candidate was on the primary ballot: Dawn Deaner. Candidate information follows official Davidson County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Criminal Court Judge Division III — 20th Judicial District (Unexpired Term) election in Tennessee?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Tennessee are on the Tennessee election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact Davidson County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.
Candidate roster from official Davidson County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Tennessee election office, or see the full Davidson County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
13 tracked races in Davidson County, Tennessee. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.