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. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels.
Tennessee › Shelby County › General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Division 7 — 30th Judicial District
DECIDED at the August 6, 2026 county general election: Taylor Eskridge Bachelor won with 53.2 percent over Serena Gray (25 percent) in a 3-way race, per fox13memphis.com reporting of the Shelby County Election Commission's results (re-verify against the commission's certified results). This office will not appear on the November 3 ballot. Nonpartisan judicial race on Shelby County's August 6, 2026 ballot, per the Election Commission's certified sample ballot.
Nonpartisan
Taylor Eskridge Bachelor is a candidate for General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Division 7 — 30th Judicial District on Shelby County's August 6, 2026 county general ballot, per the Election Commission's certified sample ballot.
Nonpartisan
Billy (Charles) Gilchrist is a candidate for General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Division 7 — 30th Judicial District on Shelby County's August 6, 2026 county general ballot, per the Election Commission's certified sample ballot.
Nonpartisan
Serena Gray serves as a Magistrate for Shelby County and has spent twenty years in criminal justice roles, including as an assistant public defender in Shelby County and an assistant federal defender for the Western District of Tennessee, per her campaign site. She also taught English and coached track at White Station High School and has been an adjunct professor at Southwest Community College and LeMoyne-Owen College, per her campaign site. She holds a B.A. from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, an M.A. from Tennessee State University and a J.D. from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School.
Who is running for General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Division 7 — 30th Judicial District in 2026?
The General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Division 7 — 30th Judicial District race was decided at the 2026 primary - Taylor Eskridge Bachelor won the seat - and does not appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot. 3 candidates were on the primary ballot: Taylor Eskridge Bachelor, Billy (Charles) Gilchrist and Serena Gray. Candidate information follows official Shelby County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Division 7 — 30th Judicial District 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 Shelby 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 Shelby County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Tennessee election office, or see the full Shelby County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
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