A usually low-profile judicial race is getting a lot more attention this year, as three distinct candidates compete in the Democratic primary for Davidson County’s Criminal Court Division III. Incumbent Jim Todd, appointed after Judge Cheryl Blackburn’s retirement, is facing Metropolitan Public Defender Dawn Deaner and former assistant district attorney Ronald Dowdy. Early voting begins April 15, with the primary scheduled for May 5, 2026.
How the seat opened
The vacancy followed Judge Cheryl Blackburn’s retirement and a selection process that left the bench with an appointed judge. The Trial Court Vacancy Commission forwarded three nominees to the governor, according to the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts. Jim Todd was later named to the seat and now serves as Division III judge, per Jim Todd for Judge.
Jim Todd's record
Judge Todd brings more than three decades of criminal court experience, having worked as a prosecutor and later as a defense attorney before joining the bench. He co-founded the Judge Dinkins Educational Center, a vocational and re-entry program for at-risk teens, according to the center’s website. Local reporting also notes that Todd has pushed for expanded court access to criminal databases and has taken public positions on Tennessee’s drug-free school-zone policies, as reported by the Nashville Banner.
Dawn Deaner: From defense to the bench
Dawn Deaner, the city’s longtime Metropolitan Public Defender, is making her case that a defender’s perspective belongs on the criminal court bench. She founded the Choosing Justice Initiative, where she has championed workload controls, court-watch programs and diversion options. Her campaign materials highlight reforms aimed at reducing unnecessary court involvement and strengthening public-defender capacity, per Dawn For Nashville. She has also picked up local endorsements that emphasize her focus on criminal-justice reform.
Ron Dowdy: Prosecutor in the race
Ronald Jamar Dowdy has worked in the District Attorney’s office, a role that appears in professional listings such as Avvo. He was one of the nominees considered by the Trial Court Vacancy Commission and has campaigned at neighborhood stops while receiving endorsements from several community leaders, as detailed by the Nashville Banner. His mix of prosecutorial experience and local support distinguishes him from the other two candidates.
What to watch and when to vote
Early voting runs April 15 through 30, and the May 5 Democratic primary will decide who fills the unexpired term, according to the Davidson County sample ballot. With a sitting judge, a longtime public defender and a former assistant district attorney all on the same ballot, endorsements, community forums and early-voting turnout are likely to play an outsized role in determining who ultimately takes the Division III bench.
