About Chancellor Newsom
Judge Jim Newsom has been a steadfast advocate for justice in Shelby County, bringing decades of legal experience to the bench. With a rich background that includes time in private practice and significant public service as a member of the Tennessee Attorney General's office, he is committed to ensuring fairness and integrity in our legal system. Judge Newsom's dedication to community service and his previous tenure as a chancery court judge set him apart as a candidate who truly understands the needs of the people. Join us in supporting his re-election campaign as he continues to serve with honor and dedication.
I’m glad that you’re here. Let me introduce myself.
I’m Chancellor Jim Newsom. I’ve lived in Shelby County all my life. Growing up, I went to Memphis Public Schools and had many wonderful teachers and classmates. For those who know Memphis, I went to Sherwood, then to Messick High School. Along the way I became an Eagle Scout and was active in my church.
My wife, Debra and I have been married for 44 years. We have been blessed with three adult children, Jonathan, Christopher, and Katherine. And we have five grandchildren ranging from 13 to 3 years old.
In the day, I went to Rhodes College, then known as Southwestern, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa—that is, in the top 10% of my class. From there I graduated from Vanderbilt Law School and there served on the Vanderbilt Law Review.
I came back to Memphis in 1979 and worked at the law firm of Hanover, Walsh, Jalenak & Blair. I got to know and was trained by some of the best lawyers and finest people in town. Along the way, before I turned 30, I wrote the brief and sat at counsel table at the United States Supreme Court. We won. I tried cases in Memphis, Detroit, Nashville and other places. We won there too.
Later as a partner at Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh I had many experiences that shaped my professional career and pointed me toward a second career in public service. At Harris Shelton I served as counsel for the receiver of the Forest Hill Cemetery. Because of their greed, out-of-towners had made off with millions of dollars of trust fund money owed to Memphians that was needed to maintain a decent cemetery for themselves and their loved ones. We successfully recovered that money on their behalf. Chancellors Armstrong, Goldin, and Evans developed such a trust in me that they appointed me as their Special Master in 2010 to assist them in judging many of their cases, succeeding former Mayor Jim Strickland in that role.
In 2015 Governor Bill Haslam appointed me to serve for a year in the Chancery Court of Shelby County. I learned so very much in that time about being a fair and impartial judge—one who respected everyone who came into my courtroom. There was much to learn—and I did learn much.
From Chancery Court I went to work for Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery—starting the Memphis Office of the Tennessee Attorney General in 2016. In that role I mentored young lawyers and served the public by trying cases of great importance throughout the State and its federal courts.
In 2024 Governor Bill Lee called on me to resume my work as a Chancery Court Judge in Shelby County. I succeeded former Chancellor Jim Kyle in that role. Since returning to the bench, of the 2720 cases on my docket, I have completed 2172 so far. Those cases—among them the most complex cases in our courts—that had gone years without movement—are now getting tried in my Court.
It is my commitment to the people of Shelby County to be the best judge that I can be, bringing my experience and compassion to every case.
Thank you for your time—and please vote for me, because SHELBY NEEDS NEWSOM.
You can make an impact by placing yard signs in your neighborhood or by calling friends and family spread the word. Every effort counts in making difference!