Dawn Deaner
Democratic · TN
Dawn Deaner is the Democratic nominee for Criminal Court Judge, Division III, in Tennessee's 20th Judicial District. A former elected Metropolitan Public Defender and founder of the Choosing Justice Initiative, she won the May 2026 Davidson County primary and is not the incumbent judge.
Track record
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 2 favorable
As counsel for the Nashville Community Bail Fund, Deaner approved a federal consent judgment that made permanent an injunction governing Davidson County bail-fund payments and related procedures.
December 9, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: clearinghouse-umich-production.s3.amazonaws.com
Deaner and the Choosing Justice Initiative appealed a federal case challenging Tennessee professional-responsibility restrictions; the Sixth Circuit docketed the appeal on November 18, 2020.
November 18, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: dockets.justia.com
Past race Dawn Deaner ran in:
- Criminal Court Judge Division III, 20th Judicial District, Unexpired Term · August 6, 2026 · Davidson County, Tennessee