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
Civil Rights
· 2 records
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, 2020For
Source: clearinghouse-umich-production.s3.amazonaws.com · researched July 13, 2026
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, 2020For
Source: dockets.justia.com · researched July 13, 2026
Legal Competence
· 2 records
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, 2020For
Source: clearinghouse-umich-production.s3.amazonaws.com · researched July 13, 2026
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, 2020For
Source: dockets.justia.com · researched July 13, 2026
Elections
- Criminal Court Judge Division III, 20th Judicial District, Unexpired Term · August 6, 2026 · Davidson County, Tennessee
Profile last researched July 13, 2026.