Criminal Court Judge Division I District 6 (Unexpired Term)
August 6, 2026 · Knox County, Tennessee · County · general
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Low · 11 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 494,148 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(919,173 ÷ 494,148) ÷ ln(919,173 ÷ 5,079) = 11.94, comparing counties in TN (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: None · only 1 candidate
One candidate is running unopposed, so votes can't change the outcome.
Low representation + an uncontested race → Very low vote impact.
This office is responsible for:
- Hearing trials — criminal cases, lawsuits, family, or probate matters, depending on the court
- Ruling on evidence, motions, and sentences
- Applying state law and court procedure fairly in every case
Affected Areas: Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Civil Rights, Impartiality, Legal Competence
Candidates
Emily F. Abbott
Republican · Incumbent · declared
Emily F. Abbott is the incumbent Criminal Court Judge for Tennessee's Sixth Judicial District, covering Knox County. The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts lists her 2025 appointment after assistant district attorney service in the Fourth and Seventh Judicial Districts from 2007 through 2025.
Election sources
Source: knoxcounty.org
Source: knoxcounty.org