Judge Jennifer Nichols

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Judge Jennifer Nichols Circuit Court Judge for the 18th Judicial District in Sumner County, Tennessee.

To the people of Sumner County, and my team, you have honored me tonight. You have shown your trust and confidence in me...
06/05/2026

To the people of Sumner County, and my team, you have honored me tonight. You have shown your trust and confidence in me by your votes and I am grateful! I look forward to continuing to serve as your Circuit Court Judge.

12 o’clock check in! 7 more hours to vote In Sumner County!
05/05/2026

12 o’clock check in! 7 more hours to vote In Sumner County!

Keep Judge Nichols team is out bright and early this morning- come see us!!
05/05/2026

Keep Judge Nichols team is out bright and early this morning- come see us!!

I wanted to take a moment and say thank you to each and every one of you for your support, encouragement, prayers, and f...
04/05/2026

I wanted to take a moment and say thank you to each and every one of you for your support, encouragement, prayers, and faith in this campaign. Serving as Judge is a dream come true, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve. I sincerely hope to continue serving. Please make time tomorrow to VOTE!

My Gallatin ‘Noon’ Rotary Club came to the Courthouse yesterday and I got to show them around! They heard from a DTF Inv...
01/05/2026

My Gallatin ‘Noon’ Rotary Club came to the Courthouse yesterday and I got to show them around! They heard from a DTF Investigator, met “Emma” his dog and saw Emma work, talked with Judge Dee Gay and Judge Kee Bryant McCormick, heard from a Recovery Court graduate and a panel of inmates - all of whom shared their stories and took questions! We wrapped it up with a visit to the lower level and saw the Courthouse inmate holding area/cells and Command Center.

Closed out early voting the best way possible—voting with my family! Grateful for our amazing volunteers and every voter...
30/04/2026

Closed out early voting the best way possible—voting with my family! Grateful for our amazing volunteers and every voter who made their voice heard. Don’t forget—one more chance on May 5th to Keep Judge Nichols!

A few years ago, I was asked to provide a list of the most significant cases I’ve prosecuted.My answer wasn’t case numbe...
30/04/2026

A few years ago, I was asked to provide a list of the most significant cases I’ve prosecuted.

My answer wasn’t case numbers.

It was names.

Ashley. Maurice. Aiden. Sameira. Anaya.
Denise. Lauren. Landon. Zaquan. Amylia. Rosalind.

These are children who never had the chance to grow up. The oldest was just five years old. Each name represents a child homicide case I prosecuted—and tragically, there are many more.

This month is Child Abuse Awareness Month.

We owe it to them to stay vigilant, to speak up, and to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

The Right Experience Matters. As Sumner County’s Circuit Court Judge in Division 2, I hear Civil, Chancery and Criminal ...
29/04/2026

The Right Experience Matters.
As Sumner County’s Circuit Court Judge in Division 2, I hear Civil, Chancery and Criminal Cases. I’ve been doing the job since September 1, 2024. How and why I’m able to do it is largely because of my experience in Circuit/Criminal Court BEFORE I took the bench as a trial judge.

I served as an Assistant District Attorney for 23 years and prosecuted thousands of offenders. I gained significant trial experience; about 200 jury trials. To put that in perspective, I have spent nearly 800 days in jury trials as a prosecutor.

As my Pastor, Bruce Chesser, says in his sermons, “What is the so what?” The ‘so what’ is that as the judge, there is nothing in Criminal Court that I haven’t seen and personally handled before.

Here are highlights of my experience in Criminal Court as a prosecutor BEFORE taking the bench.

Death penalty verdicts:11
Murder 1st degree trials: 58
Youngest murder victim: 42 days old
Oldest murder victim: 82 years old
Defendants prosecuted for R**e, R**e of a Child, Child Abuse and Child Neglect: 59
Child Homicides: at least 15

I served as;
*Chief prosecutor of Child Abuse and Child Homicide
*First female Chief Prosecutor of Gang Unit
*First Chief Prosecutor of Special Victims Unit that handled child abuse, s*x abuse, adult r**e, elder abuse, and vulnerable adult abuse cases
*Assigned to the Major Violators Unit that focused on violent and repeat offenders
*Deputy District Attorney (first assistant to the DA)

I had jury trials of defendants charged with at least 63 different charges (many of them multiple times):
Abuse of a Co**se
Abuse of an Impaired Adult
Assault
Aggravated Assault
Aggravated Burglary
Aggravated Child Abuse
Aggravated Child Neglect
Aggravated Kidnapping
Aggravated R**e
Aggravated R**e of a Child
Robbery
Aggravated Robbery
Aggravated S*xual Battery
Burglary of a Motor Vehicle
Burglary of a Building
Criminal Attempt Aggravated Burglary
Criminal Attempt Aggravated R**e
Criminal Attempt Aggravated Robbery
Criminal Attempt 1st Degree Murder
Criminal Attempt 2nd Degree Murder
Criminal Attempt Theft of Property
Carjacking
Convicted Felon in Possession of a Handgun
Child Endangerment
Criminal exposure to HIV
Driving While License Suspended Revoked or Cancelled
Driving Under the Influence
Especially Aggravated Kidnapping
Especially Aggravated Robbery
Employing a firearm
Evading arrest
False reporting
Forgery
Intentionally Evading Arrest in Auto
Intentionally Evading Arrest in auto involving risk of death
Misapplication of Contract Payments
First Degree Murder
Second Degree Murder
Murder perp: Aggravated child abuse
Murder perp: Aggravated child neglect
Murder perp: Aggravated robbery
Murder perp: Burglary
Murder perp: Kidnapping
Murder perp: Robbery
Possession of a firearm with Intent to commit a Dangerous Felony
R**e of a Child
R**e
Reckless Driving
Reckless endangerment
Refusal to submit to Blood Alcohol
Resisting official detention
Robbery
Sell Controlled Substance / co***ne
S*xual Battery
S*x battery by Authority Figure
S*xual Exploitation of a Minor
Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute
Theft of Property over $1000
Theft of Property over $10,000
Theft of Property under $500
Vandalism over $500

As a judge, no matter how you spin it, there is absolutely no substitution for having the RIGHT experience in an actual Trial Court.

I want to take a moment to tell you who I am ON and OFF the bench. In July 2024 Governor Lee appointed me to be Judge o...
27/04/2026

I want to take a moment to tell you who I am ON and OFF the bench.

In July 2024 Governor Lee appointed me to be Judge of Circuit Court Division 2 and I took the bench September 1, 2024. I hear Criminal, Civil, and Chancery cases in Division 2. I am able to do that because of my decades of experience in Criminal Court and my ten years in the civil arena. My cases range from land disputes, car crashes, personal injury, condemnations, divorces, child visitation and custody, termination of parental rights, name changes, adoptions and every kind of criminal case from murder to misdemeanors.

I treat the litigants, witnesses, victims, jurors and attorneys respectfully. I listen very carefully, respond according to the law and evidence, and rule impartially. The litigants and attorneys deserve my full attention and my goal is that the parties trust that their case is the most important thing going on in court.

I've been doing this job for over 600 days, and am still working each day to serve you. I'm honored to have the support of Sumner County law enforcement, other Judges, Sumner County attorneys, and our Governor.

Off the bench, I'm a sister, aunt, mother and grandmother. I raised my daughter as a single parent (she remembers coming to court with me when she was young and waiting for jury verdicts). My daughter and son in law are attorneys and live in Sumner County. They have three children (with a fourth arriving this fall!!) my My grandchildren are the joy of my life. We are active at First Baptist Church of Hendersonville where I love attending my Connect Group and also teach in the Preschool Department each Sunday. I am an active Rotarian and supporter of many local community groups such as Grace Place, Isaiah 117 House, and CASA. I have enjoyed the opportunities to speak to different groups about Circuit Court. Those groups include the Gallatin Lions Club, my Gallatin Noon Rotary, Hendersonville Evening Rotary, countless different students touring the Courthouse and at their Career Day, the Boy Scouts, Citizens Police Academy, Leadership Sumner and more! I love to read, and am in two local book clubs, and enjoy meeting with my neighborhood ladies group each month.

I love my job and I love Sumner County. Serving as Circuit Court Judge in Division 2 is the honor of a lifetime and I want to continue serving you.

Another great week of Early Voting! Sumner County: you have FOUR days left to early vote, come see us!!
27/04/2026

Another great week of Early Voting! Sumner County: you have FOUR days left to early vote, come see us!!

What a beautiful day at Gallatin's Square Fest
25/04/2026

What a beautiful day at Gallatin's Square Fest

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