--- title: "Carol Chumney | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carol-chumney-tn-circuit-court-judge-shelby" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Carol Chumney Tennessee Circuit Court, Judicial District 30 (Shelby) · Circuit Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Tennessee Circuit Court, Judicial District 30 (Shelby) - State: Tennessee - Role: Circuit Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Carol J. Chumney is a nonpartisan Circuit Court Judge for Division II of Tennessee’s 30th Judicial District (Shelby County), elected in 2022 and serving until 2030 - Selected to interview with U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist for a judicial clerkship- 1987 - Law Clerk to Judge Harry W. Wellford, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals-1986-87 - Glankler Brown Gilliland Chase Robinson & Raines- (partner & associate attorney)-16 years - Shelby County Deputy Divorce Referee & Hearing Officer- 3 years - Special Judge for Shelby County General Sessions Civil & Criminal Courts - Partner at Glankler Brown Gilliland Chase Robinson & Raines before opening her own law practice in Memphis ### Education - UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS Law School ### Additional information - She is also the author of The Arena: One Woman’s Story (2021) - Chumney has received multiple awards, including the Ladies in Need Can Survive “Unstoppable Award” (2018) and the Memphis Woman Magazine “50 Women Who Make a Difference” Award (2003) - Adjunct Professor- Univ. of Memphis Political Science Dept.- 2008 - She also served on the Memphis City Council (2004–2008) for District 5 - Carol Chumney Law PLLC - Memphis City Councilmember- District 5-Chair of Public Safety & Homeland Security, O & M Budget, MLGW, Public Service & Neighborhood and Healthcare Committees - Guardian Ad Litem- for Shelby County Juvenile Court cases (by judicial appointment) - Tennessee State Representative (D-89)- 13 years- House Majority Whip (first female) - Chair of House Children & Family Affairs Committee; including prime sponsor of nationally recognized child care reform, the Memphis Plan law helping citizens to access healthcare through the Church Health Center, and “Hunters for the Hungry” law for food banks & soup kitchens - Officer of House Judiciary Committee; first regular female member of House Finance Budget Subcommittee ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### media coverage and recording Scope: statewide Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 30 allows media coverage of public judicial proceedings subject to the presiding judge's control and requires written media requests at least two business days before the proceeding unless waived. Evidence excerpt: Requests by representatives of the media for such coverage must be made in writing to the presiding judge not less than two (2) business days before the proceeding is scheduled to begin. [Rule 30: Media Guidelines](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### recording restrictions Scope: statewide Tennessee Rule 30 prohibits media coverage of jury selection, jurors, closed proceedings, and certain minor or juvenile-court participants. Evidence excerpt: Media coverage of jury selection is prohibited. [Rule 30: Media Guidelines](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote technology Scope: statewide Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 55 permits teleconferencing, video conferencing, or other technology for court proceedings at the discretion of the trial or appellate court. Evidence excerpt: The use of teleconferencing, video conferencing or other technology to conduct court proceedings or other court business remotely is permissible at the discretion of the trial or appellate court. [Rule 55: Use of Technology for Court Proceedings](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-55-use-technology-court-proceedings) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/carol-j-chumney-0) - [Official roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/carol-j-chumney-0) - [Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/carol-j-chumney-0) - [Rule 30: Media Guidelines](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines) - [Rule 55: Use of Technology for Court Proceedings](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-55-use-technology-court-proceedings) - [Carol Chumney](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/circuit-criminal-chancery-courts/judges/carol-j-chumney-0) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carol-chumney-tn-circuit-court-judge-shelby", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carol-chumney-tn-circuit-court-judge-shelby", "name": "Carol Chumney | KnowJudges", "description": "Carol Chumney, Tennessee Circuit Court, Judicial District 30 (Shelby). 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Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines). Collected 2026-07-26.