--- title: "Lonnie Thompson | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lonnie-thompson-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-shelby" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Lonnie Thompson Tennessee General Sessions Court, Shelby County · General Sessions Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Tennessee General Sessions Court, Shelby County - State: Tennessee - Role: General Sessions 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 - Position: Judge, Part II, 30th Judicial District Chancery Court, Shelby County, TN ### Education - He graduated from Oberlin in 1985, then earned his J.D. from Georgetown Law School in 1987. ### Additional information - In 2025, Thompson was elected president of the General Sessions Judges Conference. - Year Elected/Appointed: 1998 - Passionate about music and law, blending his artistic background with judicial service - He initially dreamed of becoming a concert pianist, earning a scholarship to Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, where he studied political science and piano. - His activism during college — including civil disobedience over South Africa’s apartheid policies — marked a turning point toward law - Before becoming a judge, Thompson served in the General Sessions Court for six years, a role he describes as “the court of first impression” where citizens directly experience the justice system - Judge Thompson was born to a single mother in South Memphis and grew up in an impoverished neighborhood. - He has been endorsed by the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association and the Shelby County Deputy Sheriff’s Association ## 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/general-sessions-courts/judges/lonnie-thompson) - [Official roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/lonnie-thompson) - [Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/lonnie-thompson) - [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) - [Lonnie Thompson](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/lonnie-thompson) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lonnie-thompson-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-shelby", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lonnie-thompson-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-shelby", "name": "Lonnie Thompson | KnowJudges", "description": "Lonnie Thompson, Tennessee General Sessions Court, Shelby County. 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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.