When it comes to qualifications, incumbent Judge Jennifer Nichols’ experience ensures that litigants in Sumner County’s Circuit Court Division 2 are  served with excellence.  She has devoted almost all of her 37-year legal career advocating for justice in the state of Tennessee. She began her career in 1988 as a civil litigator before serving more than 20 years as an Assistant District Attorney for Shelby County. During that time, she headed up multiple special units including Child Abuse, Gang and Special Victims. She also served as Deputy District Attorney, overseeing the day-to-day functions of a 200-person office.

Judge Nichols successfully prosecuted thousands of cases during those years and gained significant trial experience, amassing nearly 200 jury trials for nearly every kind of crime. Most notable are the prosecutions and convictions for violent crimes, crimes against children and multiple death penalty cases. In addition to the years spent in criminal court, Judge Nichols has a decade of experience in the civil law arena primarily, insurance defense, labor and employment and overseeing a law department focused on all issues related to children and families. 

 

In January 2018, then-Governor Bill Haslam appointed her Criminal Court Judge where she presided over jury trials, sentencing hearings, bond hearings, probation violations, and the daily docket. One year later, Governor Bill Lee appointed her State Commissioner of the Department of Children's Services. After serving in that Cabinet position, she returned to the courtroom as an Assistant District Attorney in Sumner County where the District Attorney General, Ray Whitley, immediately asked her to assist on the Michael Cummins case, which at the time, was Tennessee’s largest mass murder. 

 

In July 2024, Governor Lee appointed her to her present position as Judge of Circuit Court, where she presides over matters in Civil, Chancery, and Criminal Court. Her cases range from property and easement disputes to 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. She has presided over multiple jury and bench trials since taking the bench, and is responsible for empaneling the Grand Jury and receiving their report of indicted cases each quarter. 

 

Judge Nichols grew up in Alabama, and is a graduate of the University of Alabama and Samford University's Cumberland School of Law.

She served six years as an adjunct professor at Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis; is an active Rotarian; and a frequent public speaker, most recently addressing the Tennessee chapter of the FBI National Academy. 

 

Judge Nichols daughter and son-in-law  live in Hendersonville with her three grandchildren, ages five, three and one. The whole family is active at First Baptist Church of Hendersonville where Judge Nichols attends worship service, her connect group and teaches each week in the preschool department. 

 

The attorneys, witnesses, victims, plaintiffs and defendants who appear before Judge Nichols in Sumner County’s Circuit Court, receive the benefit of her deep and broad experience in both criminal and civil court. As one attorney recently wrote to her, “I just want to tell you what a pleasure it is to practice and try cases in front of you.  You're a great judge and I'm thankful we have you in Sumner County."