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HJR 805

Constitutional Amendments - Proposes an amendment to Article VI, Section 4 of the Constitution of Tennessee to change the residency requirements for a judge from being a resident of the circuit or district for one year to being a resident of a county of the respective circuit or district to which the judge is to be assigned for one year. -

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Esther Helton-Haynes

Tennessee constitutional amendment relaxes judicial residency requirements from circuit/district to county level, broadening judge candidate eligibility with unclear effects on local representation.

H. subst. SJR 618
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Bill Summary · HJR 805

Legislative bill overview

HJR 805 proposes to amend Tennessee's Constitution to relax residency requirements for judges by allowing them to reside anywhere in their assigned county, rather than specifically within the circuit or district they serve. This change would modify Article VI, Section 4, requiring only one year of county residency instead of circuit/district residency.

Why is this important

Judicial residency requirements affect who can serve as a judge and where judicial talent can come from. Loosening these requirements could expand the candidate pool for judicial positions, potentially making the judiciary more accessible to qualified candidates who live in the county but outside traditional district boundaries. Conversely, this may affect representation and local accountability within specific circuits or districts.

Potential points of contention

  • Candidate pool vs. local accountability: Expanding residency options increases judicial candidates but may dilute the principle that judges should be familiar with their specific circuit or district's unique legal and community issues
  • Geographic representation: The change could concentrate judicial appointments toward population centers within a county, potentially underrepresenting less populated areas within the circuit or district
  • Practical implementation: Unclear how this applies to multi-county circuits or districts—whether judges need residency in just one relevant county or in the county containing the court seat

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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