By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN—One of Nashville’s most influential figures, Bishop Joseph W. Walker III, celebrated three decades of pastoral ministry April 20 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Though people from all over the nation —including Bishop T. D. Jakes and Grammy winner Le’Andria Johnson— were in attendance to honor Bishop Walker and his wife, Dr. Stephaine Walker, he focused the attention on God and organizations doing important work to change lives in the community. Bishop Walker’s leadership has led the congregation to grow exponentially throughout his tenure—from 175 in 1992 to over 20,000 today, according to the Tennessee Historical…
Author: Ashley Benkarski
By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — Attorney Kyle Parks has some innovative ideas for the criminal justice system in Davidson County, he said in an interview Saturday. Parks is seeking the judge’s role for Criminal Court Division III, where, if elected, he would challenge the notion of “being tough on crime.” That prescription hasn’t led the community to the fabled crimeless utopia its progenitors have said it would, and Parks relayed it’s time for a new, restorative approach to the criminal justice system that respects the humanity of all those who come to court. Hesitant to speak negatively of his…
By Ashley Benkarski WASHINGTON, DC — Ray Smith, Jr. turns obstacles into opportunities to help others. When diabetes left him blind he was devastated yet steadfast in his faith, though he’d lost his job and house. “In losing sight I gained a lot of other things,” Smith remarked. “I asked the Lord standing in my home … how I could serve Him as a blind man. The Lord asked, “‘Do you trust me?’” Resolving his commitment, he moved to Blind Industries of Maryland for a year, learning to adapt to a world shaped for people with sight. “‘You’ve lost your…
By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — When ballots are cast for the primary in May, there’s a chance there will be a woman presiding over Circuit Court Division I for the first time. Wendy Longmire, a longtime lawyer who honed her craft under the mentorship of the Honorable Walter Kurtz, takes the possibility personally. She’s not just the only woman seeking the seat, but she said she’s also the most qualified; Longmire has 35 years of experience that includes assisting Judge Kurtz on both sides of the bench and considers that work as preparation for this moment. “I’ve handled every…
By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — You’ve probably seen Attorney Jim Todd offering legal analyses on local news channels, but this time he’s the one making headlines with his candidacy for General Sessions Court Division VI Judge. Todd is a Nashville native with more than three decades of experience in the legal system spanning various roles. He began his law career as a prosecutor and eventually transitioned to a defense attorney role, giving him a view of both sides. “I really came to appreciate the difficulty that a lot of people have that leads to criminal behavior,” he said of…
By Ashley Benkarski MURFREESBORO, TN — Andrae Crismon, formerly with the Legal Aid Society (LAS) of Middle Tennessee, is running to take on the role of Rutherford County’s Juvenile Court Judge. The position was vacated by Donna Scott Davenport on the heels of a scandal that saw the County’s juvenile detention rate soar to the highest in the state. Crismon is running as an independent and has one challenger; his Twitter bio describes him as a “Republocrat.” It seems a small identifier, but to Crismon, it means making inroads in spaces where party lines are hard-drawn. Rutherford Countians have more…
By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — Despite the sensationalism and antagonism displayed by Senate Republicans during the confirmation hearings of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the latter is the first Black female Supreme Court Justice, being confirmed to the nation’s highest court last Thursday. Noreen Farrell, civil rights attorney and Executive Director of Equal Rights Advocates, offered her insights on this historic nomination. “While loud and dramatic, the Senate Republican outbursts at the Supreme Court confirmation hearing of Judge Jackson did little to undermine the extraordinary lifetime of experience that qualifies her for the role,” Farrell said. “She spent almost nine…
By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — An old story with a new beginning—That’s how Richard Manson, board member of Citizens Savings Bank & Trust, described the institution’s entry into the new year. “They were oases in an economic desert of delays, denials, and dead ends,” the Community Investment Fund of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) described of minority-owned banks, which were often the only avenue for nonwhite people to get a loan for their small businesses. As with any story, the journey of Citizens Bank was imbued with highs and lows. Founded in 1904 as the One Cent Savings Bank, the nation’s…
By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — Judge Kelvin D. Jones is defending his incumbency as Circuit Court Judge, Division VIII of the 20th Judicial District overseeing complex civil cases. He’s occupied the role since 2014 and previously served as a General Sessions Court Magistrate in Davidson County. He’s the first African American ever elected to the position and a recipient of Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership’s (J.U.M.P.) Community Service Award, among others. His community involvement includes volunteering as a coach for various youth organizations, mentorship to students and mentorship to inmates with Men of Valor. Jones said his role has…
By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — P. Danielle Nellis is adding to her family’s legacy in her bid for the district attorney role this year. If elected, she would be the first female and Black District Attorney in Davidson County. Nellis graduated from Spelman College where she studied education with a major in Spanish and holds a law degree from Boston University. She has previously worked as an Assistant District Attorney. Nellis, the granddaughter of Rev. Dr. Inman E. Otey, Sr., said she not only has the professional experience to qualify her for the job, but also personal experience—She pointed…