NASHVILLE, TN — Retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Tillman Payne is seeking the office of Criminal Court Judge -Division VI in the 2022 election cycle. Tillman Payne is a former public defender, businessperson, and attorney for more than 20 years.
His experience as an attorney includes handling thousands of cases up to and including high-profile first-degree murder jury trials throughout middle Tennessee.
Attorney Payne says he is running for Judge to change the culture of the court. He believes the court should be a place where everyone is heard with a focus on fairness, equity, and restoring both victim and the accused.
“I believe in restorative justice. We need to protect victims and try to make them whole and find new and innovative ways to restore people back to the community once they have been held accountable. Judges should be measured on their ability to reduce recidivism”
“My principles are grounded in integrity, service, and sacrifice. I have worked with individuals from all walks of life, backgrounds, and nationalities both here in the United States and abroad. This experience is important because of the great diversity in our community.”
Payne is a member of the Bethel World Outreach Church, where he has served in the children’s ministry, as a greeter and usher. He also Chairs the Nashville Alumni Chapter Kappa Alpha Psi’s Guide Right Committee and serves as Advisor to the Kappa Leadership Development League (Kappa League) which mentor’s young men in the 7th thru 12th grade from both public and private schools in the Nashville area. He also serves on the Board Directors for the West Nashville Sports League (WNSL) which provides youth sports to hundreds of children throughout Davidson County.
“Both of my parents were Tennessee State University graduates and career public school educators and community leaders. They instilled in me and my siblings a passion for community service. I want to continue my service to the community and their legacy as your next Criminal Court Judge Division VI.”
Tillman earned his Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.) from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and his Master’s in Human Relations (MHR) from the University of Oklahoma. He earned his law degree from the Antonin Scalia School of Law at George Mason University in Arlington, VA. He and his wife Kimberly and have two sons. The youngest son is a student at Morehouse College and the oldest son lives in California with his wife and two children.