Judge Amy Hollars has announced her intention to seek reelection as Circuit Court Judge, Part 1, for the 13th Judicial District.  Hollars has performed the duties of the office for the past five years, hearing a variety of civil cases in the seven counties that comprise the 13th Judicial District.
Governor Phil Bredesen initially appointed Hollars as special circuit judge in October of 2008 during the disability of her father, now-retired Circuit Judge John Turnbull.  After Judge Turnbull announced his retirement in the spring of 2009, Hollars was one of three applicants nominated for the position of circuit court judge by the Tennessee Judicial Selection Commission.
In June of 2009, Governor Bredesen appointed Hollars Circuit Court Judge Part 1 for the 13th Judicial District. Hollars was elected in 2010 to serve the remaining years of the unexpired judicial term.
“I have been honored to serve the people of DeKalb County and the 13th Judicial District for the past five years as circuit court judge. The position of circuit court judge is a position of public trust; in performing the duties of the office, I always strive to honor that trust. Every litigant in every case deserves a fair and impartial judge, a judge who listens carefully, studies the law, and applies the law faithfully to the facts of the case.  The dispute involving a small amount of money or a routine question of law demands of the judge the same attention and diligence as the more complex, high-profile case.  In each case, I try to reach the correct decision under the law and the facts, recognizing the real and sometimes painful consequences that a judgment may have on the parties.  In performing the job of Circuit Judge, I always strive to treat the litigants, witnesses, attorneys, jurors, and court personnel with respect and courtesy.  Fairness, integrity, diligence, and respect . . . these are my guiding principles as your Circuit Court Judge.  I now stand for reelection, seeking the support and the votes of the citizens of DeKalb County.”
Born and raised in Livingston, Judge Hollars earned her undergraduate degree from the University of the South, a M.A. from Vanderbilt, and her law degree from the University of Tennessee. Hollars is a past-president of the Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women (TLAW), a former member of the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society for Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, and a fellow with the Tennessee Bar Foundation.
She has also served as a member of the Tennessee Judicial Conference’s Civil Pattern Jury Instructions Committee and the Tennessee Bar Foundation’s IOLTA Grant Review Committee. Hollars was twice nominated by the Tennessee Judicial Selection Commission for the Middle Section of the Tennessee Court of Appeals.  She is an active member of the First Christian Church in Livingston.
Judge Hollars and her husband, James (“JJ”), reside in Livingston with their three children: Peter (16), Caroline (14), and Aubrey (12).