Thompson Makes History
The appointment and swearing-in of Harriet Thompson as the new General Sessions Court Judge is a historic event as she is the first woman to serve as the Judge of this Court in Hardeman County.
Thompson was appointed by the Hardeman County Commission to fill the position after Judge Boyette Denton resigned due to ongoing health issues. She was sworn in on April 1 by County Mayor Todd Pulse, who congratulated Thompson on her historic appointment.
A graduate of Vanderbilt University and the Nashville School of Law, Thompson has been an attorney in the county since 1991 and has had her own practice in the county since the late 1990s. She has practiced in all court venues in the county and has tried a case before the Tennessee Supreme Court. She was appointed as a Fellow of the Tennessee Bar Association in 2023 and serves as the current head of the local bar association.
“I love the law, I love reading it, studying it, and finding how I can use it to help others. I have always enjoyed my law practice here and I had never thought of serving as Judge. When Judge Denton announced his retirement, I was asked if I would consider at least the interim appointment of the position. I thought about it and decided I would submit my application. I have worked with so many different Chancellors and Judges over the years, and I feel I have been able to learn so much from all of them – so much that I want to carry over into my work as Judge.”
Thompson has since announced she will be running as an Independent for the position in the August election. “I decided to run as an Independent because, to me, a Judge should always strive to be fair and impartial, and I think that extends to how they present themselves when running for the position.”
She has been working with Judge Denton in all areas of the court over the past month to learn more about the office and her new responsibilities. “It has been a very interesting month and I have learned quite a bit,” she said. “It is very enlightening to listen to cases from the Judge’s perspective and to think about how I would make decisions based on the information presented. Judge Denton has been very gracious with his time, and we have had some very good discussions.”
Thompson says she believes one of her challenges will be to work with individuals and agencies in the community to help reduce crime. “I believe that reducing crime is not just a problem for the courts. The courts must work in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, and other agencies. By the time a case comes before the court, the Judge must follow the law specific to that case and make sure it is carried out.”
Thompson’s law practice will continue its operation but will make the necessary changes to accommodate her court responsibilities. Thompson’s law career began with James Sanderson’s firm in 1991 and she would open her own firm just a few years later. “I had only been on my own for a few years when the fire happened in March 2007. I was out of town and got a call that said, ‘you need to get here as soon as you can’. We were able to save a few items from the fire, but, for the most part, it was a total loss, so we started over. Denton and Cary offered me space in their building until I found another location, and other attorneys in town offered help when we needed it.”
Thompson has been involved in many community projects over the years, including many historic projects, community development, and she currently serves on the board for the Carl Perkins Center in Hardeman County. “I think being involved in your community is important. I have learned so much about Bolivar and Hardeman County over the years working on many committees and with projects. There is always some project, some event that needs help.”
She says she will continue the Drug Recovery Court program as a part of the General Sessions Court. “This has been a wonderful program for our county, and I believe we need to continue it, to give people a chance.” Thompson has been involved with the program since its beginnings and says it creates “lifelong changes” for those who work and complete the program. Thompson will also continue in her roles as city Judge for Bolivar, Hornsby, and Middleton. “There are other counties in Tennessee where a General Sessions Judge serves in dual roles, and, for now, I will continue to work with those courts.”
She says she looks forward to another new experience – campaigning for the office of General Sessions Judge for the August election. Her family, including daughter and son-in-law, Emily and Jason Parks, and grandson Thompson, will be a part of her campaign team. “I have never run for any kind of office before, so this will be a new experience for me, and one that I look forward to. I want to meet as many people as I can prior to election day and talk with them and learn from them.”
Thompson encourages everyone to register to vote and then to go out and vote. “I have always tried to encourage people to vote. Your beliefs or your choice of a candidate for one position or another is your choice, but each vote is so important.” The General Election will take place on August 5.