Harriet Thompson Appointed General Sessions Judge Making History in Hardeman County

04/05/2024

Harriet S. Thompson stood proudly in General Sessions Court with her hand raised as she was sworn in by Hardeman County Mayor Todd Pulse on Monday, April 1, 2024, becoming the first female General Sessions Judge in Hardeman County. The appointment is one that follows a career in law that began more than 30 years ago when Ms. Thompson was admitted to the Tennessee Bar Association in 1990.

The courtroom was full of people who Ms. Thompson has worked with over the years, people who she will begin working with as General Sessions Judge, clients she has represented, family, and friends who may now claim they were in attendance in Hardeman County when history was made.

Ms. Thompson studied psychology and received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Vanderbilt University, and graduated from the Nashville School of Law in 1990. She began practicing law in Bolivar, Tennessee, and Hardeman County in 1991 where she still practices. Ms. Thompson has served as City Judge for Hornsby, Tennessee for several years, and was appointed city judge for both the City of Middleton and the City of Bolivar in Tennessee. She was elected to the Tennessee Bar Foundation in 2023.

Other accomplishments of Ms. Thompson include having practiced in General Sessions Court in the areas of criminal, civil, and Western Mental Health Institute hearings. She has also practiced in Hardeman County Juvenile Court in the areas of criminal (delinquent and unruly cases) and civil (dependent and neglected cases); participated in the Friends of Hardeman County Recovery Court; and was the first president of the the Friends of Hardeman County Recovery Court, the Recovery Court that was started by Judge Boyette Denton. She also served on the Foster Care Review Board.

Ms. Thompson is replacing Judge Boyette Denton who previously was the Hardeman County General Sessions Judge. Mr. Denton regretfully announced his retirement from the position at the Tuesday, January 23, 2024, meeting of the Hardeman County Commission effective March 31, 2024. He is confident Ms. Thompson will do well in the position.

“She has got all the experience that she needs, and I think we have been practicing law just about the same amount of time. I think she knows the law and how to apply it. She is going to do well,” said Mr. Denton, who smiled and laughed in jest when asked the results of cases on which he and Ms. Thompson were on opposing sides. “I won them all!”

Ms. Thompson’s daughter, Emily Parks, sat with her husband, Jason, and son, Thompson, as she proudly watched her mother taking the oath.

“I am very proud of her. She is one of the few women lawyers that we’ve had in Hardeman County. She has been successful and has been the city judge of Hornsby, Middleton, and Bolivar, and now she has done this, and she is the first women General Sessions Judge in Hardeman County, so I am extremely proud of her,” said Mrs. Parks, who is extremely familiar with her mother’s justice. “She is very strict, as her daughter, but she is very fair. She will make sure the law is followed and everybody will receive a fair trial. She has done this a long time and has been involved in the General Sessions Court her entire career, so she is well versed in that.”

Ms. Thompson’s close friend, John Hyman, also attend the swearing-in ceremony and shared his confidence in her appointment.

“It is a great opportunity for her to show the knowledge she has of the law. She has a great mind,” said Mr. Hyman.

Ms. Thompson completed her first full week as General Sessions Judge on Friday, April 5, 2024. It was a busy week and one that provided a smooth transition in the next step of what has become a remarkable career in law for Ms. Thompson.

“It was very exciting to say the least. I did so many different things in the first week, it was almost unbelievable,” said Ms. Thompson, who shared she enjoyed every minute of it. “I have a wonderful staff, and everyone has been so helpful”

Ms. Thompson will serve as interim judge until the next General Election of the office that will be held on Thursday, August 1, 2024.