Tue Jul 15 11:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Veteran Criminal Defense Attorney Jahari Dowdy Seeks Shelby County Judgeship
**Memphis, TN** – Jahari M. Dowdy, a Memphis attorney with two decades of experience in criminal defense, is vying for appointment to Shelby County Criminal Court Division 1, following the retirement of Judge Paula Skahan on June 30th. Dowdy, owner of J. M. Dowdy PLLC, founded in 2005, submitted her application highlighting her experience and commitment to a fair and impartial judicial system.
“My experience and demeanor can be an additional asset in service to the community from the bench,” Dowdy stated in her application. “I am passionate about the system working correctly… I am confident I can be that fair and impatient [sic] judge, who keeps a clear head and calm demeanor.”
Dowdy’s career spans various aspects of criminal law, with a focus on adult criminal defense. According to her application, state criminal law constitutes 60% of her practice, followed by federal criminal law (20%) and child and family law (20%). She boasts extensive experience in trial courts, handling thousands of general sessions and criminal court cases, as well as federal court and administrative cases.
A graduate of Southern University A&M College (1999) with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Southern University Law Center (2002), Dowdy has been licensed to practice law in Tennessee since 2005. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and co-chair of the Divine Nine sorority’s audit committee. Her past accolades include the BVisible Business Award for Excellence in Community Service (2010) and recognition as one of the American Institute for Criminal Law Attorneys’ Ten Best Attorneys (2017).
While this is Dowdy’s first time applying for an open judgeship, she previously considered running for election before the judicial seat was abolished by the legislature last year.
Dowdy’s application acknowledges two past public censures from the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility. One censure, issued in 2019, stemmed from a failure to place funds in escrow during a guardianship case. Dowdy explained that communication with her client broke down after they relocated. The second censure, in 2021, involved an inadvertent office error leading to a trust account check being returned for insufficient funds and the subsequent commingling of personal and trust funds. Dowdy argues that these two censures do not diminish her ability to serve as a fair and impartial judge, stating, “after practicing criminal law consistently for 20 years, two public censures are not indicative of my ability to be a fair and impartial judge.”
Dowdy also disclosed a current investigation by the Board of Professional Responsibility based on a complaint from a former client. She stated that the client, who has a history of mental health and drug issues, made “several false statements” in her complaint following her arrest in Arkansas.
The appointment to Shelby County Criminal Court Division 1 is expected to be made in the coming weeks.
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