Yesterday afternoon, the upstairs at Calhoun’s on the River in Knoxville buzzed with energy as attorneys, elected officials, and Republican Party leaders gathered to celebrate the official campaign kickoff for Andrea Kline, the newly appointed Knox County General Sessions Court Judge.

Judge Kline was selected by the Knox County Commission in December 2025 to fill the vacancy left by the retiring Judge Andrew Jackson VI (a direct descendant of the seventh U.S. President). She was sworn in late last year and officially began her role on January 1, 2026, serving in Division IV. As an interim appointment, she must now run for election to serve the remainder of the unexpired term through 2030.

The key dates for voters are:

•  Republican Primary: Tuesday, May 5, 2026 (Early Voting: April 15–30, 2026)

•  General Election Thursday, August 6, 2026

With a distinguished career spanning more than 30 years in law, Judge Kline brings exceptional experience to the bench. She began her legal career representing individuals before dedicating the past 25 years as a prosecutor in the Knox County District Attorney General’s Office under District Attorney General Charme Allen.

One of her most notable achievements came in 2014, when she established Tennessee’s first Elder Abuse Special Prosecution Unit at the direction of DA Allen. This pioneering effort focused on protecting vulnerable adults and led to stronger safeguards statewide. She also played a key role in helping craft and pass legislation governing elder abuse protections in Tennessee, and she contributed to the creation of the state’s first Vulnerable Adult Prosecution and Investigation Team taskforce.

A lifelong Tennessean and University of Tennessee graduate (B.A. in Psychology and J.D. from the UT College of Law), Judge Kline has emphasized her commitment to fairness, the rule of law, personal accountability, and ensuring that every person—defendants, victims, and witnesses—receives respect and due process in General Sessions Court, which handles a wide range of misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters, and serves as a vital first stop in the justice system for thousands of Knox County residents each year.

The enthusiastic turnout at yesterday’s event underscores strong community and party support for Judge Kline as she seeks to continue her service on the bench. Stay tuned for more updates on her campaign, and mark your calendars for the upcoming elections!

you can watch the introduction by her Treasurer, Knoxville Attorney Nate Ogle and Judge Kline’s remarks here