Tenn. R. Sup. Ct. 4.4

As amended through November 4, 2024

Rule 4.4 - Campaign Committees

(A) A judicial candidate subject to public election may establish a campaign committee to manage and conduct a campaign for the candidate, subject to the provisions of this Code. The candidate is responsible for ensuring that his or her campaign committee complies with applicable provisions of this Code and other applicable law.

(B) A judicial candidate subject to public election shall direct his or her campaign committee:

(1) to solicit and accept only such campaign contributions allowable by law.

(2) not to solicit or accept contributions for a candidate's current campaign more than (365) days before an election (see RJC 4.2 Comment [1A] as to the calculation of this time period), nor more than ninety (90) days after the last election in which the candidate participates; and

(3) to comply with all applicable requirements for disclosure and divestiture of campaign contributions as required by law.

Tenn. R. Sup. Ct. 4.4

Comment

[1] Judges and judicial candidates are prohibited from personally soliciting campaign contributions or personally accepting campaign contributions. See RJC 4.1(A)(8).

[2] Campaign committees may solicit and accept campaign contributions, manage the expenditure of campaign funds, and generally conduct campaigns. Candidates are responsible for compliance with the requirements of election law and other applicable law, and for the activities of their campaign committees.

[3] [Intentionally omitted]

[4] RJC 4.2(D) provides that judges and judicial candidates who are running for judicial office in a partisan, nonpartisan, or retention election may "group themselves into slates or other alliances to conduct their campaigns more effectively, including the establishment of a joint campaign committee pursuant to RJC 4.4." In such circumstances, and to the extent permitted by other law, the joint campaign committee may solicit and accept campaign contributions, manage the expenditure of campaign funds (including the establishment of a joint campaign bank account), and generally conduct a joint campaign on behalf of the group of aligned judges and judicial candidates.