Christie Mahn Sell
Age: 44
Occupation: Sessions Court Judge, Div. 1
Residence: Chattanooga
Years lived in Hamilton County: 44 years
Family: Married, two children
Education: Juris Doctorate, 1994, and Bachelor of Arts with honors, 1991, from University of Memphis; Notre Dame High School, 1987.
Previous Public Office Experience: Sessions Court Judge, Div. 1, 2006-present.
Church or Civic Involvement: Current: American Inns of Court; American Judges Association; Chattanooga Bar Association (Secretary and past Young Lawyer President); Chattanooga Bar Fellow; Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute (Board Member); Community Champion for the Teen Violence Prevention Grant; Downtown Chattanooga Rotary; Family Justice Center Steering Committee; Harrison Ruritan Club; Leadership Chattanooga Alumni Association; Mental Health Court Steering Committee; National Association of Women Judges of American; Scenic City Women’s Network; Southeast Tennessee Legal Association of Women; Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law Alumni Association; Tennessee Bar Association Fellow; Past: Alzheimer’s Foundation Board Member; American Heart Association Committee; Arthritis Foundation Committee; Chattanooga Track Club Board; Junior League of Chattanooga; Leadership Chattanooga Class of 2002; Komen Race for the Cure Team Coordinator; Ladies of Charity Board; Normal Park PTA: Normalpalooza Chair; Notre Dame Alumni Council; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home & School Association Board; OLPH Cross Country Coach; Ram Run Race Director; Restart Board; Y-Me of Chattanooga Board
Achievements: Second woman law partner at Shumacker & Thompson by age 32, then at Shumacker Witt Gaither & Whitaker; elected the first woman judge to General Sessions Court in 2006; 2008 Outstanding Judicial Services Award; unified community leaders to create a Domestic Violence Court that commenced in 2010; awarded the statewide 2010 Leadership Award by the Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence; elected “Fellow” both locally by the Chattanooga Bar Foundation, 2013, and statewide by the Tennessee Bar Foundation, 2014; elected a 2014 Women of Distinction; selected to serve as the “Community Champion” for the Teen Violence Prevention Grant
What is the biggest challenge facing the office you are seeking, and how would you address it?
Once an individual is in the judicial system, there are many consequences, including unemployment and the inability to pay court and legal costs. Such factors greatly enhance the likelihood that the same individual will commit future crimes. This recidivism further increases the costs to the county.
Educating the community about the high costs of bad choices is key to redirecting our youth to becoming contributing, law-abiding members of the community.
I provide outreach to the public by hosting students in court and speaking to schools and clubs almost weekly.
Another important component of reducing the cost to defendants and our community is modifying court protocol, like having a Mental Health Court which will help stabilize defendants and keep them from recurring criminal activity. The purpose is similar to the Domestic Violence Court and the Family Justice Center, both of which I have worked on for years.
Why should voters choose you?
I have been recognized for my integrity, character, and performance on the bench by receiving over a 99 percent approval rating from the Chattanooga Bar Association and by being elected as a “Fellow” for exemplifying these qualities. I have been further recognized for my fairness, competence, effectiveness and excellent leadership by the endorsements from the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, Fraternal Order of Police and Firefighters Association.
Every day, I strive to make a positive difference in our community. I have gained vast experience over the 20 years of my legal career and, since being elected, I have knowledgeably, deliberately and efficiently adjudicated criminal, civil and mental health matters. A voter can be confident I will continue working to improve the judicial system, rule fairly, firmly and impartially, as well as continue to contribute as a volunteer and leader. A vote for me is a vote for proven judicial abilities.