Shari Tayloe
Shari Tayloe announced her candidacy on Monday to seek the Republican nomination for General Sessions Judge, Division II. In 20 years of practicing law as an assistant district attorney general and in private practice, Ms. Tayloe has sought justice with a fair and balanced application of the law. She said now she is confident that her experience and conservative philosophies make her the best person to serve the citizens of Bradley County as General Sessions Judge, Division II.
Ms. Tayloe believes that an even, balanced temperament and the ability to analyze all sides of an issue are key to upholding the law in every circumstance. “I have the unique experience of representing citizens on all sides of criminal cases,” she said. Ms. Tayloe served as an assistant district attorney for over 12 years under Jerry Estes, rising to chief assistant before leaving to form a private firm with Steve Crump and Wylie Richardson.
In addition to her experience as an attorney, Ms. Tayloe has served as special judge in General Sessions Court, Division II; served many years as a Campus Court referee for Bradley Central High School; and was the founding team leader of the 10th Judicial District Drug Court.
Ms. Tayloe is a graduate of Cleveland High School, Cleveland State Community College, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and the University of Tennessee College of Law. She was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 1993 and U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in 2007. Ms. Tayloe has tried hundreds of jury and bench trials in Criminal Court, including death penalty cases. Additionally, she has argued matters before the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals and the Tennessee Court of Appeals.
Having lived and practiced law in Cleveland for most of her life, Ms. Tayloe currently serves as an assistant district attorney in an adjacent judicial district, while residing and remaining active in the Cleveland community. Having grown up in Westwood Baptist Church, she attends Christway Community Church. She is an adjunct instructor at Cleveland State Community College and serves on the Cleveland High School Criminal Justice Advisory Board. Ms. Tayloe is the daughter of Lanny and Ann Tayloe. Although divorced, she maintains an active and close relationship with her two step-daughters, Ashlyn and Morgan Young.
Ms. Tayloe has long been active in local Republican politics. She has volunteered for many local Republican candidates over the last 23 years.
She said, “My experience, reputation for fairness, and integrity as a lawyer make me the most qualified candidate. The decisions the General Sessions judge must make are very important and are to be taken seriously, with sensitivity and compassion, and yet, be firm and willing to make hard decisions. I am that candidate and I will be that judge.”