Meet the Fourth Circuit Court Team

Kristen Menke serves as Special Master for the Fourth Circuit Court for Davidson County, Tennessee. Special Master Menke has served in this capacity since her appointment by Judge Stanley A. Kweller in April 2023. She received her undergraduate degree from The University of Tennessee in 1999 and her Juris Doctor from The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2005. After graduating law school, she clerked for Judge Thomas T. Woodall, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. In 2007, she was hired by District Attorney General Victor S. Johnson, III, 20th Judicial District, and served as an Assistant District Attorney prosecuting crimes against children until entering private practice in 2014. Special Master Menke’s private practice included family law and criminal defense.

Special Master Dana Ballinger has been presiding over Order of Protection (OP) for Third and Fourth Circuit Courts for almost a decade. Her position entails OP hearings and all post-hearing motions pertaining to those cases. After graduating as valedictorian from Nashville School of Law in 1993, wherein she was the recipient of seven American Jurisprudence Awards and The Moot Court Award, Special Master Ballinger practiced in Civil litigation with Cornelius and Collins LLP for four years. Additionally, she served as President of Nashville School of Law’s Lawyers’ Association for Women from 1992 to 1993. After raising her five children, she returned to the private practice of law in family law prior to being appointed Special Master for OPs by Judge Philip E. Smith in 2015. Special Master Ballinger is also a Rule 31 Family Law Mediator with a Domestic Violence Specialty Certification.

Ms. Ronnell Griffin is our experienced Judicial Assistant with over 30 years of service in the Metropolitan Government. Her career with Metro has led to a wealth of knowledge in both civil and domestic court matters. Her experience includes working in the Circuit Court Clerk’s office under Richard Rooker; in Second Circuit Court under Judge Marietta M. Shipley; in Eighth Circuit Court under Judge Carol L. Soloman and Judge Kelvin Jones; and in Fourth Circuit under the late Judge Philip E. Smith, Judge Stanley A. Kweller, and now Judge Stephanie J. Williams. She is currently responsible for the administrative duties of the Fourth Circuit Court including calendaring, reviewing orders, processing show cause and restraining order requests, and drafting orders at the Judge’s direction. She also handles all scheduling including contested trials, pretrial conferences, and special settings. Additionally, she serves as courtroom clerk during court docket hearings. Ms. Griffin has degrees from Nashville State Community College in Legal Office Administration and Accounting. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bethel University with a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and most recently attended Nashville School of Law. 

Shortly after retiring from his 38-year career in the aerospace industry in 2022, Mr. David Martin came to the Fourth Circuit Court to work for his best friend, the late Judge Philip E. Smith, as his Court Officer. In this role, he provides security for the Judge and the courtroom. Additionally, Mr. Martin serves as a Judicial Assistant to Judge Stephanie J. Williams where he reviews documents, preps and processes Uncontested Divorce cases, fields phone calls, and maintains the office.

A graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Mississippi School of Law, Mr. Grey Hollowell serves as the Court’s Staff Attorney. He is responsible for conducting substantive legal research, communicating the results of that research to the Judge, and advising the Judge as she rules on motions and matters before the Court. He has experience serving as a law clerk for the Mississippi Supreme Court and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Mr. Hollowell is excited to use that experience to help serve the people of Davidson County and all those impacted by the important work of our Court!

A recent graduate of Lipscomb University with a degree in Public Relations and minors in Animation and Spanish, Ms. Bekah Haralson is thrilled to step into this new role as Court Improvement and Communications Coordinator. She is responsible for website maintenance, weekly newsletters, community engagement, and assisting in administrative duties for the Court. She is eager to serve Nashville and its families through outreach and communications!

Mr. James Fields has over 30 years of experience in the Criminal Justice Field working in the areas of probation and parole supervision. Currently, Mr. Fields is a Court Officer for the State Trial Courts. In this role, he is responsible for maintaining security for both the Third and Fourth Circuit Courts. He has a B.A. in History from Tennessee State University.

Mr. Jonathon Gross started working in the Metro Government in 1998 for the Criminal Court Clerk’s Office. He worked in the bond office, helped with property bonds, and became an in-court clerk. Mr. Gross became a Court Officer in Division 5 of the Criminal Courts in 2003. In 2022, after 19 years in Criminal Court, he moved to Civil Court. His current position is Court Officer of the Order of Protection Docket. He is a devoted husband and father to his wonderful family.