Second Circuit Court
Amanda McClendon is Judge of the Second Circuit Court for the 20th Judicial District serving Davidson County, Tennessee. She, like her father (the late Harold McClendon), is a native Nashvillian with family presence in Davidson County since before 1803. Her mother, Jean Henrietta McClendon (nee Olney) was a native of Redding, England, immigrating to this country in 1956.
Judge McClendon was popularly elected to the bench in 2006, following the retirement of the Honorable Marietta Shipley. Judge McClendon currently presides over bench trials for the appointment of emergency conservatorship and petitions for an appointment of Expedited Limited Healthcare Fiduciarys (“ELHF),” as well as jury trials in both criminal and civil matters. Additionally, Judge McClendon is an adjunct professor at the Nashville School of Law.
Judge McClendon attended Whitsitt and Glenview Elementary Schools, then Wright and Rose Park Junior High Schools. She graduated from McGavock High School in 1975. She attended MTSU for 2 ½ years, then transferred to Vanderbilt University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in two majors: economics and history, and 5 minors. Judge McClendon attended University of Tennessee College of Law, obtained her Doctorate of Jurisprudence in May 1984 and was admitted to practice law in Tennessee later the same year. In 1983 she was a recipient of the American Jurisprudence award for excellence in the study of Decedent’s Estates.
After passing the Tennessee Bar she engaged in the general practice of law for 23 years. During the last 7 years of her law practice she was twice elected to represent the 16th District in the Metropolitan Council for Davidson County, Tennessee. While a member of the Metro Council, Judge McClendon held a variety of leadership positions, culminating in holding the chair of the Budget and Finance Committee. Judge McClendon was the second female attorney to serve on the Metro Council.
Judge McClendon continues to be actively involved in many professional, civic and business organizations.