Chancellor James R. Newsom III is the presiding judge for Part II of the Shelby County Chancery Court, having been appointed to the bench by Governor Bill Lee in July 2024. With a legal career spanning over four decades in Memphis, Chancellor Newsom brings unparalleled institutional stability and equity law experience to the court.

His extensive background includes serving as Chancellor of Chancery Court Part III (2015–2016), working as Special Counsel to the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General (2016–2024), and spending five years as a Special Master of the Chancery Court. Additionally, he spent more than 35 years in private practice with Harris Shelton, where he specialized in complex civil litigation and dispute resolution. An alumnus of Rhodes College (1976) and Vanderbilt University Law School (1979), Chancellor Newsom is recognized across the state for his dedication to public service, efficiency on the docket, and unwavering commitment to the rule of law.