2026
September 16, 2026 – “Nashville Judge Rachel L. Bell receives 3 awards at National Bar Association Convention” – TBA Today
September 11, 2026 – “Discussing the legal clinic at annual community day with Judge Rachel Bell” WKRN Nashville
September 4, 2026 – “Nashville’s Judge Rachel L. Bell receives three major honors at National Bar Association convention” Urban Journal News
July 6, 2026 – “Bordeaux’s Legacy — How One Nashville ZIP Code Cultivated So Many of the City’s Black Elected Officials” Nashville Banner
February 9, 2026 – “Music City Community Court Can Restore Voting Rights” The Tennessee Tribune
January 16, 2026 – “Annual MLK Day Restoration Clinic” WKRN News 2
2024
Nashville Pride – October 9, 2024 – “Celebrating 12 Years of the Music City Community Court: A Beacon of Restorative Justice and Hope with Judge Rachel L. Bell”
September 28, 2024 – “Music City Community Court offers support to Davidson County residents” – WKRN News 2
Nashville Pride – June 27, 2024 – “Judge Rachel L. Bell honored for LGBTQ+ Leadership”
The Tennessee Tribune – February 29, 2024 – “Empowering Probationers: Judge Rachel Bell’s path to reintegration”
2023
February 2, 2023 – “Expunged Records and New Beginnings” – The Tennessee Tribune
2022
October 6, 2022 – “Restore Re-Entry Court hosts Expungement/Legal Clinic” – Nashville PRIDE, Inc.
April 21, 2022 – “RESTORATIVE JUSTICE: Just Another Buzz Word?” – The Tennessee Tribune
2021
July 30, 2021 – “‘A dropped ball’: Congress scrambles to extend eviction moratorium ahead of expiration tomorrow” – Andrea Mitchell Reports, MS Now
July 21, 2021 – “Second White House Eviction Prevention Convening” – The Biden White House
July 14, 2021 – “Music City Community Court’s Work During Pandemic Recognized with National Access to Justice Award” – Bass, Berry & Sims Firm News, Pro Bono
February 25, 2021 – “Judge Rachel says her purpose in life was to be a leader in North Nashville” – United Way of Greater Nashville
February 19, 2021 – “New Housing Resource Diversionary Court & Program streamline resolution of 1,800 pending eviction cases” – Nashville PRIDE, Inc.
February 4, 2021 – “North Nashville judge runs “unprecedented’ courtroom aimed to rehabilitate low-level criminals” – WKRN News 2
2020
WKRN-Channel 2 – August 14, 2020 – Newsmaker: “Music City Community Court Adapts to Change”
TN REGISTER – Friday, January 24, 2020 – New Community Court Brings Justice to North Nashville
Monday, January 20, 2020 – MLK Day at 1:30 pm –
Courtroom Dedication, Open House & Tour
Location:
Bordeaux-North Community Justice Center, Rm 23 located at the McGruder Family Resource Center
2013 25th Ave., North, Nashville, TN 37208
2019
TN REGISTER – Friday, December 27, 2019 – New Community Court Brings Justice to North Nashville
WKRN Channel 2 – December 6, 2019 – Newsmaker: Community Court Restores Freedom
Fox 17 News (WZTV) – Thursday, November 21, 2019 – “Community Court working to change the game in most incarcerated zip code in the country”
Nashville Pride – Thursday, November 21, 2019 – “Judge Rachel L. Bell creates Bordeaux North Community Justice Center”
Nashville Public Radio (WPLN) – Monday, November 18, 2019 – A New Community Justice Center Brings A Different Kind of Courtroom To North Nashville
37208 Focus Groups and E3-Series Viewing & Criminal Justice Forum Panel Discussion Saturday, November 16, 2019- Register on Eventbrite. Please register by visiting: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/80377175295
Press Release – November 8, 2019 – The General Sessions Music City Community Court, Division VIII (8) has found a home and designated space in Zip Code 37208.
September 5, 2019 – Press Release – General Sessions Music City Community Court, Division VIII (8) with Judge Rachel L. Bell presents:
Community Beautification Day!! Landscaping & Litter Pick – up
In Partnership with Steering Clear, the McGruder Family Resource Center, and the Bordeaux-North Nashville Chamber of Commerce
Saturday, October 5, 2019 Check – in Time: 8:00- 8:30 AM, CSW Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00PM (4Hours CSW Credit) Location: 2013 25th Ave. N. Nashville, TN 37208.
To register, please email us at GSC8CSW@jis.nashville.org
August 30, 2019 – Press Release – EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC, INDIGENCY DOCKET & RESOURCE FAIR
Saturday, October 26th , 2019 to be hosted at Gordon Memorial UMC – National Prison Summit located at 2334 Herman St. Nashville, TN 37208. Check – In 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM, Clinic Docket: 10:15 AM – 1:00 PM, Indigency Docket*: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM (*Must be interviewed and given court date by Criminal Court Clerk Compliance Division) – NO Walk-Ins Please!! LIMITED TO THE FIRST 100 REGISTRANTS!!
August 27, 2019 – Press Release – Judge Rachel’s 7 Year Snap Shot, “Ringing the Bell for Justice!!”
August 22, 2019 – Judge Rachel L. Bell wins the 2019-Nashville Power Moves Award for Community Advocacy!
May 16, 2019– Center for Court Innovation announces General Sessions Music City Community Court selected to receive the 2018 Community Court Grant. Following a national solicitation, the Center has selected five jurisdictions to receive funding and technical assistance, and named four new mentor community courts.
https://www.courtinnovation.org/community-court-grant-program
2018
October 24, 2018 – Federal Funding Will Establish New Community Court Diversionary Program with Judge Rachel L. Bell and the General Sessions Music City Community Court
October 19, 2018 – Judge Rachel L. Bell launches Diversionary Court named C.A.R.E. for ages 18-26, Part 1 of 3
September 3, 2018 – The International Association of LGBT Judges celebrates Judge Rachel L. Bell reaching a milestone and coming out!!
July 23, 2018 – EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC, Saturday, August 18, 2018 to be hosted by New Covenant Christian Church AT 9:00 a.m. – 2201 Osage St, Nashville, TN 37208.
LIMITED TO THE FIRST 100 REGISTRANTS!! NO WALKINS!!
June 22, 2018 – Press Release- EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC, Saturday, July 21, 2018 to be hosted by Centerstone at Goodwill Career Solutions Center at 9:00 a.m. – 937 Herman Street Nashville, TN 37208 – LIMITED TO THE FIRST 100 REGISTRANTS!! NO WALKINS!! — To register, please click here…
2017
November 30, 2017 – Judge Rachel announces the C.A.R.E. (Creating Avenues for Restoration and Empowerment) partnership launch with the Urban League of Middle TN.
September 14, 2017 – Judge Rachel to attend the Nashville Good Neighbor Celebration Day on September 30, 2017.
July 14, 2017 – Judge Rachel shares her LGBT story and is featured on the front cover of FOCUS magazine for Middle TN and its allies.
June 9, 2017 – Judge Rachel makes history as Nashville, Davidson County, TN, first openly gay judge by marrying Dr. Dorsha N. James.
June 3,2017 – Judge Rachel got married and became the first openly gay elected Judge in Nashville, TN.
February 28, 2017 – Press Release – G.S. Music City Community Court- Saturday-Pro Se Indigence Docket & Expungement Clinic to be hosted on Saturday, March 4, 2017 19, 2016 at 8 a.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church- Antioch Location, 2261 Murfreesboro Rd. Nashville, TN 37217- LIMITED TO THE FIRST 200 REGISTRANTS!!
February 16, 2017 – Judge Rachel facilitates the Bordeaux-North Nashville Chamber of Commerce Black History month annual meeting.
February 9, 2017 – Judge Rachel and community activist Carla Hudson organize a conversation about the 13th Amendment and the Criminal Justice System.
January 26, 2017 – Judge Rachel to moderate a Civil Rights and Criminal Justice panel for the public about mass incarceration and the 13th Amendment.
2016
November 4, 2016 – Press Release – G.S. Music City Community Court- Pro se Indigency Docket & Expungement Clinic to be hosted on Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 8 a.m. at Nehemiah Missionary Baptist Church, 916 16th Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37208
November 2, 2016 – Judge Rachel L. Bell and the G.S. Music City Community Court featured in the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) Today Newsletter October 6, 2016 – Justice Reform Saturday Community Dockets & Justice Right on the Spot– Judge Rachel L. Bell
October 6, 2016 – Justice Reform Saturday Community Dockets & Justice Right on the Spot- Judge Rachel L. Bell
October 1st, 2016 – Press Release – G.S. MUSIC CITY COMMUNITY COURT, Division VIII EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC & PRO SE INDIGENCY DOCKET with Judge Rachel L. Bell & Community Partners at Watson Grove- 1415 Horton Ave., Nashville, TN 37212
September 29, 2016 – Watson Grove MBC holds Community Praise Picnic and Music City Community Court Expungement Clinic with Judge Rachel L. Bell
August 15, 2016 – Press Release – General Sessions Court Featured by the Tennessee Administrative Office of Courts for success of Community Court Clinic that served over 250 at Expungement Clinic
August 10, 2016 – Press Release – Davidson County General Sessions Expungement Clinic Brings Court to the Community with Judge Rachel L. Bell
April 18, 2016 – Press Release – The General Sessions Court Presiding Judge Rachel L. Bell to teach Alive at 25 Driver’s Education Class to MNPS High School Seniors at Whites Creek High School
2013
May 24, 2013 – Press Release – Davidson County General Sessions Court Judge Rachel L. Bell is sponsoring a Bordeaux Community Beautification and Cleanup Planning Meeting for Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at 5:30 pm at Metro’s North Police Precinct 2231 26th Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37208.