Tennessee Wants to Imprison People Without Proving Its Case

Why Tennessee Must Reject Amendment No. 1 

By Elliott J. Schuchardt

In November 2026, Tennessee voters will face a critical decision on their ballots that threatens to fundamentally alter the state's legal landscape. Tennessee Amendment 1, a proposed constitutional amendment passed by the state legislature, seeks to significantly expand the categories of crimes for which judges can completely deny bail. Currently, the Tennessee Constitution guarantees the right to bail for all defendants, with a singular, strict exception for capital offenses—which in practice applies almost exclusively to first-degree murder. Amendment 1 proposes to strip away this historic protection, allowing judges to deny bail entirely for a broad list of additional offenses, including aggravated rape, rape, aggravated stalking, terrorism, and certain domestic violence charges.

While the stated intent of this measure is to enhance public safety and protect victims, the actual legal, social, and economic consequences of expanding pretrial detention present a profound challenge to our fundamental constitutional protections. In our collective desire to address violent crime, we must not fall into the trap of trading our foundational liberties for a false sense of security. To preserve the integrity of our legal system, we must firmly restrain government overreach and protect the core tenets of American freedom.

The Case for a New Plaza Accord: Why the United States Must Devalue the Dollar

By Elliott J. Schuchardt

For decades, American policymakers and economists have treated a strong U.S. dollar as an unassailable metric of national economic health. The prevailing orthodoxy asserts that a powerful currency reflects a robust economy, suppresses domestic inflation, and cements the United States at the center of global finance. 

However, this perspective is fundamentally flawed.  A strong dollar means a weak United States.  

To restore competitiveness and correct massive global trade imbalances, the United States must actively pursue a strategy to devalue the dollar.  Let's take a closer look at the problem, and how we can make America strong again.  

The Knox County Bypass: A Necessary Solution for an Overburdened Interstate Corridor

By Elliott J. Schuchardt

For anyone who has driven through the western stretch of Knox County during rush hour, the reality is undeniable: the interstate infrastructure is at a breaking point. What was once a relatively smooth commute has transformed into a daily gridlock of idling engines, brake lights, and frustrated motorists. The combined corridor where Interstate 40 and Interstate 75 merge west of Knoxville has become one of the most severe bottlenecks in the state of Tennessee.

The Perils of Entanglement

Why America Must End It's Support for Taiwan

by Elliott J. Schuchardt

For decades, United States foreign policy in East Asia has been anchored to an increasingly hazardous premise: that Washington must guarantee the security of Taiwan against the People’s Republic of China (PRC).  On the surface, the United States claims to support an East-Asian democracy against mainland China. The reality is not so benign.  For the past 75 years, the United States has needlessly interfered in the Chinese civil war.  As global dynamics shift and the risk of conflict escalates, Washington must reassess its commitment to Taiwan.  To avoid a potentially dangerous confrontation, the United States must cease its military and political backing of Taiwan.

Tennessee Candidate Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Require Tennessee to Use a Neutral Judge

Knoxville, Tennessee, September 4, 2026 -- Elliott Schuchardt, a former candidate for the Tennessee General Assembly, has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to require Tennessee to use a neutral judge in attorney ethics cases.

According to Schuchardt’s petition, Tennessee allows state attorneys to select their own judge in cases involving lawyers’ licenses.  Tennessee is the only state in the United States that does not use a neutral judge in these cases. 

Schuchardt Seeks Injunction against State Employee for Alleged Election Interference

 

Knoxville, Tennessee, June 2, 2026 -- Elliott Schuchardt, a candidate for the Tennessee General Assembly, is seeking an injunction against a Tennessee state employee for allegedly filing intentionally-false statements in court.

Schuchardt is running for Tennessee House District 18, in Knox County.

Schuchardt has filed a lawsuit against Sandra Garrett, the chief lawyer at the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility.  The case is filed in federal court in Nashville. 

Schuchardt calls for investigation of jail deaths

Elliott Schuchardt is calling for stricter rules on deaths in Tennessee’s jails.

On January 30, 2026, a 14-year-old child died while in custody in the Blount County jail. Schuchardt says that the child’s death indicates a larger problem in the state.

In Tennessee, the inmate death rate has doubled in the past twenty years. During that time, the inmate population has remained roughly the same.

Schuchardt filed ethics complaint against bankruptcy judge

Elliott Schuchardt, a candidate for the Tennessee General Assembly, filed a complaint against a federal bankruptcy judge. Schuchardt says that he is running for office as a direct result of that complaint.

Schuchardt, a graduate of Columbia Law School, practiced law for nearly thirty years before tangling with Suzanne Bauknight, a Knoxville bankruptcy judge.

Schuchardt calls for new electronic tolling lanes on I-40 corridor

 

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

        Knoxville, Tennessee – January 14, 2026 – Elliott Schuchardt, a candidate for the Tennessee General Assembly, is calling for electronic tolling lanes on the I-40 corridor through Knoxville.

        Knoxville, Tennessee is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States.  Since 2010, nearly 80,000 people have moved to Knox County from elsewhere in the United States.  Each day, more than 200,000 cars pass through the Knoxville corridor on Interstate 40.