Germantown judge: like father, like daughter
Newly elected Germantown Judge Rhea Clift, left, who is named for her father Raymond Clift, thanked her parents for giving her a great name. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
If name recognition is a benefit for a candidate, new Germantown Municipal Court Judge Rhea Clift entered the August election with an advantage.
Her father, Ray Clift — pronounced the same way — was synonymous with the Germantown bench for 40 years. Now, Rhea Clift assumes the role her father held for all those decades.
When she was sworn in after winning the election in August, she said “Thank you, Mom and Dad. You gave me a great name.”
Rhea Clift won the election in August capturing 63% of the vote over Justin Gee. Her victory guaranteed a continuation of decades serving as one of the suburb’s judges, a legacy that stretches 40 years, except for the two years between Ray Clift’s retirement and Rhea Clift’s election.
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Abigail Warren
Abigail Warren is an award-winning reporter and covers Collierville and Germantown for The Daily Memphian. She was raised in the Memphis suburbs, attended Westminster Academy and studied journalism at the University of Memphis. She has been with The Daily Memphian since 2018.
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