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Tennessee Court Records- Listed below are resources to help in a search for Tennessee court records, dockets, liens, civil and criminal cases, defendant searches and other Tennessee judiciary system databases and records.
 
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Tennessee’s judicial system derives its power from a foundation written into the state constitution: “The judicial power of this state shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such Circuit, Chancery, and other inferior courts as the lesiglature shall from time to time ordain and establish …”

The Supreme Court is the highest in the state, but Tennessee maintains an extensive array of courts, including two different intermediate appellate court venues, and chancery, criminal, circuit and probate courts. The fourth, and lowest, tier of courts in Tennessee is comprised of locally funded courts of General Sessions, Juvenile Court and Municipal Court.

Tennessee Supreme Court

The Tennessee Supreme Court is the state’s highest court and the court of last resort for appeals. To make the court accessible to citizens statewide, it can and does convene in Jackson, Knoxville and Nashville as required by the state’s constitution.

The court is composed of five justices, including Chief Justice William M. Barker. Judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals are elected on a “yes-no” ballot every eight years. When a midterm vacancy occurs, a 17-member Judicial Selection Commission interviews applicants and makes three recommendations to the governor, who appoints a new judge to serve until the following August, when that justice or judge will face a vote.

Supreme Court justices may accept appeals of civil and criminal cases from lower state courts. They also have the ability to interpret laws and the constitutions of both Tennessee and the United States. The Supreme Court may assume jurisdiction over undecided cases in the Court of Appeals or Court of Criminal Appeals if there is special need for a speedy decision. And, the court has appellate jurisdiction in cases involving state taxes, the right to hold public office and issues of constitutional law.

Attorneys may present oral arguments before the Supreme Court, but unlike trials in lower courts, there are no witnesses, no jury, and no testimony delivered. The same is true in both of Tennessee’s intermediate appellate courts. The Supreme Court, after hearing oral arguments and reviewing written materials, or briefs, renders and makes public its opinion

Tennessee Court of Appeals

Established in 1925 by the General Assembly, the Court of Appeals hears appeals emerging from the trial courts and certain state boards or commissions involving civil cases, but not criminal cases. 

The court has 12 members who sit in panels of three judges in Jackson, Knoxville and Nashville. All decisions made by the Court of Appeals may be appealed, if accepted, to the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Like the Supreme Court, the Tennessee Court of Appeals renders its decisions as opinions

Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals was established by the state legislature in 1967 to hear trial court appeals in felony and misdemeanor cases, and post-conviction petitions as well. The General Assembly increased the membership of the court from nine judges to 12 on Sept. 1, 1996. The judges sit monthly in panels of three in Jackson, Knoxville and Nashville, and occasionally in other locations if necessary.

All Court of Criminal Appeals decisions can be appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court, but that court hears the case only if it chooses. Capital punishment cases from the trial courts advance directly and automatically to the Supreme Court.

Criminal appeals court judges serve eight-year terms. Judges on the court may run for re-election without opposition; incumbents are retained or rejected on a simple yes-or-no vote. Should a vacancy occur or be created, the Judicial Selection Commission recommends three candidates to the governor, who appoints a judge to serve until he or she faces a retention vote the following August. 

Tennessee Trial Courts

The third tier of Tennessee courts consists of four venues, the Chancery, Criminal, Circuit and Probate courts. Judges in these courts are elected by popular vote within their judicial districts.

Tennessee’s 95 counties are divided into 31 judicial districts, and each district has both Circuit and Chancery courts. About one-third of the districts also have further specialized criminal courts. Fewer still have separate probate courts solely to handle estates.

Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction, hearing both civil and criminal cases (though in 13 of the 31 Tennessee judicial districts there are separate criminal courts). Circuit Court judges also can hear appeals from courts of limited jurisdiction.

Chancery Courts are exclusively civil courts. They were established as “courts of equity,” distinct from “courts of law,” to handle matters falling outside of traditional common-law actions. Originally, owing to the Tennessee system’s English roots, the Chancery Court was presided over by a chancellor (different from a judge) who did not hold jury trials and had considerable latitude to modify the application of strict legal rules and give relief to individual parties in each case. Today, cases still are heard by chancellors, but the court operates under the same procedures as Circuit Court (in fact, their jurisdictions often overlap) and there can be jury trials in Chancery Court.

Criminal Court was established by the General Assembly to relieve heavy caseloads in certain areas. Only 13 of the state’s 31 judicial districts have separate criminal courts. In addition to having jurisdiction over criminal cases, judges in these courts can hear misdemeanor appeals from lower courts. In districts without specialized criminal courts, criminal cases are handled at the trial level by Circuit Court judges.

Probate Court is a specialized court to handle the estates of individuals. Only a few districts maintain separate Probate Court systems. 

Tennessee Courts of Limited Jurisdiction

Often referred to as “local courts” because they are funded by local governments, Tennessee features numerous courts of limited jurisdiction to try minor civil and criminal matters. They also handle preliminary motions and actions in many major civil and criminal cases.

Court of General Sessions is the most important of these courts of limited jurisdiction. The general sessions courts were created by the state legislature in 1960 to replace an antiquated justice of the peace system. Now there are general sessions courts in all 95 Tennessee counties, though in two eastern counties they’re called “trial justice courts.”

The jurisdiction of these courts can vary from county to county, but essentially they are for conducting preliminary business in major criminal cases and for holding trials over minor criminal and civil matters. The courts also can issue search and arrest warrants, set bond for a suspect, and conduct preliminary hearings before binding a suspect over for trial. General sessions judges also are the juvenile court judges in all counties that do not have a separate Juvenile Court established by the legislature. There are no jury trials in General Sessions court.

General sessions judges have the authority to issue search and arrest warrants.  They also have power to set bonds for persons released from custody pending resolution of their case.  General sessions courts also conduct preliminary hearings on criminal charges prior to these cases being bound over to the grand jury. The sessions courts also have jurisdiction to try misdemeanors, although in practice the appropriate trial court of general jurisdiction resolves most of these cases.  General sessions courts do not empanel juries, so any trial in this court is before the bench. General sessions judges also serve as juvenile judges except in counties in which the legislature has established a separate Juvenile Court.

In terms of civil jurisdiction, the general sessions courts are authorized to try small claims. They also have jurisdiction over suits to recover personal property with no limit on dollar value. Because the sessions courts are not courts of record, appeals from their judgements take the form of trial de novo in the courts of general jurisdiction.

Juvenile courts were begun as early as the late 19th century as an alternative approach to dealing with youths who were in trouble. The idea was to remove juveniles from the harsh system of criminal justice meted out to adults and place them in a system intended to rehabilitate them rather than punish them. There were three juvenile courts established in 1905, but today there are separate juvenile courts in 17 of the state’s 31 judicial districts.

The juvenile courts have concurrent jurisdiction with circuit, chancery and probate courts over certain cases. They have exclusive jurisdiction in proceedings involving minors alleged to be delinquent, unruly, dependent or neglected. But it is becoming increasingly common for the juvenile courts to waive their jurisdiction over minors charged with serious criminal offenses, especially in the cases of youths who have extensive prior criminal records. If the case is advanced to criminal or circuit courts, the juvenile can be tried and sentenced as an adult.

Municipal courts, also known as “city courts,” have jurisdiction only within their city’s corporate limits. About 300 Tennessee cities and towns have municipal courts. Their substantive jurisdiction extends to the violation of city ordinances, most commonly parking and traffic violations or other misdemeanor incidents. Generally, a municipal judge can assess fines up to $50 and jail sentences up to 30 days, but jurisdiction and powers vary from city to city. Decisions of the municipal courts are subject to review via trial de novo in the courts of general jurisdiction.

 
Tennessee Court Web Sites Online Access to State & County Records

Davidson County Circuit Court Clerk

Davidson County Trial Courts

Davidson County Chancery Court

Supreme Court and AOC

United States Bankruptcy Court - Western District of Tennessee

United States Bankruptcy Court - Middle District of Tennessee

United States Bankruptcy Court - Eastern District of Tennessee

United States District Court - Eastern District of Tennessee

United States District Court - Middle District of Tennessee

United States District Court - Western District of Tennessee

Tennessee Court Opinions - Search Supreme Court Opinions by Quarters in the year dating back to 1995.

Tennessee Worker's Compensation Panel - Search by quarters in the year for the Worker's Compensation Panel opinions.

Tennessee Appeals Opinions - Search for Appeals Opinions back to 1995.

Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Opinions - Search for Criminal Appeals opinions back to 1995 by quarter and year.

 
Tennessee County Courthouse Clerks - Phone Numbers and Addresses

Anderson County
100 N. Main St.
Clinton, TN 37716-3615

Telephone: (423) 483-0541


Bedford County
104 N. Side Square
Shelbyville, TN 37160

Telephone: (615) 684-1921


Benton County
1 E. Court Square, Rm. 101
Camden, TN 38320-0008

Telephone: (901) 584-6053


Bledsoe County
P.O. Box 212
Pikeville, TN 37367-0212

Telephone: (423) 447-2137


Blount County
345 Court St.
Maryville, TN 37804-4910

Telephone: (423) 982-4391


Bradley County
P.O. Box 46
Cleveland, TN 37364-0046

Telephone: (423) 476-0520


Campbell County
P.O. Box 13
Jacksboro, TN 37757-0013

Telephone: (423) 562-4985


Cannon County
County Courthouse
Woodbury, TN 37190

Telephone: (615) 563-4278


Carroll County
P.O. Box 110
Huntingdon, TN 38344-0110

Telephone: (901) 986-1960


Carter County
Courthouse Building
Elizabethton, TN 37643-3396

Telephone: (423) 542-1814


Cheatham County
115 Courthouse
Ashland City, TN 37015

Telephone: (615) 792-5179


Chester County
P.O. Box 205
Henderson, TN 38340-0205

Telephone: (901) 989-2233


Claiborne County
P.O. Box 173
Tazewell, TN 37879-0173

Telephone: (423) 626-3283


Clay County
P.O. Box 218
Celina, TN 38551-0218

Telephone: (615) 243-2249


Cocke County
111 Court Ave., Room 101
Newport, TN 37821

Telephone: (423) 623-6176


Coffee County
300 Hillsboro Blvd. Box 3
Manchester, TN 37355-1785

Telephone: (615) 723-5106


Crockett County
County Courthouse
1 S. Bells St., Suite 1
Alamo, TN 38001-1796

Telephone: (901) 696-5452


Cumberland County
Courthouse
2 N. Main St., Suite 206
Crossville, TN 38555

Telephone: (615) 484-6442


Davidson County
700 2nd Ave. S
Nashville, TN 37210

Telephone: (615) 862-6050


Decatur County
P.O. Box 488
Decaturville, TN 38329-0488

Telephone: (901) 852-3417


DeKalb County
County Courthouse, Room 205
Smithville, TN 37166

Telephone: (615) 597-5177


Dickson County
Courthouse Annex
P.O. Box 220
Charlotte, TN 37036

Telephone: (615) 789-4171


Dyer County
P.O. Box 1360
Dyersburg, TN 38025-1360

Telephone: (901) 286-7814


Fayette County
P.O. Box 218
Somerville, TN 38068-0218

Telephone: (901) 465-5213


Fentress County
P.O. Box 151
Jamestown, TN 38556-0151

Telephone: (615) 879-8615


Franklin County
1 S. Jefferson
Winchester, TN 37398

Telephone: (615) 967-2541


Gibson County
County Courthouse
P.O. Box 228
Trenton, TN 38382-0228

Telephone: (901) 855-7642


Giles County
P.O. Box 678
Pulaski, TN 38478-0678

Telephone: (931) 363-1509


Grainger County
P.O. Box 116
Rutledge, TN 37861

Telephone: (423) 828-3511


Greene County
101 S. Main St.
Greeneville, TN 37743-4932

Telephone: (615) 639-5321


Grundy County
P.O. Box 215
Altamont, TN 37301-0215

Telephone: (615) 692-3622


Hamblen County
511 W. 2nd North St.
Morristown, TN 37814

Telephone: (423) 586-1993


Hamilton County
Georgia Ave.
Room 201 Courthouse
Chattanooga, TN 37402

Telephone: (423) 209-6500


Hancock County
P.O. Box 347
Sneedville, TN 37869

Telephone: (423) 733-2519


Hardeman County
100 N. Main St.
Bolivar, TN 38008-2322

Telephone: (901) 658-3541


Hardin County
601 Main St.
Savannah, TN 38372-2061

Telephone: (901) 925-3921


Hawkins County
P.O. Box 790
Rogersville, TN 37857-0790

Telephone: (423) 272-7002


Haywood County
1 N. Washington St.
Brownsville, TN 38012-2561

Telephone: (901) 772-2362


Henderson County
P.O. Box 40
Lexington, TN 38351

Telephone: (901) 968-2856


Henry County

County Courthouse
P.O. Box 24
Paris, TN 38242-0024

Telephone: (901) 642-2412


Hickman County Courthouse
8 Public Square
Centerville, TN 37033

Telephone: (615) 729-2621


Houston County
P.O. Box 388
Erin, TN 37061-0388

Telephone: (615) 289-3141


Humphreys County
Courthouse Annex Room 2
Waverly, TN 37185

Telephone: (615) 296-7671


Jackson County
P.O. Box 346
Gainesboro, TN 38562-0346

Telephone: (615) 268-9212


Jefferson County
P.O. Box 710
Dandridge, TN 37725-0710

Telephone: (423) 397-2935


Johnson County
222 Main St.
Mountain City, TN 37683

Telephone: (423) 727-9633


Knox County
400 Main St.
Knoxville, TN 37902

Telephone: (423) 215-2000

 

Lake County
116 S. Court
Tiptonville, TN 38079

Telephone: (901) 253-7582


Lauderdale County
County Courthouse
100 Court Square
Ripley, TN 38063

Telephone: (901) 635-2561


Lawrence County
240 W. Gaines
Lawrenceburg, TN 38464

Telephone: (615) 762-7700


Lewis County
County Courthouse
Hohenwald, TN 38462

Telephone: (615) 796-2200


Lincoln County
P.O. Box 577
Fayetteville, TN 37334-0577

Telephone: (615) 433-2454


Loudon County
101 Mulberry St., Suite 200
Loudon, TN 37774

Telephone: (423) 458-3314


Macon County
104 Courthouse Public Square
Lafayette, TN 37083

Telephone: (615) 666-2333


Madison County
County Courthouse
100 E. Main, Rm. 105
Jackson, TN 38301

Telephone: (901) 423-6022


Marion County
P.O. Box 789
Jasper, TN 37347

Telephone: (615) 942-2515


Marshall County
207 Marshall Courthouse
Lewisburg, TN 37091-2020

Telephone: (423) 359-1072


Maury County
P.O. Box 769
Columbia, TN 38402-0769

Telephone: (615) 381-3690


McMinn County
Madison Ave.
Athens, TN 37303

Telephone: (615) 745-4440


McNairy County
County Courthouse, Room 102
Selmer, TN 38375-2194

Telephone: (901) 645-3511


Meigs County
P.O. Box 205
Decatur, TN 37322

Telephone: (423) 334-5821


Monroe County
103 College St.
Madisonville, TN 37354

Telephone: (423) 442-2220


Montgomery County
Clarksville, TN 37040

Telephone: (615) 648-5703


Moore County
County Courthouse
P.O. Box 206
Lynchburg, TN 37352

Telephone: (423) 759-7346


Morgan County
P.O. Box 301
Wartburg, TN 37887

Telephone: (615) 346-3480


Obion County
2 Bill Burnett Circle
Union City, TN 38261

Telephone: (901) 885-3831


Overton County
County Courthouse Annex University St.
Livingston, TN 38570-1797

Telephone: (615) 823-2631


Perry County
P.O. Box 58
Linden, TN 37096-0058

Telephone: (615) 589-2219


Pickett County
County Courthouse
P.O. Box 5
Byrdstown, TN 38549

Telephone: (615) 864-3879


Polk County
P.O. Box 256
Benton, TN 37307-0256

Telephone: (423) 338-4524


Putnam County
29 N. Washington
Cookeville, TN 38501

Telephone: (615) 526-7106


Rhea County
1475 Market St.
Dayton, TN 37321

Telephone: (423) 775-7808


Roane County
P.O. Box 546
Kingston, TN 37763-0546

Telephone: (615) 376-5556


Robertson County
511 S. Brown St.
Springfield, TN 37172

Telephone: (615) 384-5895


Rutherford County
319 N. Maple St.
Murfreesboro, TN 37130

Telephone: (615) 898-7799


Scott County
P.O. Box 87
Huntsville, TN 37756-0087

Telephone: (423) 663-2588


Sequatchie County
308 Cherry St.
Dunlap, TN 37327

Telephone: (423) 949-2522


Sevier County
125 Court Ave.
Sevierville, TN 37862-3596

Telephone: (423) 453-5502


Shelby County
160 N. Main St.
Memphis, TN 38103

Telephone: (901) 576-5000


Smith County
122 Turner High Circle, Suite 101
Carthage, TN 37030-1541

Telephone: (615) 735-9833


Stewart County
P.O. Box 67
Dover, TN 37058

Telephone: (615) 232-7616


Sullivan County
P.O. Box 530
Blountville, TN 37617-0530

Telephone: (423) 323-6428


Sumner County
355 N. Belevedere Dr., #111
Gallatin, TN 37066

Telephone: (615) 452-4063


Tipton County
P.O. Box 528
Covington, TN 38019-0528

Telephone: (901) 476-0207


Trousdale County
200 E. Main St., Room 2
Hartsville, TN 37074

Telephone: (615) 374-2906


Unicoi County Courthouse
P.O. Box 340
Erwin, TN 37650-0340

Telephone: (423) 743-3381


Union County
P.O. Box 395
Maynardville, TN 37807-0395

Telephone: (423) 992-8043


Van Buren County
P.O. Box 126
Spencer, TN 38585-0126

Telephone: (615) 946-2121


Warren County
P.O. Box 231
McMinnville, TN 37111

Telephone: (615) 473-2623


Washington County
P.O. Box 218
Jonesborough, TN 37659-0218

Telephone: (423) 753-1621


Wayne County
P.O. Box 185
Waynesboro, TN 38485

Telephone: (615) 722-5544


Weakley County
P.O. Box 587
Dresden, TN 38225

Telephone: (901) 364-2285


White County
1 East Bockman Way
Sparta, TN 38583

Telephone: (615) 836-3712


Williamson County
P.O. Box 624
Franklin, TN 37065-0624

Telephone: (615) 790-5712


Wilson County
P.O. Box 950
Lebanon, TN 37088-0950

Telephone: (615) 444-0314

   
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