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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. | |||
| Tennessee Courts Online - Access Public Court Records by State & County | |||
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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. |
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| Tennessee Court Web Sites Online Access to State & County Records | |||
Davidson County Circuit Court Clerk Davidson County Chancery Court 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. |
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| Tennessee County Courthouse Clerks - Phone Numbers and Addresses | |||
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