§ 40-4-101. Preliminary Proceedings

Judges of the courts of general sessions are authorized and empowered to:

1. Make the preliminary examination and bind over the reputed father in bastardy cases;
2. Summon a jury of inquest in cases of death by accident, as provided in § 38-5-103;
3. Issue a warrant for a prisoner escaped from jail;
4. Examine persons arrested for a crime;
5. Bind a defendant over to court if probable cause be found; and
6. Take bail in bailable offenses brought before the judges.

Code 1858, § 4970 (deriv. Acts 1715, ch. 16, § 1; 1741, ch. 14, § 10; 1777, ch. 8, § 9; 1817, ch. 100, § 1; 1825, ch. 36, § 4; 1831, ch. 4, § 1); Shan., § 6931; Code 1932, § 11470; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 40-401; Acts 1993, ch. 241, § 58.