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§ 16-2-501. Legislative Purpose — Existing Courts

The general assembly expressly declares that its purpose in enacting this part is to reorganize the existing trial court system of this state in such a way that its growth occurs in a logical and orderly manner. It does not have as its purpose the abolition of any court or judicial office. Nothing in this […]

§ 16-2-502. Titles of Judges — Jurisdiction

Each trial court judge shall continue to be officially known and designated as either a chancellor, circuit court judge, criminal court judge, or law and equity court judge, depending upon the position to which the chancellor or judge was elected or appointed prior to June 1, 1984. Any judge or chancellor may exercise by interchange, […]

§ 16-2-504. Selection of Clerk and Master — Trial Court Judge as Chancellor

In those judicial districts in which this part has left a particular district without a chancellor, all trial court judges within that district shall be designated as chancellors for the purpose of selecting the clerk and master. The trial court judges shall also sit as chancellors for the purpose of disposing of those cases filed […]

§ 16-2-506. Establishment of Judicial Districts — Assistant District Attorneys General — Criminal Investigators — Equity and Law Courts — Chancery Courts

The state is divided into thirty-two (32) judicial districts composed as follows: The first judicial district consists of the counties of Carter, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington. The four (4) incumbent trial court judges and the district attorney general currently residing in those counties shall continue to serve the first judicial district in their respective capacities. […]

§ 16-2-507. Incumbent Judges — Cooperation Between Judges

All incumbent trial court judges shall hold office in and serve the judicial district of which they have been designated by § 16-2-506. It is the affirmative duty of every trial court judge to fully cooperate with the presiding judge and the other judges in the district.

§ 16-2-508. District Attorneys General — Powers and Duties — Assistant District Attorneys General — Criminal Investigators — Other Positions

All incumbent district attorneys general shall hold office in and serve the judicial district to which they are assigned by § 16-2-506. The district attorneys general shall exercise and possess the jurisdiction, powers and duties within the judicial districts created by this part as are conferred by law upon district attorneys general. This part shall […]

§ 16-2-509. Presiding Judges

The judges in each judicial district shall assemble for the purpose of selecting a presiding judge of the district. In August of each year, the judges within each district shall assemble at the call of the presiding judge and select a successor to such presiding judge who shall serve until September 1 of the following […]

§ 16-2-510. Holding of Court — Terms Abolished — Grand Juries

Court shall be held within each judicial district at such times and on such dates as the judges of each judicial district fix by rule. Court shall be held in each county within the district as often as is necessary to dispose of the business of the court. Not less than thirty (30) days prior […]

§ 16-2-512. Recommendations Classifying Elected Additional Judges

Where § 16-2-506 requires the election of an additional judge in a judicial district, the presiding judge of the district shall notify the trial court vacancy commission in writing of the judge’s recommendation as to whether the additional judge will be a circuit court judge, criminal court judge, or chancellor and of the part of […]

§ 16-2-513. Formula for Determining Need for Additional Judges — Annual Report

The comptroller of the treasury shall devise and maintain a weighted caseload formula for the purpose of determining the need for creation or reallocation of judicial positions using case weights derived from the most recent weighted caseload study. The comptroller of the treasury shall update the formula at least annually. The comptroller of the treasury […]

§ 16-2-514. Incumbent Clerks and Masters

Nothing in this part shall be construed to limit, terminate or otherwise affect the term or future terms of office of any circuit court clerk, criminal court clerk or clerk and master. All such incumbents shall continue in office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and shall be eligible for reelection and […]

§ 16-2-517. Jurisdictions Unaffected

Notwithstanding any provision of this part to the contrary, nothing in this part shall be construed to repeal, amend or affect in any manner any jurisdiction granted to any local court by any public or private law.

§ 16-2-518. Increase in Positions or Funding to Office of Public Defender

Any increase in local funding for positions or office expense for the district attorney general shall be accompanied by an increase in funding of seventy-five percent (75%) of the increase in funding to the office of the public defender in such district for the purpose of indigent criminal defense.

§ 16-2-519. Creation of Assistant District Attorney Positions

It is the declared policy of the general assembly to create assistant district attorney general (ADA) positions based upon the number of the ADA positions to population ratios being the primary consideration with secondary consideration being caseload when uniformly reported caseload statistics become available. The Tennessee district attorneys general conference is directed to make recommendations […]

§ 16-2-520. Additional Assistant District Attorney General Positions

Effective July 1, 2004, there are created thirty (30) additional assistant district attorney general positions to be designated in judicial districts as provided in this section. The executive director of the district attorneys general conference and the administrative director of the courts shall meet and prepare a report that contains the recommendations of such officials […]