§ 17-1-101. Age
A judge of the supreme court shall be thirty-five (35) years of age; of other courts, thirty (30) years of age. Code 1858, § 3910 (deriv. Const. 1834, art. 6, §§ 3, 4); Shan., § 5703; Code 1932, § 9889; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 17-101.
§ 17-1-102. Residence
Each judge and chancellor of a circuit, criminal or chancery court is required to reside in the judicial district or division for which the judge and chancellor is elected, and a removal from the judicial district or division creates a vacancy in the office. Code 1858, § 3914 (deriv. Acts 1809 (Sept.), ch. 49, § […]
§ 17-1-103. Election
The judges of the supreme court, the court of appeals, and the court of criminal appeals shall be elected by the qualified voters of the state in a statewide retention election conducted in accordance with chapter 4, part 1 of this title, and any appointments to fill a vacancy or a full eight-year term shall […]
§ 17-1-104. Oath of Office
Before entering upon the duties of office, every judge and chancellor in this state is required to take an oath or affirmation to support the constitutions of the United States and that of this state, and to administer justice without respect of persons, and impartially to discharge all the duties incumbent on a judge or […]
§ 17-1-105. Practice of Law Prohibited
No judge or chancellor shall practice law, or perform any of the functions of attorney or counsel, in any of the courts of this state, except in cases in which the judge or chancellor may have been employed as counsel previous to the judge’s or chancellor’s election. A newly elected or appointed judge or chancellor […]
§ 17-1-106. Judges to Be Lawyers — Exceptions
In addition to the qualifications provided for judges by Tenn. Const. art. VI, §§ 3 and 4, judges of the supreme court, court of appeals, chancery courts, circuit courts, criminal courts, and courts exercising the jurisdiction imposed in one (1) or more of the chancery courts, circuit courts or criminal courts, shall be learned in […]
§ 17-1-107. Uniformly Reported Caseload Statistics
No additional state trial judge positions shall be created until the Tennessee comptroller of the treasury has established uniformly reported caseload statistics, which may include a weighted caseload formula and that prioritizes the need for additional positions among the judicial districts. The Tennessee comptroller of the treasury shall certify the data to the judiciary committee […]