Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (2026)
Denial of access - Procedures for obtaining access - Court orders - Injunctions - Appeals - Liability for nondisclosure
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) Any citizen of Tennessee who shall request the right of personal inspection of any state, county or municipal record as provided in § 10-7-503, and whose request has been in whole or in part denied by the official and/or designee of the official or through any act or regulation of any official or designee of any official, shall be entitled to petition for access to any such record and to obtain judicial review of the actions taken to deny the access.
- (b) Such petition shall be filed in the chancery court or circuit court for the county in which the county or municipal records sought are situated, or in any other court of that county having equity jurisdiction. In the case of records in the custody and control of any state department, agency or instrumentality, such petition shall be filed in the chancery court or circuit court of Davidson County; or in the chancery court or circuit court for the county in which the state records are situated if different from Davidson County, or in any other court of that county having equity jurisdiction; or in the chancery court or circuit court in the county of the petitioner's residence, or in any other court of that county having equity jurisdiction. Upon filing of the petition, the court shall, upon request of the petitioning party, issue an order requiring the defendant or respondent party or parties to immediately appear and show cause, if they have any, why the petition should not be granted. A formal written response to the petition shall not be required, and the generally applicable periods of filing such response shall not apply in the interest of expeditious hearings. The court may direct that the records being sought be submitted under seal for review by the court and no other party. The decision of the court on the petition shall constitute a final judgment on the merits.
- (c) The burden of proof for justification of nondisclosure of records sought shall be upon the official and/or designee of the official of those records and the justification for the nondisclosure must be shown by a preponderance of the evidence.
- (d) The court, in ruling upon the petition of any party proceeding hereunder, shall render written findings of fact and conclusions of law and shall be empowered to exercise full injunctive remedies and relief to secure the purposes and intentions of this section, and this section shall be broadly construed so as to give the fullest possible public access to public records.
- (e) Upon a judgment in favor of the petitioner, the court shall order that the records be made available to the petitioner unless:
- (1) There is a timely filing of a notice of appeal; and
- (2) The court certifies that there exists a substantial legal issue with respect to the disclosure of the documents which ought to be resolved by the appellate courts.
- (f) Any public official required to produce records pursuant to this part shall not be found criminally or civilly liable for the release of such records, nor shall a public official required to release records in such public official's custody or under such public official's control be found responsible for any damages caused, directly or indirectly, by the release of such information.
- (g) If the court finds that the governmental entity, or agent thereof, refusing to disclose a record, knew that such record was public and willfully refused to disclose it, such court may, in its discretion, assess all reasonable costs involved in obtaining the record, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against the nondisclosing governmental entity. In determining whether the action was willful, the court may consider any guidance provided to the records custodian by the office of open records counsel as created in title 8, chapter 4.
Acts 1957, ch. 285, § 3; 1975, ch. 127, § 2; 1977, ch. 152, § 4; T.C.A., § 15-306; Acts 1984, ch. 929, §§ 2, 4; 1985, ch. 342, § 1; 1988, ch. 888, § 1; 2008, ch. 1179, §§ 2-4.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 103
cases (12 in the last 5 years), 1986–2026 · leading case: Konvalinka v. Chattanooga-Hamilton Cnty. Hosp. Auth., 249 S.W.3d 346 (Tenn. 2008).
Konvalinka v. Chattanooga-Hamilton Cnty. Hosp. Auth., 249 S.W.3d 346 (Tenn. 2008). “” Thus, we must decide whether the inclusion of the phrase “all proceedings below” is broad enough to include separate proceedings under Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (a) to obtain public records.”
The Tennessean v. Metro. Gov't of Nashville & Davidson Cnty., 485 S.W.3d 857 (Tenn. 2016). “‖ Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (b) (emphasis added).”
Alex Friedmann v. Marshall Cnty., TN, 471 S.W.3d 427 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2015). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (a) (2012). At the hearing of a citizen‟s petition for judicial review, “[t]he burden of proof for justification of nondisclosure of records sought shall be upon the official and/or designee of the official of those records and the justification for…”
Schneider v. City of Jackson, 226 S.W.3d 332 (Tenn. 2007). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (a) (1999). At the hearing on such a petition, the governmental entity bears the burden of proof and must justify nondisclosure of the record by a preponderance of the evidence.”
Allen v. Day, 213 S.W.3d 244 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “" Next, the Act requires that the citizen wishing to *249 avail himself of the courts' subject matter jurisdiction first "request the right of personal inspection of any state, county or municipal record as provided in § 10-7-503" to an "official" or a "designee of [an]…”
Swift v. Campbell, 159 S.W.3d 565 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004). “Thereafter, the requesting attorney filed suit in the Chancery Court for Davidson County pursuant to Tenn.Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (1999) asserting her right under TenmCode Ann.”
Memphis Publ'g Co. v. City of Memphis, 871 S.W.2d 681 (Tenn. 1994). “Moreover, in § 10-7-505 — the section setting out the procedure for obtaining judicial review of a government agent’s decision to deny access to records of the agency — the Legislature unequivocally stated its intention to open governmental activity to public scrutiny: “[t]he…”
Moody v. Hutchison, 247 S.W.3d 187 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “” Further, that Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (b) provides for the Court to review records being withheld, and asserts that the Court should have reviewed the records itself to resolve the factual disputes presented regarding whether the entire records were being produced.”
Memphis Publ'g Co. v. Holt, 710 S.W.2d 513 (Tenn. 1986). “Procedure for enforcing this right of access is set forth in T.C.A. § 10-7-505. Where a citizen seeks the aid of the chancery court in obtaining access to governmental records, the state places the burden of proving justification for the denial of access upon the official that…”
Andrew C. Clarke v. City of Memphis, 473 S.W.3d 285 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2015). “16(a)(2) are not discoverable in either proceedings to which the Tennessee- Rules of Criminal Procedure apply or separate proceedings under Tenn.Code Ann. § 10-7-505 as long, as the criminal conviction associated with the records being sought is being collaterally attacked.”
Memphis Publ'g Co. v. Cherokee Child. & Fam. Servs., Inc., 87 S.W.3d 67 (Tenn. 2002). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (d) (1999). “Our .”
Kersey v. Bratcher, 253 S.W.3d 625 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 10-7-503 (Supp.2006). Also pertinent to this appeal, Tenn.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505(a) — 13 cases
Konvalinka v. Chattanooga-Hamilton Cnty. Hosp. Auth., 249 S.W.3d 346 (Tenn. 2008). “” Thus, we must decide whether the inclusion of the phrase “all proceedings below” is broad enough to include separate proceedings under Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (a) to obtain public records.”
Allen v. Day, 213 S.W.3d 244 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “" Next, the Act requires that the citizen wishing to *249 avail himself of the courts' subject matter jurisdiction first "request the right of personal inspection of any state, county or municipal record as provided in § 10-7-503" to an "official" or a "designee of [an]…”
Schneider v. City of Jackson, 226 S.W.3d 332 (Tenn. 2007). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (a) (1999). At the hearing on such a petition, the governmental entity bears the burden of proof and must justify nondisclosure of the record by a preponderance of the evidence.”
Stephen Michael West v. Derrick D. Schofield, 460 S.W.3d 113 (Tenn. 2015).
Andrew C. Clarke v. City of Memphis, 473 S.W.3d 285 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2015). “16(a)(2) are not discoverable in either proceedings to which the Tennessee- Rules of Criminal Procedure apply or separate proceedings under Tenn.Code Ann. § 10-7-505 as long, as the criminal conviction associated with the records being sought is being collaterally attacked.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505(b) — 13 cases
The Tennessean v. Metro. Gov't of Nashville & Davidson Cnty., 485 S.W.3d 857 (Tenn. 2016). “‖ Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (b) (emphasis added).”
Schneider v. City of Jackson, 226 S.W.3d 332 (Tenn. 2007). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (a) (1999). At the hearing on such a petition, the governmental entity bears the burden of proof and must justify nondisclosure of the record by a preponderance of the evidence.”
Arnold v. City of Chattanooga, 19 S.W.3d 779 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999).
Lance v. York, 359 S.W.3d 197 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2011).
Konvalinka v. Chattanooga-Hamilton Cnty. Hosp. Auth., 358 S.W.3d 213 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505(c) — 16 cases
Allen v. Day, 213 S.W.3d 244 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “" Next, the Act requires that the citizen wishing to *249 avail himself of the courts' subject matter jurisdiction first "request the right of personal inspection of any state, county or municipal record as provided in § 10-7-503" to an "official" or a "designee of [an]…”
The Tennessean v. Metro. Gov't of Nashville & Davidson Cnty., 485 S.W.3d 857 (Tenn. 2016). “‖ Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (b) (emphasis added).”
State v. Cawood, 134 S.W.3d 159 (Tenn. 2004).
Lance v. York, 359 S.W.3d 197 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2011).
Moody v. Hutchison, 247 S.W.3d 187 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “” Further, that Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (b) provides for the Court to review records being withheld, and asserts that the Court should have reviewed the records itself to resolve the factual disputes presented regarding whether the entire records were being produced.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505(d) — 25 cases
Konvalinka v. Chattanooga-Hamilton Cnty. Hosp. Auth., 249 S.W.3d 346 (Tenn. 2008). “” Thus, we must decide whether the inclusion of the phrase “all proceedings below” is broad enough to include separate proceedings under Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (a) to obtain public records.”
The Tennessean v. Metro. Gov't of Nashville & Davidson Cnty., 485 S.W.3d 857 (Tenn. 2016). “‖ Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (b) (emphasis added).”
Memphis Publ'g Co. v. Holt, 710 S.W.2d 513 (Tenn. 1986). “Procedure for enforcing this right of access is set forth in T.C.A. § 10-7-505. Where a citizen seeks the aid of the chancery court in obtaining access to governmental records, the state places the burden of proving justification for the denial of access upon the official that…”
Schneider v. City of Jackson, 226 S.W.3d 332 (Tenn. 2007). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (a) (1999). At the hearing on such a petition, the governmental entity bears the burden of proof and must justify nondisclosure of the record by a preponderance of the evidence.”
Memphis Publ'g Co. v. City of Memphis, 871 S.W.2d 681 (Tenn. 1994). “Moreover, in § 10-7-505 — the section setting out the procedure for obtaining judicial review of a government agent’s decision to deny access to records of the agency — the Legislature unequivocally stated its intention to open governmental activity to public scrutiny: “[t]he…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505(e) — 5 cases
Allen v. Day, 213 S.W.3d 244 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “" Next, the Act requires that the citizen wishing to *249 avail himself of the courts' subject matter jurisdiction first "request the right of personal inspection of any state, county or municipal record as provided in § 10-7-503" to an "official" or a "designee of [an]…”
Henderson v. City of Chattanooga, 133 S.W.3d 192 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003).
Konvalinka v. Chattanooga-Hamilton Cnty. Hosp. Auth., 358 S.W.3d 213 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010).
Memphis Publ'g Co. d/b/a The Com. Appeal v. City of Memphis (Tenn. Ct. App. 2017).
Moser v. Etowah Police Dep't (E.D. Tenn. 2021).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505(g) — 27 cases
Alex Friedmann v. Marshall Cnty., TN, 471 S.W.3d 427 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2015). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (a) (2012). At the hearing of a citizen‟s petition for judicial review, “[t]he burden of proof for justification of nondisclosure of records sought shall be upon the official and/or designee of the official of those records and the justification for…”
Thomas Greer v. City of Memphis, Tennessee, 356 S.W.3d 917 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010).
Schneider v. City of Jackson, 226 S.W.3d 332 (Tenn. 2007). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-505 (a) (1999). At the hearing on such a petition, the governmental entity bears the burden of proof and must justify nondisclosure of the record by a preponderance of the evidence.”
Andrew C. Clarke v. City of Memphis, 473 S.W.3d 285 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2015). “16(a)(2) are not discoverable in either proceedings to which the Tennessee- Rules of Criminal Procedure apply or separate proceedings under Tenn.Code Ann. § 10-7-505 as long, as the criminal conviction associated with the records being sought is being collaterally attacked.”
Allen v. Day, 213 S.W.3d 244 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “" Next, the Act requires that the citizen wishing to *249 avail himself of the courts' subject matter jurisdiction first "request the right of personal inspection of any state, county or municipal record as provided in § 10-7-503" to an "official" or a "designee of [an]…”
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