Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-201 (2026)

Judge of court - Qualifications - Number

✓ current as of May 2026

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(a) There shall be one (1) judge for each court with the same qualifications and term of office as provided by the constitution of Tennessee for inferior courts.

(b) In addition to the qualifications prescribed in subsection (a), the judges of courts of general sessions of counties of the eighth class having a population of not less than nine thousand two hundred thirty (9,230) nor more than nine thousand two hundred fifty (9,250), according to the 1960 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall have the qualifications required for the courts of record provided for in § 17-1-106.

(c) In addition to the qualifications prescribed in subsection (a), the judges of courts of general sessions of counties of the seventh class having a population of not less than fourteen thousand six hundred fifty (14,650) nor more than fourteen thousand six hundred seventy (14,670), according to the 1960 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall have the qualifications required for the courts of record provided for in § 17-1-106.

(d) In addition to the qualifications prescribed in subsection (a), the judges of courts of general sessions of counties of the fifth class having a population of not less than twenty-eight thousand six hundred sixty (28,660) nor more than twenty-eight thousand six hundred ninety (28,690), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall have the qualifications required for the courts of record provided for in § 17-1-106.

(e) This section shall not be construed to affect or change the number of judges prescribed for any court of general sessions in any county by private act in effect as of March 11, 1959, or any private act that may be thereafter enacted prescribing more than one (1) judge for a court of general sessions in a particular county. In event of any conflict between this section and a private act as to the number of judges presiding over the court of general sessions in any particular county, the private act shall control.

Acts 1959, ch. 109, § 9; 1965, ch. 114, § 2; 1967, ch. 276, § 2; 1968, ch. 635, § 2; 1969, ch. 44, § 2; modified; T.C.A., § 16-1105; Acts 1982, ch. 564, § 1.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 3 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1983–2022 · leading case: Crawford v. Gilpatrick, 646 S.W.2d 433 (Tenn. 1983).

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Crawford v. Gilpatrick, 646 S.W.2d 433 (Tenn. 1983). · cites it 6× “§ 16-15-501(c), that: From and after September 1, 1960, all courts of general sessions in this state created by private act shall have the powers and jurisdiction conferred by this chapter and §§ 18-4-201-18-4-203, 20-12-143, 27-5-108,40-118,40-424 and 40-245, and in addition,…”

United States v. Scott, 69 F. Supp. 2d 1018 (E.D. Tenn. 1999). · cites it 2× “Conclusion For the foregoing reasons, Scott’s motion to suppress will be GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.”

Doe v. Tennessee, State of (M.D. Tenn. 2022). · cites it 2× “Like chancellors, general sessions judges are elected subject to qualifications set by state law, Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 16-15-201 , 16-15-202, 17-1-106, and may only be removed by a two- thirds vote of both houses of the state legislature, Tenn.”

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