Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-2-501 (2026)
Legislative purpose - Existing courts
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) 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.
- (b) Nothing in this part shall be construed as altering, diminishing or abolishing chancery court or the constitutional and historical distinctions between chancery court and circuit court.
Acts 1984, ch. 931, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5
cases, 1992–2017 · leading case: Flowers v. Dyer Cnty., 830 S.W.2d 51 (Tenn. 1992).
Flowers v. Dyer Cnty., 830 S.W.2d 51 (Tenn. 1992). “T.C.A. § 16-2-501 provides as follows: Legislative Purpose — Existing Courts.”
James E. Kenner v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2015). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-2-501 (a). Therefore, the long-standing process for trying an offender in the county in which a crime was committed by a jury that was selected from that county was not abolished by the creation of judicial districts.”
Christopher D. Hodge v. Debra Johnson, Warden (Tenn. Crim. App. 2017). “Petitioner claims that Tennessee Code Annotated section 16-2-501 stripped the “county courts” of jurisdiction over all matters except those regarding probate.”
Joe Clark Mitchell v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2015). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 16-2-501(a), which was enacted in 1984, explained that the purpose of the legislation was “to reorganize the existing trial court system of this state in such a way that its growth occurs in a logical and orderly manner.”
State of Tennessee v. Woody Dozier (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-2-501 (b) (1994); Flowers v.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-2-501(a) — 2 cases
Joe Clark Mitchell v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2015). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 16-2-501(a), which was enacted in 1984, explained that the purpose of the legislation was “to reorganize the existing trial court system of this state in such a way that its growth occurs in a logical and orderly manner.”
James E. Kenner v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2015). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-2-501 (a). Therefore, the long-standing process for trying an offender in the county in which a crime was committed by a jury that was selected from that county was not abolished by the creation of judicial districts.”
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