Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-3-201
Jurisdiction
- (a) The jurisdiction of the court is appellate only, under restrictions and regulations that from time to time are prescribed by law; but it may possess other jurisdiction that is now conferred by law upon the present supreme court.
- (b) The court has no original jurisdiction, but appeals and writs of error, or other proceedings for the correction of errors, lie from the inferior courts and court of appeals, within each division, to the supreme court as provided by this code.
- (c) The court also has jurisdiction over all interlocutory appeals arising out of matters over which the court has exclusive jurisdiction.
- (d)
- (1) The supreme court may, upon the motion of any party, assume jurisdiction over an undecided case in which a notice of appeal or an application for interlocutory or extraordinary appeal is filed before any intermediate state appellate court.
- (2) Subdivision (d)(1) applies only to cases of unusual public importance in which there is a special need for expedited decision and that involve:
- (A) State taxes;
- (B) The right to hold or retain public office; or
- (C) Issues of constitutional law.
- (3) The supreme court may, upon its own motion, when there is a compelling public interest, assume jurisdiction over an undecided case in which a notice of appeal or an application for interlocutory or extraordinary appeal is filed with an intermediate state appellate court.
- (4) The supreme court may by order take actions necessary or appropriate to the exercise of the authority vested by this section.
- (e) Appeals of actions under title 2, chapter 17 relative to election contests shall be to the court of appeals in accordance with the Tennessee rules of appellate procedure.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 755,s 1, eff. 4/12/2016.
Code 1858, § 4496 (deriv. Acts 1822, ch. 13, § 4); Acts 1870, ch. 24, § 8; Shan., §§ 377, 6329; mod. Code 1932, §§ 634, 10631; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 16-304; Acts 1989, ch. 40, § 2; 1992, ch. 952, §§ 11, 12; 1994, ch. 573, § 1; 2001, ch. 256, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 40
cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1983–2026 · leading case: State v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp.
State v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. (2000)
“The State subsequently moved this Court to assume jurisdiction of this matter pursuant to Tenn.Code Ann. § 16-3-201(d) on the grounds that the case is of compelling public importance in that it involves a substantial amount of State revenue.”
Abu-Ali Abdur'Rahman v. Tony Parker (2018)
“13, 2018) (Order) (citing Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-3-201 (d)(3) ). 9 Nine days later, the appellate record was filed.”
Wallace v. Metro. Gov't of Nashville & Davidson Cnty. (2018)
“BIVINS, CHIEF JUSTICE We assumed jurisdiction over this appeal pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 16-3-201(d)(1) and Rule 48 of the Rules of the Tennessee Supreme Court and ordered expedited briefing and oral argument.”
City of Memphis v. Shelby County Election Commission (2004)
“See Tenn.Code Ann. § 16-3-201 (Supp.2003). Accordingly, we hereby grant the City’s motion, assume jurisdiction of this appeal, and, as explained below, reverse the judgment of the trial court.”
State v. Shepherd (1995)
“If some factual matter outside the record lies at the root of the State's request, any action on the part of the Court would be dictated by the fact that this Court has appellate jurisdiction only and it would be inappropriate for it to decide matters outside the record that…”
American Civil Liberties Union v. Darnell (2006)
“We assumed jurisdiction of this case pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 16-3-201 to consider whether the Chancellor erred by refusing to declare Senate Joint Resolution 31 unconstitutional and by refusing to enjoin the Secretary of State from placing a proposed…”
Ballard v. Herzke (1996)
“On November 2, 1994, this Court declined to grant a motion to assume jurisdiction of the case pursuant to the “reach-down” provisions of Tenn.Code Ann. § 16-3-201(d). The Court of Appeals then rendered its decision on December 22, 1994, holding that the trial court abused its…”
Baugh v. Novak (2011)
“VI, § 2); Tenn.Code Ann. § 16-3-201(a) (2009). Accordingly, parties before this Court are generally not permitted to raise issues that were not presented to the lower courts.”
Jordan v. Knox County (2007)
“On August 24, 2006, only days before this Court heard arguments in Knoxville, the Secretary of State issued a proclamation acknowledging receipt of the 1988 Knox County Charter and certifying the referendum election results from November of that year.”
Haley v. University of Tennessee-Knoxville (2006)
“” See also Tenn.Code Ann. § 16-3-201 (Supp.2005). We have consistently held that Article VI, section 2’s grant of power limits this Court to adjudicating appellate matters only.”
Hooker v. Haslam (2012)
“Hooker filed a notice of appeal in the Court of Appeals on June 21, 2012, and, at the same time, asked this Court to exercise its discretionary authority to “reach down” for the case pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 16-3-201(d)(1) (2009 & Supp.2011), a statute…”
Bredesen v. Tennessee Judicial Selection Commission (2007)
“Gordon and Lewis simultaneously filed motions in the Supreme Court, requesting that this Court assume jurisdiction of the appeal, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 16-3-201(d) (Supp.2006) (the “reach-down statute”).”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-3-201(a) — 4 cases
State v. Shepherd (1995)
“If some factual matter outside the record lies at the root of the State's request, any action on the part of the Court would be dictated by the fact that this Court has appellate jurisdiction only and it would be inappropriate for it to decide matters outside the record that…”
Baugh v. Novak (2011)
“VI, § 2); Tenn.Code Ann. § 16-3-201(a) (2009). Accordingly, parties before this Court are generally not permitted to raise issues that were not presented to the lower courts.”
Workman v. State (2000)
Hooker v. Thompson (1999)
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-3-201(d) — 13 cases
State v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. (2000)
“The State subsequently moved this Court to assume jurisdiction of this matter pursuant to Tenn.Code Ann. § 16-3-201(d) on the grounds that the case is of compelling public importance in that it involves a substantial amount of State revenue.”
Ballard v. Herzke (1996)
“On November 2, 1994, this Court declined to grant a motion to assume jurisdiction of the case pursuant to the “reach-down” provisions of Tenn.Code Ann. § 16-3-201(d). The Court of Appeals then rendered its decision on December 22, 1994, holding that the trial court abused its…”
Jordan v. Knox County (2007)
“On August 24, 2006, only days before this Court heard arguments in Knoxville, the Secretary of State issued a proclamation acknowledging receipt of the 1988 Knox County Charter and certifying the referendum election results from November of that year.”
Bredesen v. Tennessee Judicial Selection Commission (2007)
“Gordon and Lewis simultaneously filed motions in the Supreme Court, requesting that this Court assume jurisdiction of the appeal, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 16-3-201(d) (Supp.2006) (the “reach-down statute”).”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-3-201(d)(1) — 4 cases
Wallace v. Metro. Gov't of Nashville & Davidson Cnty. (2018)
“BIVINS, CHIEF JUSTICE We assumed jurisdiction over this appeal pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 16-3-201(d)(1) and Rule 48 of the Rules of the Tennessee Supreme Court and ordered expedited briefing and oral argument.”
Hooker v. Haslam (2012)
“Hooker filed a notice of appeal in the Court of Appeals on June 21, 2012, and, at the same time, asked this Court to exercise its discretionary authority to “reach down” for the case pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 16-3-201(d)(1) (2009 & Supp.2011), a statute…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-3-201(d)(2) — 2 cases
Hooker v. Haslam (2012)
“Hooker filed a notice of appeal in the Court of Appeals on June 21, 2012, and, at the same time, asked this Court to exercise its discretionary authority to “reach down” for the case pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 16-3-201(d)(1) (2009 & Supp.2011), a statute…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-3-201(d)(3) — 2 cases
Abu-Ali Abdur'Rahman v. Tony Parker (2018)
“13, 2018) (Order) (citing Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-3-201 (d)(3) ). 9 Nine days later, the appellate record was filed.”
Akilah Moore v. William Lee (2022)
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-3-201(d)(l) — 2 cases
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