Source: http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/administration/judicial-resources
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 00:29:48+00:00

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This section of the website offers information, forms and other resources for judges, clerks and administrative staff for the Tennessee court system. For additional assistance or questions, please contact the Administrative Office of the Courts at 615-741-2687.
When there is a trial or appellate court vacancy, the official notice will be posted on this site.
Where there is a vacancy to be filled on the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or the Court of Criminal Appeals, the Governor's Council for Judicial Appointments reviews and recommends applicants for the governor’s consideration. The governor may then appoint one of the recommended applicants to fill the vacancy. Appellate court judges also must be confirmed by the Legislature.
For more information about the nomination process, please read the instructions.
To apply for an APPELLATE COURT vacancy, interested candidates must complete the application and waiver. The application and waiver can be downloaded below.
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission recommends to the governor nominees for trial court vacancies. After the governor has notified the commission of a vacancy, the commission solicits applicants, conducts a public hearing and interviews, and selects three nominees for consideration by the governor.
To apply for a TRIAL COURT vacancy, interested candidates must complete the application and waiver. The application and waiver can be downloaded below.
Learn more about the courts in each county. Explore the Map.
Supreme Court judges must be residents of the state for five years before their election. Tenn. Const., Art. VI, Sec. 3; T.C.A. § 16-3-101(c). No more than two members of the Supreme Court may reside in any one of the grand divisions of the state. Tenn. Const., Art. VI, Sec. 2; T.C.A. § 16-3-101. Each candidate shall reside in the grand division for which the candidate is elected and the two at large judges cannot reside in the same grand division. T.C.A. § 16-3-101(b). A judge of the Supreme Court shall be thirty-five (35) years of age. T.C.A § 17-1-101.
Judges of inferior courts, which include the intermediate appellate courts and state trial courts, must have been residents of the state for five years before their election and of the circuit or district for one year before their election. Tenn. Const., Art. VI, Sec. 4; T.C.A. § 16-4-102; T.C.A. § 16-5-102. Of the twelve judges of the Court of Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals, no more than four may reside in one grand division. T.C.A. § 16-4-102 and T.C.A. § 16-5-102. Each state court judge and chancellor must reside in the judicial district for which the judge or chancellor is elected. T.C.A. § 17-1-102. Each judge shall be at least thirty (30) years of age. T.C.A. § 17-1-101. Each judge shall be licensed to practice law. T.C.A. §§ 16-4-102 and 16-5-102.
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) launched a court security grant program effective August 18, 2017. The AOC received $2 million in one-time funds appropriated by the Tennessee General Assembly and Governor Bill Haslam to improve court security across Tennessee. The past year has yielded at least two serious security breaches in Lewis and Coffee Counties, one resulting in serious injuries to a deputy. A second program, with an additional $2 million in funding, was effective July 1, 2018.
The purpose of this grant is to improve courtroom security and to provide safe and secure facilities to “conduct the business and duties of the court,” as required by Tennessee Code Annotated §16-2-505(d)(1). A special committee of judges from across the state was appointed to determine the qualifications and criteria for grant awards. Chaired by John S. McLellan III (2nd Judicial District), the other judges are Tammy M. Harrington (5th Judicial District), Amy V. Hollars (13th Judicial District), Donald E. Parish (24th Judicial District), Russell Parkes (22nd Judicial District), and John D. Wootten, Jr. (15th Judicial District).
Preference will be given to counties with courtrooms that do not currently meet the present minimum courtroom security standards as well as counties that have experienced a courtroom security breach during the 12-month period of July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017.
“We appreciate the support of the General Assembly and Governor Haslam to help prevent additional violence in our courthouses so that the business of our courts and our citizens can continue safely and efficiently,” added AOC Director Deborah Taylor Tate.
Grant applications will be accepted through November 15, 2018. For more information about the court security grant, please contact Barbara Peck at barbara.peck@tncourts.gov, or visit TNCourts.gov for grant application and information.

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 V.