2023 Tennessee Code › Title 16 - COURTS (§§ 16-1-101 — 16-22-114) › Chapter 15 - COURTS OF GENERAL SESSIONS (§§ 16-15-101 — 16-15-5014) › Part 2 - JUDGE (§§ 16-15-201 — 16-15-211) › Section 16-15-209 - Failure of judge to attend - Selection of special judge

(a)
(1)
If the judge of a court of general sessions or juvenile court finds it necessary to be absent from holding court, the judge may seek a special judge in accordance with the requirements of and in the numerical sequence designated by this section.
(2)
If a special judge is necessary, the judge shall attempt to identify another judge who may serve by interchange, pursuant to §
17-2-208
. If another judge cannot serve by interchange, a judge may seek to find any former or retired judge, who will, by mutual agreement, sit as special judge. The special judge shall serve by designation of the chief justice of the supreme court.
(3)
If the judge is unable to secure a judge under subdivision (a)(2), the judge may apply to the administrative office of the courts for assistance in finding a judge to sit by designation of the chief justice as a special judge.
(4)
Only after exhausting the procedures set out in subdivisions (a)(2) and (3), a judge may appoint a lawyer from a list, on a rotating basis, of lawyers that have been previously approved by the judge or judges of the district or county who are constitutionally qualified, in good standing, and possess sufficient experience and expertise. A lawyer appointed is subject to the following limitations, which shall be made known to persons attending any court proceeding presided over by a lawyer, as evidenced by an entry in the minutes or other permanent record of the court:
(A)
The lawyer may preside only if the parties and counsel are notified that the duly elected or appointed judge will be absent and that a practicing lawyer will serve as a special judge;
(B)
The parties choose to proceed and not to continue the case pending return of the duly elected or appointed judge;
(C)
The lawyer shall not approve the payment of attorney's fees involving an indigent defense claim or any discretionary fees. A special judge shall approve fees only when the exact amount is set by statute; and
(D)
At the opening of any court session presided over by a lawyer appointed pursuant to this section, an announcement shall be made to persons in attendance conveying the information contained in subdivisions (a)(4)(A) and (B). The making of such an announcement constitutes compliance with the notice requirements of this section.
(b)
A general sessions or juvenile judge assigned to a court outside the judge's county of residence shall receive reimbursement for travel expenses from the county to which the judge is assigned. Reimbursement shall be in an amount in accordance with the comprehensive travel regulations promulgated by the supreme court.
(c)
The county legislative body, by resolution adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, may authorize the payment of compensation to a special judge selected pursuant to subdivision (a)(3). The amount of compensation shall not exceed the rate of compensation for other judges of the general sessions court or juvenile court for the county.
(d)
Notwithstanding subdivisions (a)(2) and (3), a general sessions or juvenile judge who encounters a sudden and unexpected emergency which causes the judge to be absent from court may forego the requirements of those subdivisions and appoint a lawyer in accordance with subdivision (a)(4). The circumstances requiring the appointment of a lawyer pursuant to this subsection (d) shall be entered upon the minutes or other permanent record of the court in addition to the information required in subdivision (a)(4).
(e)
(1)
Upon approval of this subsection (e) and subsections (f)-(h) by resolution adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the county legislative body of any county having a population in excess of eight hundred thousand (800,000), according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census, and notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection (e) and subsections (f)-(h) to the contrary, if a judge of a court of general sessions or juvenile court in the county finds it necessary to be absent from holding court, another judge may sit by interchange for the absent judge upon entering an order finding it in the best interest of judicial efficiency. The order shall identify the absent judge and the interchanging judge, and shall be kept on file in the office of the clerk of the court. Upon a finding that interchange is not in the best interest of judicial efficiency, the judge so finding may appoint an attorney as a special judge. The appointments shall be on a rotating basis, from a list of attorneys previously approved by all of the duly elected or appointed general sessions or juvenile court judges, as being constitutionally qualified, in good standing, and possessing sufficient experience and skill. The appointment of a special judge shall be by written order, identifying the absent judge and the special judge, and shall be kept on file in the office of the clerk of the court.
(2)
During the month of September each year, the clerk of the court shall prepare, for each division of court governed by subdivision (e)(1), an annual report for the preceding twelve (12) months, setting out the total number of sessions of court presided over by a special judge, or by a judge sitting by interchange. The clerk shall also report the total number of sessions of court that are scheduled in each division of court for that period. The orders and reports required by this subdivision (e)(2) shall be filed, and kept open for public inspection, by the clerk of the court. The clerk of the court shall promptly file a copy of the annual report with the administrative office of the courts, created by §
16-3-801
.
(f)
All special judges appointed under subsection (e) shall be subject to the following limitations:
(1)
All parties and counsel appearing before the special judge shall be notified that the duly elected or appointed judge is absent, and that a practicing attorney is serving as special judge;
(2)
If there is no duly elected or appointed judge available to preside over the trial of a contested case, either side shall be entitled to continue the case pending the return of a duly elected or appointed judge;
(3)
A special judge shall not preside over a contested cause without a consent form signed by all litigants who are present at the beginning of the proceeding. The consent form shall be kept on file with the clerk of the court as part of the legal record of that cause; and
(4)
A special judge shall not approve the payment of attorney fees, involving an indigent defense claim or any discretionary fees; provided, that a special judge may enter a judgment for attorney fees when:
(A)
The exact amount is set by statute; or
(B)
The party to be charged has executed a written agreement calling for the payment of attorney fees, and the fees shall be the amount specified in the agreement, but in no case more than one-third (1/3) of the principal amount of the debt upon which the suit is brought.
(g)
(1)
Subsections (e) and (f) shall not apply where a judge finds it necessary to be absent from holding court and appoints as a special judge:
(A)
A duly elected or appointed judge of any other juvenile or general sessions court, a trial court judge; or
(B)
A full-time officer of the judicial system under the judge's supervision whose duty it is to perform judicial functions, such as a juvenile magistrate, a child support magistrate or clerk and master, who is a licensed attorney in good standing with the Tennessee supreme court. The judicial officer shall only serve as special judge in matters related to that officer's duties as a judicial officer.
(2)
Notwithstanding subsections (e) and (f), a general sessions or juvenile court judge shall have the authority to appoint a special judge as provided in subdivision (g)(1).
(h)
(1)
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, in any county having a population of more than eight hundred thousand (800,000), according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census, the county governing body of that county may appoint a special substitute judge or judges to serve as a judge in the court of general sessions or juvenile court in the county in the absence of any one (1) of such elected judge or judges.
(2)
A special substitute judge appointed shall be an attorney licensed to practice law by this state and in good standing with the board of professional responsibility.
(3)
The compensation for a special substitute judge pursuant to subsections (e)-(f) and this subsection (h) shall be fixed by the county governing body and shall be paid from any fund appropriated for such purpose by the county governing body.
(i)
A general sessions or juvenile judge selected to serve by interchange pursuant to subdivision (a)(1) in a court outside the judge's county of residence shall receive reimbursement for travel expenses from the county to which the judge travels to serve. Reimbursement shall be assessed in accordance with the standard mileage rate, maximum parking fee, maximum lodging credit, maximum meals, and incidentals credit set forth in the last published comprehensive travel regulations promulgated by the department of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter. Travel expenses relative to mileage, parking, meals, and incidentals shall not exceed one hundred dollars ($100) per day. A general sessions or juvenile judge entitled to reimbursement pursuant to this subsection (i) must submit all travel expense claims to the appropriate county official responsible for processing travel reimbursement.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 266, s 1, eff. 7/1/2021.
Acts 1959, ch. 109, § 14; 1968, ch. 533, § 1; T.C.A., § 16-1114; Acts 1994, ch. 751, § 1; 1997 , ch. 473, § 3; 1998, ch. 943, § 1; 2009 , ch. 235, § 1; 2010 , ch. 757, §§ 1, 2.