General Sessions Civil Court Details
Cases where a landlord is pursuing an eviction (detainer) are heard in Hamilton County General Sessions Civil Court, and are part of the Detainer Docket. In order to manage the volume of backlogged cases as a result of COVID-19, General Sessions judges will be presiding over ten cases per docket, with each docket scheduled for one hour. They will not be hearing any other types of civil cases until the backlog of evictions cases is caught up
General Sessions courtrooms are on the second floor of the Hamilton County Courts Building at 600 Market St. Entrances can be found on both the Market St. and Cherry St. sides of the building.
|
LOCAL RULES OF PRACTICE GENERAL SESSIONS COURT CIVIL & CRIMINAL HAMILTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE
RULE 4. COURTROOM DECORUM PROCEDURES AND APPROPRIATE ATTIRE
At the opening of each session of court, everyone shall rise and remain standing until the court officer formally opens court. The area within the bar is reserved for attorneys, court personnel, officers, and participants in the case immediately before the Court. All other people shall be seated outside of the bar. Although the gallery is open to the public, the Court may exclude any persons from court if they are found disruptive or as otherwise determined appropriate for the safety of the court.
B. The behavior of all participants, attorneys, witnesses, and spectators shall conform to strict standards of decency, dignity, etiquette, and propriety. Everyone shall remove hats and sunglasses before entering the courtroom. Demonstrations, acts of misconduct, loud talking, or any disruption shall not be permitted inside or outside the courtroom.
C. While in the courtroom, all electronic and/or cellular devices must be turned off and shall not be utilized by anyone except attorneys and court personnel as necessary. Upon notice to the presiding judge, audio recordings are permitted by attorneys as authorized by T.C.A. 5 20-9-104.
RULE 4. COURTROOM DECORUM PROCEDURES AND APPROPRIATE ATTIRE
At the opening of each session of court, everyone shall rise and remain standing until the court officer formally opens court. The area within the bar is reserved for attorneys, court personnel, officers, and participants in the case immediately before the Court. All other people shall be seated outside of the bar. Although the gallery is open to the public, the Court may exclude any persons from court if they are found disruptive or as otherwise determined appropriate for the safety of the court.
B. The behavior of all participants, attorneys, witnesses, and spectators shall conform to strict standards of decency, dignity, etiquette, and propriety. Everyone shall remove hats and sunglasses before entering the courtroom. Demonstrations, acts of misconduct, loud talking, or any disruption shall not be permitted inside or outside the courtroom.
C. While in the courtroom, all electronic and/or cellular devices must be turned off and shall not be utilized by anyone except attorneys and court personnel as necessary. Upon notice to the presiding judge, audio recordings are permitted by attorneys as authorized by T.C.A. 5 20-9-104.
- The conduct and attire of all attorneys and court attendants shall be professional business attire and shall conform to the professional dignity expected of officers of the court. All persons having matters before the Court, or otherwise in attendance, must be dressed appropriately, which shall exclude shorts, halter tops, bare midriffs, see-through attire, muscle shirts or tank tops, clothing with written or demonstrative obscenity, pornography or profanity. No clothing shall be allowed that exposes undergarments or any intimate body part.
- All attorneys shall note their representation on civil warrants and criminal warrants, and shall appear at the client's designated court time, unless the attorney notifies the Court of his/her whereabouts.
- Attorneys shall rise and remain standing, if able, when addressing the Court, making a statement, argument, or objection to the Court or questioning a witness.
- The defendant shall be seated at the defense table or stand before the bench during any hearing or trial, as ordered by the presiding judge. Spectators may use unoccupied seats on first come, first served basis. Standing will not be permitted in the audience unless absolutely necessary.
- The court officer and other officers serving General Sessions Court shall be responsible for enforcing courtroom rules, procedures and decorum.