(a) In addition to the qualifications provided for judges by the Constitution of Tennessee, Article VI, §§ 3 and 4, judges of the supreme court, court of appeals, court of criminal appeals, chancery courts, circuit courts, criminal courts, and courts exercising the jurisdiction imposed in one (1) or more of the chancery courts, circuit courts, or criminal courts shall be learned in the law, which must be evidenced by the judge:(1) Being authorized to practice law in the courts of this state;(2) Being in good standing with the board of professional responsibility; and(3) Not having been publicly censured by the board of professional responsibility or suspended or disbarred from the practice of law within the ten (10) years preceding the judge's term of office for engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; provided, that this subdivision (a)(3) does not apply to those serving in a judicial position as of October 1, 2022.(b)(1) This section shall not apply to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more shall not apply to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more shall not apply to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more hall not apply to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more all not apply to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ll not apply to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more l not apply to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more not apply to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more not apply to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ot apply to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more t apply to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more apply to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more apply to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more pply to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ply to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ly to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more y to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more to courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more o courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more courts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ourts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more urts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more rts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ts of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more s of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more of general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more f general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more general sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more eneral sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more neral sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more eral sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ral sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more al sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more l sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more sessions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more essions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ssions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more sions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ions in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ons in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ns in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more s in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more in counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more n counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more counties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ounties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more unties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more nties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ties of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ies of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more es of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more s of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more of this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more f this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more this state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more his state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more is state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more s state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more state having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more tate having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ate having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more te having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more e having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more having a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more aving a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ving a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ing a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ng a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more g a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more a population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more population according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more opulation according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more pulation according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ulation according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more lation according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ation according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more tion according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ion according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more on according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more n according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more according to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ccording to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more cording to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ording to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more rding to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ding to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ing to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ng to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more g to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more to the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more o the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more the federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more he federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more e federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more federal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ederal census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more deral census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more eral census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ral census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more al census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more l census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more census of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ensus of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more nsus of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more sus of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more us of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more s of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more of 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more f 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more 1960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more 960 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more 60 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more 0 or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more or any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more r any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more any subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ny subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more y subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more subsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ubsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more bsequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more sequent federal census as follows: not less thannor more equent federal census as follows: not less thannor more quent federal census as follows: not less thannor more uent federal census as follows: not less thannor more ent federal census as follows: not less thannor more nt federal census as follows: not less thannor more t federal census as follows: not less thannor more federal census as follows: not less thannor more federal census as follows: not less thannor more ederal census as follows: not less thannor more deral census as follows: not less thannor more eral census as follows: not less thannor more ral census as follows: not less thannor more al census as follows: not less thannor more l census as follows: not less thannor more census as follows: not less thannor more census as follows: not less thannor more ensus as follows: not less thannor more nsus as follows: not less thannor more sus as follows: not less thannor more us as follows: not less thannor more s as follows: not less thannor more as follows: not less thannor more as follows: not less thannor more s follows: not less thannor more follows: not less thannor more follows: not less thannor more ollows: not less thannor more llows: not less thannor more lows: not less thannor more ows: not less thannor more ws: not less thannor more s: not less thannor more : not less thannor more not less thannor more not less thannor more ot less thannor more t less thannor more less thannor more less thannor more ess thannor more ss thannor more s thannor more thannor more thannor more hannor more annor more nnor more nor more or more r more more more ore re e than4,000....................4,5004,700....................4,8004,900....................4,9505,100....................5,2005,250....................5,3005,900....................6,0006,250....................6,3007,250....................7,3007,800....................7,8258,000....................8,4008,400....................8,5008,500....................8,6009,500....................9,57110,600....................10,70011,500....................11,51111,512....................11,52511,850....................11,90011,900....................11,95012,170....................12,20012,500....................12,60013,000....................13,50014,300....................14,40015,400....................15,50016,100....................16,20017,000....................17,50018,000....................18,50018,800....................18,85019,000....................19,10019,100....................20,00021,000....................21,10021,450....................21,50021,500....................21,60022,200....................22,30024,200....................24,24025,500....................25,60026,950....................27,00027,650....................27,70028,600....................28,65030,400 0022,200....................22,30024,200....................24,24025,500....................25,60026,950....................27,00027,650....................27,70028,600....................28,65030,400....................30,50039,100....................39,20041,550....................41,60042,150....................42,200250,000....................300,000(2) This section shall not apply to judges of the county courts nor to chairs of county courts in the various counties of this state except in those counties where such judges or chairs exercise general criminal jurisdiction normally exercised by the criminal and circuit courts, jurisdiction of purely civil cases in which a jury is provided for, except insanity proceedings and condemnation of land proceedings, and jurisdiction to hear and determine divorce cases.(c)(1) Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (b) to the contrary, this section shall apply to any county having a population of not less than two hundred eighty-seven thousand seven hundred (287,700) nor more than two hundred eighty-seven thousand eight hundred (287,800), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census.(2) Subdivision (c)(1) thousand seven hundred (287,700) nor more than two hundred eighty-seven thousand eight hundred (287,800), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census.(2) Subdivision (c)(1) shall have no effect unless it is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the county legislative body of any county to which it may apply. Its approval or nonapproval shall be proclaimed by the presiding officer of the county legislative body and shall be certified by such officer to the secretary of state.(d) Notwithstanding any other public or private act, law or charter provision, subsection (a) shall also apply to judges of city courts of all cities of this state having a population in excess of one hundred sixty thousand (160,000), according to the federal census of 1980 or any subsequent federal census.Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1120, s 1, eff. 10/1/2022.Acts 1961, ch. 283, § 1; 1965, ch. 85, § 1; 1965, ch. 336, § 1; 1973, ch. 312, § 1; 1974, ch. 521, § 1; T.C.A., § 17-119; modified; Acts 1983, ch. 180, §§ 1, 2; 1983, ch. 201, § 1.
Tennessee Legal Code