TENNESSEE CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE VI
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT

Art. VI §1 | JUDICIAL POWER AND COURT STRUCTURE

The judicial power of this State shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such Circuit, Chancery and other inferior Courts as the Legislature shall from time to time, ordain and establish; in the Judges thereof, and in Justices of the Peace. The Legislature may also vest such jurisdiction in Corporation Courts as may be deemed necessary. Courts to be holden by Justices of the Peace may also be established.

Art. VI §2 | COMPOSITION AND JURISDICTION OF THE SUPREME COURT

The Supreme Court shall consist of five Judges, of whom not more than two shall reside in any one of the grand divisions of the State. The Judges shall designate one of their own number who shall preside as Chief Justice. The concurrence of three of the Judges shall in every case be necessary to a decision. The jurisdiction of this Court shall be appellate only, under such restrictions and regulations as may from time to time be prescribed by law; but itmay possess such other jurisdiction as is now conferred by law on the present Supreme Court. Said Court shall be held at Knoxville, Nashville and Jackson.

Art. VI §3 | JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT, CONFIRMATION, AND TERM LIMITS

Judges of the Supreme Court or any intermediate appellate court shall be appointed for a full term or to fill a vacancy by and at the discretion of the governor; shall be confirmed by the Legislature; and thereafter, shall be elected in a retention election by the qualified voters of the state. Confirmation by default occurs if the Legislature fails to reject an appointee within sixty calendar days of either the date of appointment, if made during the annual legislative session, or the convening date of the next annual legislative session, if made out of session. The Legislature is authorized to prescribe such provisions as may be necessary to carry out Sections two and three of this article. Every judge of the Supreme Court shall be thirtyfive years of age, and shall before his election have been a resident of the state for five years. His term of service shall be eight years.

Art. VI §4 | ELECTION AND QUALIFICATIONS OF INFERIOR COURT JUDGES

The Judges of the Circuit and Chancery Courts, and of other inferior Courts, shall be elected by the qualified voters of the district or circuit to which they are to be assigned. Every Judge of such Courts shall be thirty years of age, and shall before his election, have been a resident of the State for five years, and of the circuit or district one year. His term of service shall be eight years.

Art. VI §5 | APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF ATTORNEYS GENERAL

An Attorney General and Reporter for the State, shall be appointed by the Judges of the Supreme Court and shall hold his office for a term of eight years. An Attorney for the State for any circuit or district, for which a Judge having criminal jurisdiction shall be provided by law, shall be elected by the qualified voters of such circuit or district, and shall hold his office for a term of eight years, and shall have been a resident of the State five years, and of the circuit or district one year. In all cases where the Attorney for any district fails or refuses to attend and prosecute according to law, the Court shall have power to appoint an Attorney pro tempore.

Art. VI §6 | REMOVAL OF JUDGES AND ATTORNEYS GENERAL BY THE LEGISLATURE

Judges and Attorneys for the State may be removed from office by a concurrent vote of both Houses of the General Assembly, each House voting separately; but two-thirds of the members to which each House may be entitled must concur in such vote. The vote shall be determined by ayes and noes, and the names of the members voting for or against the Judge or Attorney for the State together with the cause or causes of removal, shall be entered on the Journals of each House respectively. The Judge or Attorney for the State, against whom the Legislature may be about to proceed, shall receive notice thereof accompanied with a copy of the causes alleged for his removal, at least ten days before the day on which either House of the General Assembly shall act thereupon.

Art. VI §7 | JUDGES’ COMPENSATION AND PROHIBITION OF FEE-BASED INCOME

The Judges of the Supreme or Inferior Courts, shall, at stated times, receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, which shall not be increased or diminished during the time for which they are elected. They shall not be allowed any fees or perquisites of office nor hold any other office of trust or profit under this State or the United States.

Art. VI §8 | JURISDICTION OF INFERIOR COURTS UNTIL LEGISLATIVE CHANGES

The jurisdiction of the Circuit, Chancery and other Inferior Courts, shall be as now established by law, until changed by the Legislature.

Art. VI §9 | GUIDELINES FOR JUDGES' INSTRUCTIONS TO JURIES

The Judges shall not charge juries with respect to matters of fact, but may state the testimony and declare the law.

Art. VI §10 | POWER OF INFERIOR JUDGES TO ISSUE WRITS OF CERTIORARI

The Judges or Justices of the Inferior Courts of Law and Equity, shall have power in all civil cases, to issue writs of certiorari to remove any cause or the transcript of the record thereof, from any inferior jurisdiction, into such court of law, on sufficient cause, supported by oath or affirmation.

Art. VI §11 | JUDICIAL RECUSAL AND APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL JUDGES

No Judge of the Supreme or Inferior Courts shall preside on the trial of any cause in the event of which he may be interested, or where either of the parties shall be connected with him by affinity of consanguinity, within such degrees as may be prescribed by law, or in which he may have been of counsel, or in which he may have presided in any inferior Court, except by consent of all the parties. In case all or any of the Judges of the Supreme Court shall thus be disqualified from presiding on the trial of any cause or causes, the Court, or the Judges thereof, shall certify the same to the Governor of the State, and he shall forthwith specially commission the requisite number of men, of law knowledge, for the trial and determination thereof. The Legislature may by general laws make provision that special Judges may be appointed, to hold any Courts the Judge of which shall be unable or fail to attend or sit; or to hear any cause in which the Judge may be incompetent.

Art. VI §12 | PROCEDURES FOR WRITS, PROCESS, AND INDICTMENTS

All writs and other process shall run in the name of the State of Tennessee and bear test and be signed by the respective clerks. Indictments shall conclude, “against the peace and dignity of the State.”

Art. VI §13 | APPOINTMENT AND TENURE OF COURT CLERKS

Judges of the Supreme Court shall appoint their clerks who shall hold their offices for six years. Chancellors shall appoint their clerks and masters, who shall hold their offices for six years. Clerks of the Inferior Courts holden in the respective Counties or Districts, shall be elected by the qualified voters thereof for the term of four years. Any Clerk may be removed from office for malfeasance, incompetency or neglect of duty, in such manner as may be prescribed by law.

Art. VI §14 | JURY ASSESSMENT FOR FINES EXCEEDING FIFTY DOLLARS

No fine shall be laid on any citizen of this State that shall exceed fifty dollars, unless it shall be assessed by a jury of his peers, who shall assess the fine at the time they find the fact, if they think the fine should be more than fifty dollars.

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TENNESSEE CONSTITUTIONARTICLE VIJUDICIAL DEPARTMENT

Art. VI §1 | JUDICIAL POWER AND COURT STRUCTURE

Art. VI §2 | COMPOSITION AND JURISDICTION OF THE SUPREME COURT

Art. VI §3 | JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT, CONFIRMATION, AND TERM LIMITS

Art. VI §4 | ELECTION AND QUALIFICATIONS OF INFERIOR COURT JUDGES

Art. VI §5 | APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF ATTORNEYS GENERAL

Art. VI §6 | REMOVAL OF JUDGES AND ATTORNEYS GENERAL BY THE LEGISLATURE

Art. VI §7 | JUDGES’ COMPENSATION AND PROHIBITION OF FEE-BASED INCOME

Art. VI §8 | JURISDICTION OF INFERIOR COURTS UNTIL LEGISLATIVE CHANGES

Art. VI §9 | GUIDELINES FOR JUDGES' INSTRUCTIONS TO JURIES

Art. VI §10 | POWER OF INFERIOR JUDGES TO ISSUE WRITS OF CERTIORARI

Art. VI §11 | JUDICIAL RECUSAL AND APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL JUDGES

Art. VI §12 | PROCEDURES FOR WRITS, PROCESS, AND INDICTMENTS

Art. VI §13 | APPOINTMENT AND TENURE OF COURT CLERKS

Art. VI §14 | JURY ASSESSMENT FOR FINES EXCEEDING FIFTY DOLLARS

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