Welcome to the Circuit Court Clerk's Office
As a proactive measure to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, physical access to
our office from the general public is closed until further notice. We are available by phone to provide
assistance and answer any questions. If you need to drop off an item or documents that require a signature,
please call the number listed below and we will provide guidance on how we will receive the item.
COVID-19 Information and News (Click here)
Effective Mon., Mar 30, 2020, our employees will be working a 4 day workweek,
Mon through Thurs, 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Cheryl Castle
Circuit Court, Clerk
The Circuit Court Clerk is a constitutional officer and is elected to four (4) year terms. The Circuit Court Clerk
ensures the efficient operations of our courts by maintaining dockets and records, handling administrative matters
and serving as goodwill ambassadors to the public. The duties and authority of a Circuit Court Clerk are outlined in
T.C.A. 18-1-105 and T.C.A. 18-1-108.
Circuit Court Clerks also serve as the Clerk of General Sessions and Juvenile Courts and oversees
Juror Administration for all courts. The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is comprised of seven primary divisions:
Administration, Civil, Criminal, Traffic, Records/Archives, Juvenile and Jury Administration. The office of
the Circuit Court Clerk coordinates and manages the general legal business, public communications, and financial
operations of the courts in Montgomery County. The Circuit Court Clerk’s office employees fifty eight (58) full
time employees.
The business services and responsibilities are defined by state statute, court rules and county policies, and
include:
- Administrative management
- Technology planning and deployment
- Court case management
- Records management and preservation of court exhibits
- Financial management (statutory fiduciary for Circuit, General Sessions and Juvenile Court)
- Juror Administration
- Staff development - training and implementation of new laws and court procedures
- Statutory dissemination of information and data reporting to various agencies
- Courtroom support for judges and judicial equivalents
Circuit Courts
Circuit Courts are courts of general jurisdiction in Tennessee. Circuit judges hear civil cases, criminal cases and
appeals of decisions from General Sessions, Juvenile and Municipal courts. The jurisdiction of Circuit Courts often
overlaps that of the Chancery Courts.
General Sessions Court
General Sessions Court jurisdiction varies from county to county based on state laws and private acts. Every county
is served by the court which hears civil and criminal cases. Civil jurisdiction is restricted to specific monetary
limits and types of actions. Criminal jurisdiction is limited to preliminary hearings in felony cases and
misdemeanor trials in which a defendant waives the right to a grand jury investigation and trial by jury in Circuit
or Criminal Court. General Sessions judges also serve as juvenile judges except in counties in which the legislature
has established a separate Juvenile Court.
Juvenile Court jurisdiction is vested in General Sessions Courts in all counties except those in which the law
establishes special Juvenile Courts. Juvenile Courts have exclusive jurisdiction in proceedings involving minors
alleged to be delinquent, unruly, dependent and neglected. Juvenile Courts also have concurrent jurisdiction with
Circuit, Chancery and Probate Courts in some areas.