Tennessee Court Case Lookup
A Tennessee court case lookup aims to provide members of the public access to court case information generated in the course of a judicial proceeding. In Tennessee, a court case is a dispute between a plaintiff and a defendant settled by a court's verdict or an equivalent legal process. A court case in Tennessee is handled by a court with authority over the matter. Tennessee's court system is divided into:
- Supreme courts
- Appellate courts
- State trial courts
- Courts of limited jurisdiction
Courts of limited Jurisdiction: The courts of limited jurisdiction include a general session, juvenile, and municipal courts. They are small courts, and they try petty cases.
State trial courts: Trial courts include criminal courts, probate courts, circuit courts, and chancery courts. Both circuit and chancery courts are in all the judicial districts of Tennessee.
- Circuit Courts: Circuit courts have general jurisdiction over all appeals
- Chancery Court: They have all the powers, privileges, and jurisdiction over cases where there is a need to establish equity
- Criminal Courts: They were created to reduce the strain of circuit courts in areas with many cases. Their jurisdiction covers criminal cases, but they can also hear misdemeanor appeals from the lower courts.
- Probate courts: Their jurisdiction covers cases concerning an estate administration, guardianships, and wills
Appellate Courts: Their jurisdiction includes modifying a lower court's decision for either criminal or civil law.
Supreme Court: They accept civil and criminal appeals from lower courts and are the state court's last resort. They are the highest court in Tennessee.
Are Court Cases Public Record in Tennessee?
Yes, court cases are public records in Tennessee. Documents created by government institutions, including courts, while conducting their official duties are seen as public records. According to the Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA), the public has the right to view and copy these materials that government bodies maintain. The goal of the TPRA is the transparency and accountability of all public officials. To access public records, The person inquiring files a request (oral or written) to the Public Record Request Coordinator (PRRC), who ensures that the party possessing the record being sought releases it. Not all court cases are public records so some requests may be denied. An example of such is juvenile case information.
How to Conduct a Tennessee Court Case Lookup
Court cases in Tennessee can be looked up using the C-Track case management tool called Public Case History. Inquirers have access to records filed after September 1, 2006, which are updated at the end of every business day. A person can look up court cases heard by the Tennessee Supreme Court and the Appellate Courts using information including:
- Case number
- The names of the parties involved in the case
- The style of the case
In addition to the Public Case History, the Supreme court publishes its pending cases monthly so court cases can be looked up there. Some lower courts in Tennessee also have free or subscription-based online platforms where a person can look up a case if interested. For example, Metropolitan Nashville City and Davidson County have a case management tool called Caselink.
Davidson County residents who sign up for $25 a month can have access to circuit court records.
Can I Get Tennessee Court Case Documents Online?
In Tennessee, individuals can access court case documents online through the Public Case History. The Public Case History database gives a person remote access to cases filed after August 26, 2013. The database can be searched in the following ways:
- Case number
- Case style
- First or last name of any party involved in the appeal
Cases that can be found online are called open court cases. A public court case is a case with records and filings that are not confidential, so it can be found online. Anyone can access the documents filed in the case, and anyone can attend the proceedings whether or not they are a party to the case. For filings that are private, inquirers need to be a party to the case to access them, so they are not available online. Such files are seen at the clerk of the court's office. An example of this is a juvenile case.
How to Conduct a Tennessee Court Search by Name
Inquirers can use confirmed parties' names in a case to find cases online. The name of any confirmed party in an appeal can be used to search for a court record. For example, entering a name like John will bring up cases where the parties involved are called John. The steps for searching are:
- Go to Public Case history
- Select Party name
- Enter the name of an involved party
- Click Search
- Scroll through the results to find the desired record
What is a Court Case Number?
A court case number is a unique tracking number assigned to a case that appears on all papers submitted to the court once the number is assigned. Researchers can use the case number to find information, for example, the names of the parties, dates of appearances before the court, and a summary of the claims or charges. A case number can also be used to identify court filings, for example, pleadings, motions, and briefs. It is also known as docket number, and more information about dockets and court filings can be researched.
How to Conduct a Case Number Search in Tennessee
Individuals in Tennessee can find cases online using the case number or docket number to search for records in the Public Case History. People can use the sequence number contained in the case number to search the database. For example, if a particular case number is M2022-02285-COB-R9-GT, the sequence number is 2285. The steps for searching are as follows:
- Go to Public Case History
- Select case number
- Enter sequence number
- Click Search
- Scroll through the results to find the desired record
How to Remove Court Cases From Public Record in Tennessee
For persons eligible to do so, the law in Tennessee (Tenn. Code § 40-32-101) allows them to clear their criminal records in a process called "expungement". Expungement in Tennessee means the records will be permanently deleted - not just sealed, as in some states. To clear their criminal record the person has to determine their eligibility for expungement, file for expungement then follow the timetable.
Determining eligibility for expungement: A person has to make sure that their records can be expunged so they have to check the eligibility requirements. If their charge did not lead to an arrest or was dismissed for example, they can clear it from their record while cases like assault and murder cannot be expunged in Tennessee. Individuals can research types of records that can be expunged to know if their case meets the requirements.They can then proceed to filing if their case is eligible.
Filing for expungement: When filing for expungement, the person applies to the Tennessee Courts as it is a court-ordered process. Get all the information about the case (it can be requested from the court clerk) and file for expungement in the court with jurisdiction of the case. If a person's expungement is successful, they pay a fifty dollar ($50.00) fee. This fee does not apply to some cases for example an acquittal or dismissal. After the charges are expunged, a certified copy of the order is issued to him or her to keep with their permanent files. This serves as proof that their expungement was accepted and changes to their record are valid.
Following the timetable: Criminal cases become eligible for expungement three years after the date of a judgment. The expungement process takes 60 days to complete. Because expungement cases can become complicated, it is advisable to work with an attorney to maximize chances of success.
How to Check a Court Case Status in Tennessee
The status of a court case can be open, inactive or closed and individuals in Tennessee can inquire about the status of the case using the Public Case History. The Public Case History is a case management system that helps a person check the status of cases in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals. The pending case report provides a short case summary of the case, the lower court opinion and the latest update in the case. Inquirers can also check the status of their case by going to the courthouse in person and contacting the court clerk to check the case. The court clerk's number can be found on Tennessee's Judicial branch website.
How to Find Supreme Court Decisions in Tennessee
When supreme court justices have heard arguments and reviewed attorneys' briefs,they issue written decisions called opinions. In Tennessee according to the constitution, the supreme court hears appeals in Nashville, Jackson, Knoxville and other needed cities. The Tennessee State Library & Archives recently launched an online ordering system for Supreme Court cases. The system will help researchers be able to request cases as far back as the early 1800s in hard copy or digital scans. More than 50,000 records have been uploaded so far. Supreme court opinions can also be found online on Tennessee courts' website. Other databases for finding opinions include Caselaw and Supreme court cases
What Percentage of Court Cases Go to Trial in Tennessee?
Majority of criminal cases do not reach trial because of plea bargains, dismissal from prosecution or the general lack of resources by the government to try every case. There are no available statistics on the percentage of court cases that go to trial in Tennessee. However, general statistics indicate that only about 10% of criminal cases go to trial, as most are either resolved in their early stages by plea bargains or resolved on the trial day. In civil cases, only 1% of cases get to trial, while others settle in the middle of the trial.
How Long Does a Court Case Last in Tennessee?
As each case is unique, Tennessee has no set duration for court cases. Jury trials can last anywhere from days to weeks to months, depending on the case's complexity - the majority of trials in Tennessee last two to three days. Patients are usually settled or set for trial within 6 to 12 months of the General Sessions court date.
For an efficient justice system and to ensure that cases are concluded within a set period of time, the law has a criminal statute of limitations in place. In Tennessee, the statute of limitations is not applicable to crimes punishable by death or life in prison. Other felonies have a statute of limitations ranging from two years to 15 years. Misdemeanors within the state have a statute of limitations of 12 months.
How to File a Case in Court in Tennessee
To file a case in Tennessee, the "plaintiff" submits the necessary forms (such as complaint, petition, etc) to be filed at the court with the "jurisdiction" for their case. Jurisdiction means that the court has the authority to process the case. When filing cases in person in Tennessee, one would usually go to the General Sessions Court Clerk's Office with the necessary documents for filing. They are then given guidance and charged a filing fee. The name and address of the defendant and the date for the claim are necessary when filing a claim.
What Does It Mean if a Court Case Was Resolved Before the Trial Date?
If a court case is resolved before the trial date, the lawyers have negotiated and agreed to settle the matter out of court. Resolving a case before trial means a "plea deal" was reached in criminal cases. A plea deal is a bargain in which the parties plead for a lesser charge. Most criminal cases are resolved by plea bargaining. The court can also force a resolution of the case without a trial or resolve the case by dismissal.
