# Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-201: Judge of court - Qualifications - Number > Tennessee · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T16_C15_S16-15-201 ## Section - **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-201 - **Heading:** Judge of court - Qualifications - Number - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TN Code / Title 16 / Chapter 15 / Section 16-15-201 ## Text (a) There shall be one (1) judge for each court with the same qualifications and term of office as provided by the constitution of Tennessee for inferior courts. (b) In addition to the qualifications prescribed in subsection (a), the judges of courts of general sessions of counties of the eighth class having a population of not less than nine thousand two hundred thirty (9,230) nor more than nine thousand two hundred fifty (9,250), according to the 1960 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall have the qualifications required for the courts of record provided for in § 17-1-106 . (c) In addition to the qualifications prescribed in subsection (a), the judges of courts of general sessions of counties of the seventh class having a population of not less than fourteen thousand six hundred fifty (14,650) nor more than fourteen thousand six hundred seventy (14,670), according to the 1960 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall have the qualifications required for the courts of record provided for in § 17-1-106 . (d) In addition to the qualifications prescribed in subsection (a), the judges of courts of general sessions of counties of the fifth class having a population of not less than twenty-eight thousand six hundred sixty (28,660) nor more than twenty-eight thousand six hundred ninety (28,690), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall have the qualifications required for the courts of record provided for in § 17-1-106 . (e) This section shall not be construed to affect or change the number of judges prescribed for any court of general sessions in any county by private act in effect as of March 11, 1959, or any private act that may be thereafter enacted prescribing more than one (1) judge for a court of general sessions in a particular county. In event of any conflict between this section and a private act as to the number of judges presiding over the court of general sessions in any particular county, the private act shall control. Acts 1959, ch. 109, § 9; 1965, ch. 114, § 2; 1967, ch. 276, § 2; 1968, ch. 635, § 2; 1969, ch. 44, § 2; modified; T.C.A., § 16-1105; Acts 1982, ch. 564, § 1. (a) There shall be one (1) judge for each court with the same qualifications and term of office as provided by the constitution of Tennessee for inferior courts. (b) In addition to the qualifications prescribed in subsection (a), the judges of courts of general sessions of counties of the eighth class having a population of not less than nine thousand two hundred thirty (9,230) nor more than nine thousand two hundred fifty (9,250), according to the 1960 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall have the qualifications required for the courts of record provided for in § 17-1-106 . (c) In addition to the qualifications prescribed in subsection (a), the judges of courts of general sessions of counties of the seventh class having a population of not less than fourteen thousand six hundred fifty (14,650) nor more than fourteen thousand six hundred seventy (14,670), according to the 1960 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall have the qualifications required for the courts of record provided for in § 17-1-106 . (d) In addition to the qualifications prescribed in subsection (a), the judges of courts of general sessions of counties of the fifth class having a population of not less than twenty-eight thousand six hundred sixty (28,660) nor more than twenty-eight thousand six hundred ninety (28,690), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall have the qualifications required for the courts of record provided for in § 17-1-106 . bsection (a), the judges of courts of general sessions of counties of the fifth class having a population of not less than twenty-eight thousand six hundred sixty (28,660) nor more than twenty-eight thousand six hundred ninety (28,690), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall have the qualifications required for the courts of record provided for in § 17-1-106 . (e) This section shall not be construed to affect or change the number of judges prescribed for any court of general sessions in any county by private act in effect as of March 11, 1959, or any private act that may be thereafter enacted prescribing more than one (1) judge for a court of general sessions in a particular county. In event of any conflict between this section and a private act as to the number of judges presiding over the court of general sessions in any particular county, the private act shall control. Acts 1959, ch. 109, § 9; 1965, ch. 114, § 2; 1967, ch. 276, § 2; 1968, ch. 635, § 2; 1969, ch. 44, § 2; modified; T.C.A., § 16-1105; Acts 1982, ch. 564, § 1. ## Nearby sections - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-101 Establishment - Certain counties excepted](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T16_C15_S16-15-101.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-102 Courtroom - Supplies and equipment - Expenses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T16_C15_S16-15-102.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-103 Holding court at places other than county seat](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T16_C15_S16-15-103.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-201 Judge of court - Qualifications - Number](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T16_C15_S16-15-201.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-202 Election - Term](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T16_C15_S16-15-202.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-203 Oath](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T16_C15_S16-15-203.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-209 Failure of judge to attend - Selection of special judge](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T16_C15_S16-15-209.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-210 Vacancy in office of judge - Filling](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T16_C15_S16-15-210.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-211 Seminars](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T16_C15_S16-15-211.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-301 Clerk of court](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T16_C15_S16-15-301.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-302 Salaries of court officers in metropolitan government counties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T16_C15_S16-15-302.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-303 General sessions court clerk](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T16_C15_S16-15-303.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-304 Dockets](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T16_C15_S16-15-304.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-401 General powers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T16_C15_S16-15-401.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T16_C15_S16-15-201. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.