TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

Court Suspends In-Person Judicial Proceedings in Tennessee

Posted by: Barry Kolar on Mar 13, 2020

The Tennessee Supreme Court declared a state of emergency for the Judicial Branch and suspended all in-person judicial proceedings through March 31 in an order issued today to guide courts operating during the COVID-19 outbreak. All Tennessee courts will remain open during this period. “Each day across the State of Tennessee, thousands of people attend court proceedings in-person when they come to the courthouse as jurors, witnesses, litigants, or in another capacity,” Chief Justice Jeff Bivins said in issuing the order. “Public spaces in courthouses tend to be small, tightly packed bench seats that provide the type of situations public health officials have encouraged people to avoid during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, judges, court clerks, and others provide essential constitutional functions that must be carried on.” TBA President Sarah Sheppeard called the order "a prudent and creative plan to protect the health of Tennessee’s citizens, litigants, court personnel, lawyers and judges, while keeping the judicial system operating. In today’s uncertain times, precautions such as these are necessary for the sake of all who are involved in the judicial system, as well as those with whom they come in contact." The TBA’s Pandemic Resource Center has more.

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