TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Mar 17, 2023

An amendment added to HB1029/SB1159 is making its way through the state legislature that would send 17-year-olds to adult criminal court first, rather than juvenile court. The bill’s primary sponsors are Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, and House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville. The proposed amendment requires juvenile petitions to be filed in the appropriate criminal court for all children who are 17 at the time of the alleged conduct. It requires the same for children ages 14 to 16 at the time of the alleged conduct who are charged with specific offenses. 10News in Knoxville has the story.