Judicial Resources | Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts

This section of the website offers information, forms and other resources for judges, clerks and administrative staff for the Tennessee court system. For additional assistance or questions, please contact the Administrative Office of the Courts at 615-741-2687.

JUDICIAL APPLICATION INFORMATION

When there is a trial or appellate court vacancy, the official notice will be posted on this site.

Appellate Court Vacancies

Where there is a vacancy to be filled on the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or the Court of Criminal Appeals, the Governor's Council for Judicial Appointments reviews and recommends applicants for the governor’s consideration. The governor may then appoint one of the recommended applicants to fill the vacancy. Appellate court judges also must be confirmed by the Legislature.

For more information about the nomination process, please read the instructions.

To apply for an APPELLATE COURT vacancy, interested candidates must complete the application and waiver. The application and waiver can be downloaded below.

Governor's Council for Judicial Appointments Application - Word
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Trial Court Vacancies

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission recommends to the governor nominees for trial court vacancies. After the governor has notified the commission of a vacancy, the commission solicits applicants, conducts a public hearing and interviews, and selects three nominees for consideration by the governor.

For more information about the nomination process, please read the instructions.

To apply for a TRIAL COURT vacancy, interested candidates must complete the application and waiver. The application and waiver can be downloaded below.

Trial Court Vacancy Commission Application - Word
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CURRENT VACANCIES

6th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge

32nd Circuit and Chancery Court Judge

11th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge

PREVIOUSLY FILLED

Court of Criminal Appeals- Eastern Division

Court of Appeals- Western Division

4th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge

4th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge, Part V

19th Judicial District Chancellor, Part II

23rd Judicial District Circuit Court Judge, Division IV

18th Judicial District - Circuit Court

22nd Judicial District - Circuit Court

Tennessee Supreme Court Western and Eastern Divisions

16th Judicial District - Circuit Court

21st Judicial District - Circuit Court

13th Judicial District - Criminal Court

19th Judicial District - Circuit Court

22nd Judicial District - Circuit Court

7th Judicial District - Chancellor

Tennessee Supreme Court

Court of Criminal Appeals - Western Section

20th Judicial District - Circuit Court

11th Judicial District - Criminal Court

6th Judicial District - Criminal Court

Attorney General

Court of Criminal Appeals - Eastern Section (2)

Court of Appeals - Middle Section

Tennessee Supreme Court - Eastern and Middle Divisions

Court of Criminal Appeals - Western Division

3rd Judicial District - Circuit Court

7th Judicial District - Circuit Court

10th Judicial District - Circuit Court

14th Judicial District - Circuit Court Part I

19th Judicial District - Circuit Court, Division IV

19th Judicial District - Circuit Court, Part I

24th Judicial District - Circuit Court, Part I

25th Judicial District - Circuit Court

26th Judicial District - Chancery Court

29th Judicial District - Circuit Court

30th Judicial District Chancery Court, Part I

QUALIFICATIONS FOR JUDICIAL OFFICE

Supreme Court judges must be residents of the state for five years before their election. Tenn. Const., Art. VI, Sec. 3; T.C.A. § 16-3-101(c). No more than two members of the Supreme Court may reside in any one of the grand divisions of the state. Tenn. Const., Art. VI, Sec. 2; T.C.A. § 16-3-101. Each candidate shall reside in the grand division for which the candidate is elected and the two at large judges cannot reside in the same grand division. T.C.A. § 16-3-101(b). A judge of the Supreme Court shall be thirty-five (35) years of age. T.C.A § 17-1-101.

Judges of inferior courts, which include the intermediate appellate courts and state trial courts, must have been residents of the state for five years before their election and of the circuit or district for one year before their election. Tenn. Const., Art. VI, Sec. 4; T.C.A. § 16-4-102; T.C.A. § 16-5-102. Of the twelve judges of the Court of Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals, no more than four may reside in one grand division. T.C.A. § 16-4-102 and T.C.A. § 16-5-102. Each state court judge and chancellor must reside in the judicial district for which the judge or chancellor is elected. T.C.A. § 17-1-102. Each judge shall be at least thirty (30) years of age. T.C.A. § 17-1-101. Each judge shall be licensed to practice law. T.C.A. §§ 16-4-102 and 16-5-102.