Honorable Judge Tiffany Gentry
General Sessions & Juvenile Court Judge
Tiffany Gentry
General Sessions Judge
General Sessions courts were created by the state legislature in 1960 to replace an antiquated justice of the peace system, and there are courts of general sessions in all 95 Tennessee counties.
The General Sessions judge has the authority to issue search and arrest warrants, and the power to set bonds for persons released from custody pending resolution of their case. The court also conducts preliminary hearings on criminal charges to determine whether the matter should be bound over to the grand jury for indictment. The General Sessions court has jurisdiction to try misdemeanors. However, the court does not empanel juries, so any trial in this court is before the bench.
In terms of civil jurisdiction, the General Sessions court is authorized to try small claims and also has jurisdiction over suits to recover personal property with no limit on dollar value. Because General Sessions courts are not courts of record, appeals from their judgments take the form of trial de novo in the courts of general jurisdiction, such as the Jackson County Circuit Court.
The General Sessions judge also serves as the judge for the Jackson County Juvenile Court.
Samantha Brown
Office & Court Administrator
Mitchell Burris
Youth Services Officer