(a) A defendant arrested, held or present in a county, other than that in which an indictment or information is pending against the defendant, may state in writing that the defendant wishes to plead guilty, to waive trial in the county in which the indictment or information is pending and to consent to the disposition of the case in the county in which the defendant was arrested, held or present, subject to the approval of the district attorney general and the court having criminal jurisdiction for each county. Upon receipt of the defendant’s statement and of the written approval of the appropriate district attorneys general and courts, the clerk of the court in which the indictment or information is pending shall transmit the papers in the proceeding or certified copies of the papers to the clerk of the court for the county in which the defendant was arrested, held or present, and the prosecution shall continue in that county.
criminal case

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 40-35-214

  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) A defendant arrested, held or present in a county other than the county in which a charge is pending against the defendant may state in writing that the defendant wishes to plead guilty, to waive trial in the county in which the warrant was issued and to consent to the disposition of the case in the county in which the defendant was arrested, held or present, subject to the approval of the district attorney general and the court having criminal jurisdiction for each county. Upon receipt of the defendant’s statement and the written approval of the appropriate district attorneys general and courts, the clerk of the court for the county in which the warrant was issued shall transmit the papers in the proceeding or certified copies thereof to the clerk of the court having jurisdiction over the offense charged in the warrant for the county in which the defendant was arrested, held or present, and the prosecution shall continue in that county. When the defendant is brought before the court to plead to a charge filed in the county where the warrant was issued, the defendant may at that time waive indictment and the prosecution may continue based upon the indictment or information originally filed.
(c) If, after the proceeding has been transferred pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) the defendant pleads not guilty, the clerk shall return the papers to the court in which the prosecution was commenced, and the proceeding shall be restored to the docket of that court. The defendant’s statement that the defendant wishes to plead guilty shall not be used against the defendant.
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