(a) In all counties of this state having a population of not less than three hundred seventy thousand (370,000) nor more than four hundred thousand (400,000), according to the federal census of 2000 or any subsequent federal census, legal process in all cases wherein a violation of the laws of the state of Tennessee is charged shall be returnable to the general sessions courts of the various counties coming within §§ 40-4-121 – 40-4-124.
Terms Used In Tennessee Code 40-4-121
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.
Preliminary hearing: A hearing where the judge decides whether there is enough evidence to make the defendant have a trial.
(b) The judges of those courts shall have sole and exclusive jurisdiction, pursuant to the Small Offense Law [repealed], to hear and make final determination of all cases.(c) Appeals to the rulings of the general sessions courts may be filed as is presently provided by law.(d) Any preliminary hearing in the general sessions courts shall be conducted in accordance with existing state law.
