NCJ Number
54990
Date Published
1977
Length
112 pages
Annotation
TENNESSEE'S COURT SYSTEM IS DESCRIBED IN ONE OF A SERIES OF REPORTS PREPARED BY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS TO FACILITATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION (ABA) STANDARDS ON COURT ORGANIZATION.
Abstract
THE REPORT IS BASED ON A REVIEW OF TENNESSEE'S CONSTITUTION, LAWS, COURT RULES, ANNUAL COURT REPORTS, PROCEDURAL MANUALS, AND OTHER PERTINENT DOCUMENTS. AN OVERVIEW SUMMARIZES INFORMATION ON COURT STRUCTURE (APPELLATE AND TRIAL COURTS), THE JUDICIARY (QUALIFICATIONS, SELECTION, TERMS OF OFFICE, DISCIPLINE, REMOVAL, COMPENSATION, RETIREMENT AGE, CONTINUING EDUCATION, PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS), ADMINISTRATION AND PROCEDURE (ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY, STATE ADMINISTRATION, INDIVIDUAL COURT ADMINISTRATION, POLICYMAKING AND RULEMAKING AUTHORITY, NONJUDICIAL PERSONNEL), FINANCE AND BUDGET (FUNDING, FINES AND FEES, BUDGETING PROCEDURES), AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS RECORDKEEPING, STATISTICS, DATA PROCESSING), THE DEGREE OF COMPLIANCE BETWEEN EACH ASPECT OF THE TENNESSEE COURT SYSTEM AND THE ABA STANDARDS IS NOTED. CHARTS DEPICT ORGANIZATION AND LINES OF AUTHORITY WITHIN THE COURT SYSTEM. THE MAIN BODY OF THE REPORT CONSISTS OF DETAILED PROFILES FOR EACH ASPECT OF THE COURT SYSTEM COVERED IN THE OVERVIEW. THE PROFILES ARE ARRANGED TO CORRESPOND WITH ABA STANDARDS ON UNIFIED COURT SYSTEMS, JUDICIAL COMPETENCY AND INDEPENDENCE RULEMAKING AND POLICYMAKING, COURT ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, COURT SYSTEM FINANCING AND BUDGETING, AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS. KEYED TO THE PROFILES IS A CHART INDICATING THE DEGREE OF SIMILARITY BETWEEN THE TENNESSEE COURT SYSTEM AND EACH ABA STANDARD. SOURCE DOCUMENTS ARE LISTED. (LKM)