2. The Tennessee Court System By: Brittani Shorey & Katrin a Hart

3. History Justices of Peace: – were the foundation to the state’s initial legal system. The Watuaga Association: – Formed the First Court in 1771 under the watch of John Carter

4. Time Line 1809 – Main Courts become over burdened, and System is reworked 1829 - 1834 – Adam Huntsman realizes faults in the system and suggests new constitution – New constitution Created

5. “The Monkey Trial” Major case – State of Tennessee vs John Thomas Scopes

6. Court System Today Courts of Limited Jurisdiction – Juvenile Courts (17 Judges) – General Sessions Courts (154 Judges) – Municipal Courts (228 Judges) Trial Courts – Probate courts (2 Judges) – Chancery Courts (34 Judges) – Circuit Courts (85 Judges) – Criminal Courts (33 Judges) Intermediate Appellate Courts – Court of Appeals (12 Judges) – Court of Criminal Appeals (12 Judges) Supreme Court – Senior Judges (5 Judges; 4 Retired Senior Judges) – Administrative Office of the Courts

7. Pros and Cons Pros – General Assembly establishes the statute governing how courts are structured, funded, and administered. Cons -Each county has different court costs -There is a lack of structural, financial, and administrative uniformity

8. REFERENCES Sherille, C. (n.d.). Tennessee law, the early days. Retrieved from http://tngenweb.org/law/ Linder, D. (2008). An introduction to the john scopes vs.Tennessee. Retrieved from http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftri als/scopes/evolut.htm Morgan, J. D. (2004). Tennessee's court system: Is reform needed? (307314). Retrieved from Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Research. website: http://www.comptroller1.state.tn.us/repository/RE/co urtreform.pdf