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Court System - Historical Notes

Tennessee Code Annotated
Tennessee Attorney General Opinions

Board of Jury Commissioners - Jurors

The following acts once affected jurors or boards of jury commissioners in Shelby County, but are no longer operative. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

  1. Acts of 1849-50, Chapter 172, provided that the Shelby County Court would pay all jury tickets issued by the clerk of county court and of the criminal court of Memphis.
  2. Public Acts of 1901, Chapter 124, created a board of jury commissioners for Shelby County, with three "discreet" members,
  3. Acts of 1905, Chapter 230, created a board of jury commissioners for Shelby County, prescribed their oath, compensation and method of jury selection for the circuit and criminal courts.
  4. Acts of 1907, Chapter 226, amended Acts of 1905, Chapter 230, by providing that two of the three jury commissioners receive $3.00 each per day, and that the secretary of said jury commissioners receive $5.00 per day for each and every day’s service.
  5. Acts of 1907, Chapter 561, amended Acts of 1905, Chapter 230, by providing for juries for immediate use in special cases, their term of service, exemption, qualifications and punishment for violating Chapter 230.
  6. Acts of 1909, Chapter 337, set the per diem salary of jurors at $1.50 per day plus mileage for those who lived more than ten miles from the courthouse. Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 30, raised this salary to $3.00 per day, and Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 357, set the salary at $6.00 per day.
  7. Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 65, amended the general law on compensation of jurors by providing that in Shelby County the compensation of jurors should be $3.00 per day plus mileage as set by law. This was repealed by Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 207.
  8. Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 640, amended Acts of 1905, Chapter 230, by providing that jurors serve fifteen days instead of twelve days within a year.
  9. Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 640, amended Acts of 1905, Chapter 230, so as to provide for service of all jurors selected in any of the circuit or criminal courts and fixed the manner of selection so as to economize in the trial of all civil and criminal cases in Shelby County.
  10. Private Acts of 1913 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 1, provided that jurors who lived more than five miles from the courthouse in Shelby County would be allowed additional compensation of 10¢ per mile for each day's jury service, provided that the mileage did not exceed twenty miles per day. This was repealed by Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 374.
  11. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 337, amended Public Acts of 1915, Chapter 70, to provide that the per diem compensation of jurors in Shelby County would be $2.50. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 766, amended this to provide that the per diem compensation of jurors, who lived within five miles of the courthouse and who collected mileage, would not be changed. These acts were repealed by Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 376.
  12. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 729, amended Acts of 1905, Chapter 230, by placing the members of the jury commissioners on a stipulated monthly salary in lieu of the per diem that was provided.
  13. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 774, provided that jurors were to be paid $2.50 per day plus 4¢ per mile if they lived at least six miles from the courthouse.
  14. Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 418, amended Acts of 1905, Chapter 230, by providing that one of the commissioners appointed under the provisions of said act shall reside outside the corporate limits of the Shelby County Seat.
  15. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 418, amended Private Acts of 1905, Chapter 230, by providing that one of the commissioners appointed under the provisions of said act reside outside of the corporate limits of the Shelby County Seat.
  16. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 633, was an amendment to the board of jury commissioners act, which provided that the grand jury was to be chosen from the names of all qualified jurors in attendance in both the circuit and criminal courts, by placing their names in a box and letting the names be drawn from the box by a child under the age of ten years. This was repealed by Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 447.
  17. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 818, amended Acts of 1905, Chapter 230, by providing for the more effective service of jurors, the exemption of certain persons from further jury service under certain conditions; to permit judges to fix the time of service at a subsequent term and to otherwise make said act more effective.
  18. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 370, amended Acts of 1905, Chapter 230, by restructuring the board of jury commissioners.
  19. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 378, amended Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 370, $175 per month.
  20. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 236, amended Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 370, by $350 per month.
  21. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 157, amended Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 370, by providing that the jury commissioner appointed by the judges and chancellors receive a salary of $375 per month.
  22. Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 298, amended Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 370, by providing that the jury commissioner appointed by the judges and chancellors receive a salary of $400 per month.
  23. Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 118, amended Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 370, by providing that the jury commissioner receive a salary of $5,400 per annum.
  24. Private Acts of 1961, Chapter 121, amended Acts of 1905, Chapter 230, by extending the time in which the envelope containing the jury list be sealed from two to four years.
  25. Private Acts of 1961, Chapter 252, amended Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 370, by providing that the jury commissioner receive a salary of $7,500 per annum.
  26. Private Acts of 1967-68, Chapter 237, amended Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 370, by providing that the jury commissioner receive a salary of $9,500 per annum.
  27. Private Acts of 1967-68, Chapter 330, would have repealed Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 30, and Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 357, but it was rejected or disapproved or not concurred in by the proper authorities and is was therefore not operative and not in effect in accordance with its provisions.
  28. Private Acts of 1969, Chapter 182, amended Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 370, by providing that the jury commissioner receive a salary of $12,000 per annum.
  29. Private Acts of 1970, Chapter 316, amended Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 370, by providing that the salary of the jury commissioner shall be set by the quarterly county court of Shelby County.
  30. Private Acts of 1979, Chapter 263, amended Acts of 1905, Chapter 230, by providing for an alternate method of providing names for jury venires.

Chancery Court

The following acts form an outline of the development of equity jurisdiction in Shelby County, although they no longer have the force of law since they have either been superseded by general law, repealed, or failed to receive local ratification. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

  1. Public Acts of 1829-30, Chapter 52, placed the counties of Shelby, Wayne, Hardin, McNairy, Hardeman and Fayette into a chancery district. The chancery court was held in Bolivar on the first Mondays of May and November.
  2. Public Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 4, established chancery courts throughout the state. The counties of Shelby and Fayette composed the seventh chancery district of the Western Division. The chancery courts were held at Somerville on the fourth Mondays of May and November.
  3. Acts of 1837-38, Chapter 14, provided that Fayette, Shelby, Hardeman and McNairy counties were to form one chancery division with court to be held in Somerville on the fourth Mondays in May and November of each year.
  4. Acts of 1845-46, Chapter 4, provided that Fayette and Shelby counties should compose the seventh chancery division, and also provided that chancery court in Shelby County was to be held on the fourth Mondays in May and November.
  5. Acts of 1845-46, Chapter 21, provided that Shelby County constitute a separate chancery district and set the times for holding said court on the fourth Mondays of May and November in Memphis.
  6. Public Acts of 1857-58, Chapter 88, prescribed the times and places of holding the chancery courts of the state. The Shelby County Chancery Court was held on the fourth Mondays of May and November in Memphis.
  7. Public Acts of 1869-70, Chapter 28, reorganized the courts of Shelby County, creating the seventh chancery division, with two chancery courts. This was amended by Public Acts of 1875, Chapter 23, which abolished the second chancery court.
  8. Public Acts of 1870, Chapter 32, divided the state into chancery divisions. Shelby County was placed in the twelfth chancery district.
  9. Public Acts of 1870, Chapter 47, set the term of the chancery court in Shelby County for the first Mondays of April and October.
  10. Public Acts of 1875, Chapter 23, abolished the second chancery court of Shelby County and transferred all papers and records of the second chancery court to the first chancery court of Shelby County.
  11. Acts of 1885 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 20, divided the state into chancery divisions. The chancery court of Shelby County was placed in the eleventh chancery division and was set to take place on the first Mondays in April and October.
  12. Public Acts of 1889, Chapter 186, conferred upon the probate court of Shelby County the same jurisdiction as was possessed by the chancery courts to authorize guardians to exceed the incomes derived from the estates of their wards in the maintenance, education and support of their wards.
  13. Public Acts of 1895, Chapter 36, reorganized the chancery court of Shelby County, dividing it into two divisions. Public Acts of 1899, Chapter 64, repealed this act.
  14. Public Acts of 1899, Chapter 427, divided the state into chancery divisions and set the times or holding said court. Shelby County was placed in the tenth chancery division and held chancery court on the first Mondays in January and July.
  15. Acts of 1909, Chapter 90, Section 2, set the time of holding the chancery court of Shelby County to the first Mondays of October and April.
  16. Acts of 1909, Chapter 391, also reorganized the chancery court of Shelby County, creating two divisions and dividing the case load equally between the two.
  17. Public Acts of 1921, Chapter 101, set the salary of the clerk of the Shelby County Probate Court to $7,500 per annum.
  18. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 417, amended the general law to provide that in Shelby County all executions from chancery court would be returnable on the first Monday of the month, coming not less than 30 days from the date of issuance of such execution.
  19. Public Acts of 1931, Chapter 38, divided the state into chancery divisions and set the times of holding said court. Shelby County was placed in the tenth chancery division and held chancery court on the first Mondays in April and October.
  20. Public Acts of 1955, Chapter 161, provided a secretary to the two chancellors of the tenth chancery division of the state, parts one and two, which heard chancery cases in Shelby County. This act was amended by Public Acts of 1963, Chapter 330, so as to provide a secretary to the three chancellors of the tenth chancery division, parts one, two and three, and to provide for their compensation.
  21. Private Acts of 1967-68, Chapter 236, amended Public Acts of 1869-70, Chapter 86, to provide a schedule of fees to be paid as court costs to the clerk of the court. This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1980, Chapter 250.

Chancery Court - Clerk and Master

The reference list below contains acts which once applied to the clerk and master in Shelby County.

  1. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 77, set the salary of the Shelby County Chancery Court Clerk to $4,500 per annum.
  2. Public Acts of 1921, Chapter 101, set the salary of the Shelby County Chancery Court Clerk to $6,000 per annum.
  3. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 891, set the salary of the Shelby County Chancery Court Clerk to $5,000 per annum. This act was amended by Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 160, which set the salary of the chancery clerk and probate clerk to $7,200 per annum.
  4. Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 301, amended Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 891, by setting the salary of the Shelby County Chancery Court Clerk to $6,500 per annum and setting the salary of the probate court clerk to 8,000 per annum.

Circuit Court

The following acts were once applicable to the circuit court of Shelby County but now have no effect, having been repealed, superseded, or having failed to win local approval. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

  1. Public Acts of 1821, Chapter 42, placed Henry, Carroll, Henderson, Madison, Shelby, Wayne, Hardin and Perry counties in the eighth judicial circuit.
  2. Public Acts of 1821, Chapter 65, provided that appeals in the nature of writs of error from the eighth judicial circuit were to be made to the supreme court of errors and appeals for the sixth circuit at Columbia.
  3. Public Acts of 1823, Chapter 41, set the time for holding the Shelby County Circuit Court on the second Mondays in April and October.
  4. Private Acts of 1824, Chapter 102, set the time for holding the Shelby County Circuit Court to the first Mondays in April and October.
  5. Private Acts of 1825, Chapter 318, set the time for holding the Shelby County Circuit Court to the second Mondays in June and December.
  6. Public Acts of 1829-30, Chapter 52, placed the counties of Shelby, Wayne, Hardin, McNairy, Hardeman and Fayette in the tenth judicial circuit.
  7. Public Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 5, established circuit courts throughout the state. The counties of Shelby, Fayette, Hardeman, McNairy, Hardin and Wayne composed the eleventh judicial circuit. Shelby County held its circuit court on the first Mondays in January, May and September.
  8. Acts of 1837-38, Chapter 116, Section 7, changed the times of holding the Shelby County Circuit Court to the first Mondays in February, June and October.
  9. Acts of 1845-46, Chapter 21, placed Shelby County in the eleventh judicial circuit and set the times for holding said court to the first Mondays in January, May and September.
  10. Acts of 1851-52, Chapter 352, changed the times of holding the circuit court of Shelby County to the third Mondays of January, May and September.
  11. Public Acts of 1857-58, Chapter 98, prescribed the times and places of holding the circuit courts of the state. The Shelby County Circuit Court was placed in the fifteenth judicial circuit and held circuit court on the third Mondays in January, May and September.
  12. Private Acts of 1865-66, Chapter 103, authorized the clerks of circuit and county courts of Shelby County to keep their office in Memphis as well as in Raleigh.
  13. Public Acts of 1867-68, Chapter 4, changed the times of holding the circuit court of Shelby County to the fourth Mondays of January, May and September.
  14. Public Acts of 1869-70, Chapter 28, reorganized the circuit courts in Shelby County, by creating the twentieth judicial circuit, containing only the courts of Shelby County. The twentieth judicial circuit was to have three circuit courts and one criminal court. Public Acts of 1875, Chapter 23, amended this act to abolish the second circuit court, and Public Acts of 1883, Chapter 183, was another amendatory act which changed the term of circuit court.
  15. Public Acts of 1870, Chapter 31, laid the state off into judicial circuits. The fifteenth circuit was composed of the two circuit courts of Shelby County.
  16. Public Acts of 1870, Chapter 46, fixed the time for holding the circuit courts of the state. The circuit court of Shelby County was set for the third Mondays in January, May and September.
  17. Public Acts of 1870, Chapter 82, made the judge of the probate court the judge of the circuit court of Shelby County at Bartlett, and attached that court to the fifteenth judicial circuit. This act also provided for the election of an attorney general for the Bartlett Circuit Court.
  18. Public Acts of 1870-71, Chapter 32, provided that the return of process issuing from the superior courts of law and chancery in Shelby County was to be returnable to the newlyestablished circuit and chancery courts in Shelby County.
  19. Public Acts of 1873, Chapter 68, provided that the circuit court of Shelby County shall have jurisdiction throughout the county except in the fifth, thirteenth and fourteenth civil districts of said county or the City of Memphis.
  20. Public Acts of 1875, Chapter 23, abolished the second circuit court of Shelby County and styled the first circuit court of Shelby County as the Shelby County Circuit Court. All records of the second circuit court were transferred to the first circuit court of Shelby County.
  21. Public Acts of 1879, Chapter 230, withdrew the jurisdiction of the Bartlett Circuit Court from all portions of Shelby County south of the Wolf River.
  22. Public Acts of 1885, Chapter 35, abolished the Bartlett Circuit Court of Shelby County and transferred its cases and records to the circuit court of Shelby County.
  23. Public Acts of 1885, Chapter 140, authorized the county court to donate the Bartlett courthouse and grounds to the school directors of that school district, to be used for public educational purposes.
  24. Acts of 1885 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 20, divided the state into judicial circuits. Shelby County was placed in the fourteenth judicial circuit in which the times for holding said court was set for the third Mondays in January, March, May, September and November.
  25. Public Acts of 1893, Chapter 62, made the judge of the probate court of Shelby County and his successor in office, the judge of the circuit court of Shelby County. This act was repealed by Acts of 1905, Chapter 138.
  26. Public Acts of 1893, Chapter 99, created the second circuit court of Shelby County to have exclusive jurisdiction over divorce cases from the circuit court and to give the circuit court, Division IV, appellate jurisdiction over all cases of appeal, certiorari and supersedeas. This was repealed by Acts of 1905, Chapter 137.
  27. Public Acts of 1899, Chapter 62, made the judge of the probate court the judge of the second circuit court of Shelby County in addition to his other duties. This was repealed by Acts of 1905, Chapter 138.
  28. Public Acts of 1901, Chapter 90, amended Public Acts of 1899, Chapter 427, by placing Shelby County in the fifteenth judicial circuit and setting the times for holding said court to the third Mondays of January, March, May, September and November.
  29. Acts of 1907, Chapter 371, amended the circuit court reorganization Act of 1905 to remove jurisdiction over divorce cases from the circuit court and to give the circuit court, Division IV, appellate jurisdiction over appeals from all inferior courts in Shelby County, with the exception of the probate court. The 1905 reorganization act was further amended by Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 431, which provided that beginning with the first term of court after passage of that act, the judges of each of the four divisions would alternate as presiding judge of the circuit court. Both of these acts were repealed by Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 131.
  30. Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 226, made unmarried women eligible to serve as deputies to the circuit court clerk, but also provided that they would immediately forfeit their office if they were to marry.
  31. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 430, regulated procedure in the circuit court of Shelby County.
  32. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 617, provided that appeals from all courts in Shelby County were to be taken to the Supreme Court of Tennessee, sitting in Nashville. This was repealed by Private Acts of 1963, Chapter 155.
  33. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 431, amended the general law to require all divorce proctors in Shelby County to endorse each bill for divorce in order to acknowledge service upon his office of a copy of the bill. This act also required that a fee of $5.00 be paid to the office of divorce proctor before a bill for divorce could be filed. This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 131.
  34. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 417, amended the general law to provide that in Shelby County all executions from the circuit and chancery courts were returnable on the first Monday of the month, coming not less than thirty days from the date of issuance of such execution.
  35. Public Acts of 1931, Chapter 38, divided the state into judicial circuits and set the times for holding said court. Shelby County was placed in the fifteenth circuit and held circuit court on the third Mondays in January, March, May, September and November.
  36. Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 180, gave the probate court of Shelby County the same jurisdiction over cases arising under the “Workmen’s Compensation Law” as that exercised by the circuit court of Shelby County. This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 199.
  37. Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 223, amended Public Acts of 1870, Chapter 86, by setting a fee schedule to defray the cost of operating the court. This has been superseded by the fee schedule set by Private Acts of 1967-68, Chapter 236.
  38. Private Acts of 1957, Chapter 124, attempted to amend Acts of 1870, Chapter 80, by increasing the salary of the probate judge to $10,000 per year, but the provisions of this act were rejected by the quarterly county court of Shelby County and never became effective.

Circuit Court - Clerk

The following acts have no current effect, but once applied to the Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk. They were repealed, superseded, or never received local approval. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

  1. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 77, set the salary of the Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk to $5,500 per annum.
  2. Public Acts of 1921, Chapter 101, set the salary of the Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk to $6,000 per annum.
  3. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 891, set the salary of the Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk to $5,000 per annum.
  4. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 160, amended Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 891, by setting the salary of the Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk to $6,000 per annum.
  5. Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 301, amended Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 891, by fixing the salary of the Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk to $6,000 per annum. This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 90.

Criminal Court

The following acts once pertained to the Shelby County Criminal Court, but are no longer current law.

  1. Acts of 1843-44, Chapter 35, was the first act establishing a separate criminal court for Shelby County, establishing it at Memphis and providing for a criminal court clerk and a method of appointing juries to serve in the criminal court.
  2. Acts of 1845-46, Chapter 21, set the term of criminal court in Shelby County of the first Mondays in March, July and November of each year.
  3. Acts of 1845-46, Chapter 145, increased the jurisdiction of the criminal court of Shelby County giving it civil jurisdiction in causes arising in the fifth, thirteenth and fourteenth civil districts in Memphis, South Memphis and Fort Pickering, and provided that the criminal court judge should receive an additional salary of $1,500 per year for his services in presiding over civil cases.
  4. Public Acts of 1870, Chapter 46, set the time for holding the criminal court of Shelby County to the third Mondays of January, May and September.
  5. Acts of 1885 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 20, set the time for holding the Shelby County Criminal Court for the third Mondays in January, May and September.
  6. Public Acts of 1899, Chapter 427, created a special criminal court for Shelby County which became known as the Shelby County Criminal Court with jurisdiction over all criminal cases arising in the county.
  7. Private Acts of 1901, Chapter 435, set the term of the criminal court of Shelby County on the third Mondays in January, May and September.
  8. Acts of 1905, Chapter 215, made applicable to Shelby County a law regulating the collection of costs in criminal cases arising under the small offenses law.
  9. Acts of 1907, Chapter 351, reorganized the criminal court of Shelby County, creating two divisions. This was amended by Acts of 1909, Chapter 445, which made the jurisdiction of both divisions equal and coordinate.
  10. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 225, authorized the criminal court judges to appoint a stenographer, who would receive an annual salary of $1,200.
  11. Public Acts of 1921, Chapter 101, set the salary of the Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk to $6,000 per annum.
  12. Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 201, set the salary of the chief probation officer at $1,800 per year.
  13. Public Acts of 1931, Chapter 38, placed the criminal court of Shelby County in the fifteenth circuit and set the time for holding said court on the third Mondays in January, May and September.
  14. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 891, set the salary of the Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk to $5,000 per annum. This act was amended by Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 160, which set the salary of the criminal court clerk to $6,000 per annum.
  15. Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 301, amended Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 891, by setting the salary of the criminal court clerk to $6,000 per annum.
  16. Private Acts of 1957, Chapter 280, attempted to create a probation officer for the fifteenth judicial circuit of Tennessee, but this act was not approved by local authorities and the officer never came into existence.
  17. Public Acts of 1965, Chapter 266, reorganized the criminal court of Shelby County, it created four divisions, defined jurisdiction of said court, provided for an additional judge for said court and defined the duties of the clerk and the attorney general of said court.

District Attorney General - Assistants and Criminal Investigators

The following acts once affecting Shelby County are no longer in effect but are listed here for historical purposes. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

  1. Public Acts of 1821, Chapter 42, placed Henderson, Madison and Shelby counties in the fourteenth solicitorial district.
  2. Public Acts of 1897, Chapter 24, authorized that districts attorneys in counties with populations over 50,000, based on the Federal Census of 1890, receive a compensation of $1,200 per annum. This act was amended by Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 386, to allow the district attorney to hire three more assistants at an annual salary of $1,800 per year. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 401, amended Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 386, by raising the salary to $2,700 per year for the first assistant district attorney general and raised the salary of the second and third assistant district attorney generals to $1,800 per year.
  3. Public Acts of 1897, Chapter 58, authorized county courts in counties having a population of more than 80,000, according to the Federal Census of 1890, to appropriate additional compensation to the district attorney general.
  4. Acts of 1907, Chapter 353, gave the district attorney the authority to hire an assistant at an annual salary of $1,200 per annum.
  5. Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 325, set the salary of assistant attorneys general in Shelby County at $1,800 per year to be paid quarterly by the comptroller. This was amended by Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 485, to authorize an additional $1,200 per year to be paid to assistant attorneys general in Shelby County.
  6. Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 157, authorized the county court to increase the salaries of the district attorney and his assistants, as it deemed equitable, but not to exceed the amount of $2,500 per year. This was amended by Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 209, which raised the amount to $3,500 per year.
  7. Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 270, amended Acts of 1909, Chapter 355, which applied only to the county attorney, to authorize attorneys for the state in Shelby County to appoint one deputy to assist in the enforcement of the law and the carrying out of the duties of the office of attorney for the state. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 429, amended this act to raise the deputy's salary to $2,100 per year and these acts were repealed by Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 507.
  8. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 39, provided that $1,200 per year could be appropriated from the county treasury for the office expenses of the district attorney general, if in the judgment of the board of county commissioners such appropriation was necessary and proper to assist the district attorney in law enforcement.
  9. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 448, authorized the district attorney in Shelby County to appoint a stenographer to render clerical assistance in connection with the business of that office, at an annual salary of $1,200. This was amended by Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 322, to raise that salary to $1,500 per year, payable monthly from county funds.
  10. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 224, authorized the county court to contribute to the salary of a detective appointed by the district attorney general, but the total contribution was not to exceed $600 per annum. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 278, was identical to Chapter 224.
  11. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 704, provided $1,800 for the payment of clerical hire and other necessary expenses incurred for the district attorney general of Shelby County.
  12. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 531, provided for two more assistant attorneys general to be hired at an annual salary of $2,700.
  13. Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 518, was a comprehensive salary act setting the salaries of various county officials in Shelby County, including the additional compensation to be paid by Shelby County to the district attorney general, three assistant district attorneys general, one deputy district attorney general, and one criminal investigator for the district attorney's office.
  14. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 376, was the beginning of a series of private acts which set the additional salaries to be paid to the district attorney, members of his staff, and his office expenses, by the county of Shelby in addition to the compensation paid by the state.
  15. Public Acts of 1951, Chapter 54, provided an executive assistant district attorney general, an additional assistant district attorney general, and additional criminal investigator, and a secretary to the district attorney general for the fifteenth judicial circuit and provided for their selection, compensation and duties.
  16. Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 307, amended Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 376, by providing additional compensation, clerical and other incidental expenses to be paid to the district attorney general.
  17. Public Acts of 1953, Chapter 100, amended Public Acts of 1951, Chapter 54, by increasing the salary of the assistant district attorney general to $4,800 per annum and increasing the salary of the secretary to the district attorney general to $3,600 per annum.
  18. Private Acts of 1957, Chapter 278, amended Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 376, by setting the salary of the district attorney general $5,000 per annum; the salary of the two assistant district attorneys general to $2,700 per annum; the salary of the two assistant district attorneys general $2,100; the salary of the two criminal investigators to $900 per annum and in addition, the district attorney general was paid $2,400 per annum for incidental expenses in his office.
  19. Private Acts of 1957, Chapter 282, which raised the salary of the secretary to the district attorney general in Shelby County.
  20. Private Acts of 1959, Chapter 96, created the position of three additional assistant district attorneys general and provided for one additional secretary in the district attorney's office. This was amended by Private Acts of 1961, Chapter 135, Private Acts of 1963, Chapter 241 and Private Acts of 1965, Chapter 121, all of which effected the salaries of the assistant district attorneys general and secretary.
  21. Private Acts of 1959, Chapter 97, amended Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 376, by fixing the compensation of such assistants, deputies and investigators, and the amount of additional compensation, clerical and other incidental expenses to be paid to the district attorney general.
  22. Private Acts of 1961, Chapter 133, amended Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 376, by fixing the compensation of such assistants, deputies and investigators, and the amount of additional compensation, clerical and other incidental expenses to be paid to the district attorney general.
  23. Private Acts of 1961, Chapter 134, amended Public Acts of 1951, Chapter 54, by increasing the salary of the assistant attorney generals of Shelby County to $8,500 per annum; the salary of the criminal investigator to $8,000 and increasing the salary of the secretary to the district attorney general to $4,200 per annum.
  24. Private Acts of 1963, Chapter 241, amended Private Acts of 1959, Chapter 96, to fix the compensation of the assistants and secretary.
  25. Public Acts of 1963, Chapter 322, provided for three additional criminal investigators and one additional secretary to the district attorney general for the fifteenth judicial circuit and provided for their selection, compensation and duties.
  26. Public Acts of 1963, Chapter 341, amended Public Acts of 1951, Chapter 54, raising the salary of the secretary to the district attorney general of the fifteenth district, to $4,600 per annum.
  27. Private Acts of 1965, Chapter 153, provided for the appointment of one additional assistant attorney general, one additional criminal investigator, and one additional secretary to the district attorney general for the fifteenth judicial circuit, and provided for their compensation by Shelby County in addition to their salaries from the state.
  28. Private Acts of 1965, Chapter 154, authorized the appointment of three additional assistant attorneys general for Shelby County and provided that Shelby County would pay them an additional $2,200 per year in addition to the salary paid from the state treasury.
  29. Public Acts of 1965, Chapter 270, amended Public Acts of 1963, Chapter 322, by increasing the salary of the criminal investigators to $7,500 per annum and increasing the salary of the secretary to the district attorney general to $4,000 per annum.
  30. Private Acts of 1967-68, Chapter 130, reorganized and consolidated the salary and compensation schedule of the district attorney general in Shelby County. The district attorney was to receive $5,000 per annum. In addition, this act set the salaries of the assistants, deputies, investigators and secretaries to the district attorney. Private Acts of 1969, Chapter 86, increased the salary of the district attorney to $7,500 per annum and also increased the salary of the assistants, deputies, investigators and secretaries to the district attorney. Private Acts of 1970, Chapter 211, further amended Chapter 130, by providing that the salaries of the persons occupying the positions in the district attorneys office be authorized by an appropriate resolution or resolutions of the county court of Shelby County.
  31. Private Acts of 1967-68, Chapter 198, provided an administrative assistant district attorney general and an additional secretary to the district attorney general for the fifteenth judicial circuit, and provided for their appointment, compensation and duties.
  32. Public Acts of 1968, Chapter 487, provided that the duly appointed and acting criminal investigators of the district attorney general of the fifteenth judicial circuit shall have the same authority and power as deputies of the county sheriffs.
  33. Public Acts of 1968, Chapter 580, set the salaries of secretaries to the district attorney in the fifteenth judicial circuit. This was amended by Public Acts of 1970, Chapter 400, and Public Acts of 1971, Chapter 64. Public Acts of 1973, Chapter 233, repealed of all these acts and set the salaries of the secretaries ranging from $4,800 to $4,200 per annum.
  34. Public Acts of 1970, Chapter 603, created four additional assistant district attorneys general for the fifteenth judicial circuit of Tennessee and provided for their appointment, compensation and duties.
  35. Public Acts of 1970, Chapter 604, created an additional secretary to the district attorney general for the fifteenth judicial circuit of Tennessee and provided for the appointment, compensation and duties of said secretary.
  36. Public Acts of 1971, Chapter 63, created one additional assistant district attorney general for the fifteenth judicial circuit of the state and provided for the appointment, compensation and duties of said assistant.
  37. Private Acts of 1972, Chapter 349, created one additional assistant district attorney general, one additional criminal investigator, one additional secretary and one file clerk to the district attorney general for the fifteenth judicial circuit of Tennessee and provided for their appointment, compensation and duties.
  38. Public Acts of 1973, Chapter 233, provided for the appointment and compensation of secretaries and file clerks to the district attorney general of the fifteenth judicial circuit.
  39. Public Acts of 1974, Chapter 716, created three additional assistant district attorneys general and one additional secretary to the district attorney general for the fifteenth judicial circuit of Tennessee and provided for their appointment, compensation and duties.
  40. Public Acts of 1974, Chapter 717, created two additional criminal investigators and one additional secretary to the district attorney general for the fifteenth judicial circuit of Tennessee and provided for their appointment, compensation and duties.
  41. Public Acts of 1976, Chapter 734, created six additional assistant district attorneys general for the fifteenth judicial circuit of Tennessee and provided for their appointment, compensation and duties. This act was amended by Public Acts of 1978, Chapter 868, by providing that the remaining three assistant district attorneys general positions serve at Division VII of the criminal court of Shelby County.
  42. Public Acts of 1976, Chapter 810, created three additional assistant district attorneys general for the district attorney general of the fifteenth judicial circuit and provided for their appointment, compensation and duties.

General Sessions Court

The following act once affected the general sessions court of Shelby County, but is no longer in effect and is included herein for reference purposes.

  1. Private Acts of 1978, Chapter 199, would have amended Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 123, by creating a seventh division of the Shelby County General Sessions Court, but this act was rejected by local officials and never became law.

Juvenile Court

The following acts once affecting juvenile courts in Shelby County are included herein for reference purposes.

  1. Public Acts of 1895, Chapter 60, established and provided for a system of reformatory institutions for youthful persons throughout the state. This act was amended by Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 484, by providing that in Shelby County a child between the ages of nine and seventeen years could be committed to a reformatory; and this act gave the chairman of the county court the power to commit a child upon recommendation of the juvenile court judge. This act was further amended by Public Acts of 1935 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 12, by allowing counties to abolish the reformatory institutions and the board of trustees thereof and to provide for the disposition of any property owned by the reformatory institution and the disposition of any inmates thereof, and the payment of their maintenance.
  2. Acts of 1907, Chapter 110, amended the “Tennessee Juvenile Court Law” found in the Acts of 1905, Chapter 516, to make it applicable to counties with a population of over 100,000 according to the Federal Census of 1900.
  3. Acts of 1909, Chapter 474, amended the "Tennessee Juvenile Court Law" found in Acts of 1905, Chapter 516, to make it applicable only to Shelby County. This act conferred jurisdiction on the city court of Memphis to hear juvenile cases, with the city court judge to be the judge of the juvenile court, with the power of commitment. Under the provisions of this act, five Memphis policemen would serve as probation officers.
  4. Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 29, amended general law on juvenile reformatories to provide that in Shelby County such institutions would be under the control and management of a board of five trustees.
  5. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 294, amended the general law on juvenile courts, Public Acts of 1911, Chapter 58, by providing that the juvenile judge in Shelby County was to be elected by the city commissioners of the county seat of Shelby County, upon nomination of the mayor.
  6. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 752, further amended Public Acts of 1911, Chapter 58, to provide that the salary of the judge of the juvenile court would be fixed by the city government of the county seat of Shelby County, provided that it did not exceed $200 per month.
  7. Private Acts of 1939, Chapter 530, amended Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 387, by setting the salary of the juvenile court judge to $4,300 per annum.
  8. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 152, amended Private Acts of 1939, Chapter 530, by setting the salary of the juvenile court judge to $6,000 per annum, payable in equal monthly installments.
  9. Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 284, amended Private Acts of 1939, Chapter 530, by setting the salary of the juvenile court judge to $7,000 per annum, payable in equal monthly installments.
  10. Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 9, amended Private Acts of 1939, Chapter 530, by setting the salary of the juvenile court judge to $7,500 per annum, payable in equal monthly installments.
  11. Private Acts of 1959, Chapter 182, amended Private Acts of 1939, Chapter 530, by setting the salary of the juvenile court judge to $9,500 per annum, payable in equal monthly installments.
  12. Private Acts of 1972, Chapter 304, attempted to amend Private Acts of 1967-68, Chapter 219, by raising the salary of the juvenile court judge to $23,500 per year, but the provisions of this act were not approved by the quarterly county court and did not become effective.

Secretarial Assistance

The following act is no longer in effect but is listed here for historical purposes. Also referenced below is an act which repealed prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

  1. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 33, gave the probate judge the authority to hire a secretary, whose annual salary was to be $1,200. This act was repealed and the position abolished by Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 453.