No judge or chancellor shall practice law, or perform any of the functions of attorney or counsel, in any of the courts of this state, except in cases in which the judge or chancellor may have been employed as counsel previous to the judge's or chancellor's election. A newly elected or appointed judge or chancellor can practice law only in an effort to wind up the judge or chancellor's practice, ceasing to practice as soon as reasonably possible and in no event longer than one hundred eighty (180) days after assuming office.
Code 1858, § 3912 (deriv. Acts 1851-1852, ch. 331, § 1); Shan., § 5705; Code 1932, § 9891; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 17-105; Acts 2012, ch. 789, § 3.
Amendments. The 2012 amendment added the last sentence.
Effective Dates. Acts 2012, ch. 789, § 7. April 23, 2012.
Cross-References. County judges authorized to practice, §16-16-106.
Practice of law prohibited, §23-3-101.
Textbooks. Tennessee Jurisprudence, 16 Tenn. Juris., Judges, § 8.
Law Reviews.
Ethical Obligations of Judges (Joe G. Riley), 23 Mem. St. U.L. Rev. 507 (1993).
Attorney General Opinions. General authority of judges of general sessions to administer oaths is not limited by T.C.A. §§8-18-107,8-18-109(b) or17-1-105, OAG 03-043 (4/15/03).