Original jurisdiction of criminal actions is committed to the courts of general sessions, city judges of certain towns and cities, the circuit courts, the criminal courts and the court for the trial of impeachments.
Code 1858, § 4965; Shan., § 6926; Code 1932, § 11466; impl. am. Acts 1979, ch. 68, § 3; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 40-115; Acts 1993, ch. 115, § 4.
Textbooks. Tennessee Jurisprudence, 8 Tenn. Juris., Courts, § 19; 17 Tenn. Juris., Jurisdiction, § 22.
Attorney General Opinions. After a finding of “not guilty by reason of insanity” in a trial in general sessions court, the court has jurisdiction to order the 60 to 90 day (now 30 to 60 days) evaluation required by T.C.A. §33-7-303, but only in misdemeanor cases where the defendant waives in writing an indictment, presentment, grand jury investigation, and jury trial and the district attorney general does not object, OAG 01-041 (3/19/01).
The district attorney general is the only person with authority to prosecute a State of Tennessee criminal offense in a municipal court. OAG 13-85, 2013 Tenn. AG LEXIS 86 (11/6/13).