The county legislative body is hereby granted discretionary authority to create the office of county coroner. If such office is created, the county legislative body shall elect a coroner who shall hold office for two (2) years, and until a successor is qualified. However, in those counties that have a county medical examiner, the county legislative body may vest the duties of the county coroner in the county medical examiner and shall not be required to elect a county coroner.
Code 1858, § 375 (deriv. Const. 1834, art. 7, § 1; Acts 1845-1846, ch. 88); Shan., § 465; Code 1932, § 712; Acts 1979, ch. 146, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 8-901.
Cross-References. Deaths resulting from motor vehicle accidents to be reported monthly, §55-10-112.
Duties of medical examiners regarding known or suspected child sexual abuse, §§37-1-403,37-1-605.
Election, §5-5-111.
Inquest, coal mine accidents, §59-4-303.
Inquests over dead bodies, title 38, ch. 5.
Judgment on motion for misfeasance in office, §16-15-733.
Motion for summary judgment against coroner, §§25-3-101 —25-3-105.
Summary judgment for coroner, §§25-3-114,25-3-115.
Textbooks. Tennessee Jurisprudence, 8 Tenn. Juris., Counties, § 19; 9 Tenn. Juris., Dead Bodies, § 2.
Attorney General Opinions. The Post-Mortem Examination Act, T.C.A. §38-7-101 et seq., does not authorize a county medical examiner to deputize a non-physician investigator to perform the county medical examiner's powers and duties under the act, OAG 02-021, 2002 Tenn. AG LEXIS 22 (2/26/02).
County medical examiner and coroner serving on county commission,OAG 11-74, 2011 Tenn. AG LEXIS 76 (10/17/11).
Collateral References.
Reviewing, setting aside or quashing of verdict at coroner's inquest. 78 A.L.R.2d 1218.