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COVID-19 Updates

For Current Updates, visit the Rutherford County COVID-19 page.

COVID19 Update Posted 5/28/2020

Building Access will remain limited until further notice of the Courts. Click here to read the order.
UPDATE: The order has been extended until March 31, 2021.


COVID19 Update Posted 5/1/20

The Tennessee Supreme Court has approved a plan to partially re-open courts in Rutherford and Cannon County beginning Monday, May 4. The plan provides for screening of all persons entering the judicial facilities and limiting the number of people in any courtroom at any time. Defendants and litigants should contact their attorney or the office of the General Sessions and Circuit Clerk to verify their appointed court date.

Persons cited to Rutherford County General Sessions Court on May 4 should arrive at the Judicial Building at 8:30 am. Only defendants and their attorneys will be admitted into the building. All people entering the building will be screened for temperature. Everyone entering the building is encouraged to wear a mask covering their nose and mouth to prevent spreading any contaminants. Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the building. Each courtroom will be wiped down with disinfectant periodically throughout the day.

Persons scheduled for appearance in General Sessions Court should use the stairs and escalator to reach the courtrooms on the second floor. Elevators will be limited and only three people will be allowed on any elevator at a time to allow for appropriate distancing. Benches and seating in each courtroom will be marked to indicate where people will be allowed to sit.

Persons indicted by the March grand jury are scheduled to be arraigned in court Monday, May 4. They will be screened and directed to the appropriate courtroom. Monitors at each courtroom will be present to admit the first ten people into the courtroom and direct remaining defendants to an appropriate waiting area.

A copy of the order approved by the Tennessee Supreme Court is available here for more detailed information.

Learn about all County Government Responses to COVID-19


About Us

 

 

Melissa Harrell Rutherford County Circuit Court ClerkThe Rutherford County Circuit Court Clerk Melissa Harrell is an elected official who serves for a term of four years and is responsible for all filings, processing and final disposition of cases, which include several phases of the Civil and Criminal law procedures in the Juvenile, General Sessions (Civil & Criminal), Circuit Civil and Circuit Criminal Courts. The Circuit Court Clerk employs Chief Deputies and several deputy clerks in each court in order to fulfill the requirement to attend court sessions and perform all clerical functions of each court.

 

 

 


Other News

Melissa Harrell and the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is excited to announce that we are now offering a web inquiry service that will allow you to search and view case information on our civil, criminal and traffic cases in both General Sessions and Circuit Courts.

Our web inquiry service was designed to be offered by a subscription service fee only. Some Clerk's Offices throughout the state are charging subscription fees as much as $350 annually, however, Melissa has opted to provide our customers with this service free of charge. By offering the service free of charge, it will allow us to better serve of community by providing access to the information our citizens need.

 


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