§ 16-15-5014 — Domestic violence court for Shelby County

(a) In order to maximize and concentrate limited prosecutorial, counseling and other social resources to victims of domestic violence, the tenth division of the Shelby County general sessions court shall serve as the domestic violence court for Shelby County. (b) Provided that the caseload of the domestic violence court does not exceed the capacity of the tenth division to hear all such cases, the tenth division of the Shelby County general sessions court shall have exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving domestic violence, orders of protection, domestic assault and all other cases incident to domestic abuse as defined in § 36-3-601 ; provided, however, that the tenth division may retain concurrent jurisdiction over other types of cases. The determination whether the tenth division of the Shelby County general sessions court has exceeded its capacity to hear all domestic violence cases shall be made by the presiding judge of the tenth division in consultation with the chief judge of the Shelby County general sessions court. (c) If it has been determined pursuant to subsection (b) that the caseload of the domestic violence court exceeds the capacity of the tenth division of the Shelby County general sessions court to hear all such cases, then the excess cases shall be distributed among the remaining divisions of the Shelby County general sessions court to be heard. (d) The general sessions court shall commence as the domestic violence court for Shelby County no later than September 1, 2009.

Legislative History

Acts 2009, ch. 391, § 1.