Public Acts of 1947 Chapter 138

SECTION 1.  That regular terms of the Circuit Court of Cocke County, with general jurisdiction to try and dispose of civil and criminal cases, shall continue to convene and be held on the Fourth Monday in January, May and September of each year as now provided by law; and that, in addition to such regular terms, monthly terms of said Circuit Court shall convene and be held on the Fourth Monday of each and every month of the year, with jurisdiction to try and dispose of all civil cases within the jurisdiction of said Circuit Court as now defined by law, except cases in which a jury trial shall have been or shall be regularly demanded.

SECTION 2.  That all leading process hereafter issuing from said Circuit Court in civil cases shall be made returnable to the next Fourth Monday of the month coming five or more days after the issuance of such process; and if, on the return day of such process, or in the first pleading tendering an issue, or on the first day of any term at which the case shall stand for trial, a jury trial shall be demanded, then the case shall automatically go over to the next regular term of said Circuit Court as distinguished from said monthly terms, and shall stand for trial in the regular way.

SECTION 3.  That the jurisdiction of said Circuit Court at said monthly terms herein provided for shall be limited to the trial of non-jury cases, cases appealed from Justice of the Peace Courts, divorce cases and other cases involving domestic relations, equity cases coming within the jurisdiction of the Circuit Courts under the general law, and to the hearing and disposition of all issues and questions arising on demurrers, dilatory pleas, motions, and applications to amend pleadings in any civil case pending in said Court.

SECTION 4.  That this Act shall be liberally construed and interpreted, and its provisions are hereby declared to be severable.  If any of its sections, provisions, sentences or phrases are held to be unconstitutional or void, the remainder shall remain in full force and effect, it being the legislative intent now hereby declared that this Act would have been adopted and passed even if such unconstitutional or void matter had not been included herein.

SECTION 5.  That all laws or parts of laws in conflict with this Act be and the same are hereby repealed.

SECTION 6.  That this Act take effect from and after its passage, the public welfare requiring it.

Passed:  March 5, 1947.