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Court System - Historical Notes

Tennessee Code Annotated
Tennessee Attorney General Opinions

Board of Jury Commissioners - Jurors

The following acts once affected jurors or boards of jury commissioners in Dickson County, but are no longer operative.

  1. Acts of 1803, Chapter 73, apportioned the number of jurors which the Counties in the Mero District were required to send to the Superior Court of the same.  Jackson County must send two jurors; Smith County, four jurors; Sumner County, six jurors; Wilson County, three jurors; Rutherford County, two jurors; Williamson County, four jurors; Davidson County, seven jurors; Robertson County, four jurors; Montgomery County, four jurors; Dickson County, two jurors; and Stewart County, two jurors.
  2. Acts of 1806, Chapter 24, designated the number of jurors each county in the Robertson District must send to the District Court at Clarksville.  Robertson County was directed to furnish eleven jurors; Montgomery County, twelve jurors; Dickson County, nine jurors; and Stewart County, seven jurors.
  3. Acts of 1817, Chapter 128, made it legal for the Justices of the Peace in the Counties of Hawkins, Smith, Franklin, Rutherford, Maury, Lincoln, Giles, Overton, Bedford, Wilson, Hickman, Sumner, Stewart, Humphreys, Williamson, Jackson, White, Montgomery, Warren, Robertson, and Dickson, on the first day of the first term in each year to levy a tax to produce funds with which an additional compensation would be made to jurors attending the Circuit and County Courts in those counties, but the additional compensation could not exceed fifty cents per day.
  4. Private Acts of 1901, Chapter 471, amended Acts of 1899, Chapter 237, in Section 6, to provide that the jurors would be selected by the County Court to serve in the Circuit Court, as was now provided by Section 5793, Shannon's Code of Tennessee.  (This act created special circuit and chancery courts in Dickson County to sit at Dickson.)
  5. Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 254, provided that the compensation of jurors serving in Dickson County (identified by the use of the 1910 Federal Census figures) would hereafter be $2.50 per day, all conflicts being repealed.
  6. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 231, provided for a three member Board of Jury Commissioners in Dickson County who would be appointed by the Circuit Court Judge, who must be resident freeholders of the County, not practicing attorneys, or State, county, or city officials, and who had no suits pending in Court, each of whom would serve six years and not be eligible for reappointment.  All vacancies would be filled in the same manner.  The Commissioners had to be sworn by the oath set out in the Act, meet and select a Chair from their own number.  The Circuit Court Clerk would serve as a Clerk for the Board and he, too, must subscribe to the oath set out in this statute.  It was the duty of the Board to select from the tax rolls, or other sources of public information, no less than 500, nor more than 1000 names, distributing them as equally as possible around the County, which would constitute the jury list for the next two years.

Chancery Court

The following acts form an outline of the development of equity jurisdiction in Dickson County, although they no longer have the force of law since they have either been superseded by general law, repealed, or failed to receive local ratification.  Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

  1. Acts of 1822, Chapter 13, required the Justices of the Supreme Court of the State to hold a court of Equity at the present places of meeting of the Supreme Court at least once each year.  The Chancery Court would be held at Rogersville on the first Monday in November, at Charlotte, on the fourth Monday in December, at Sparta, on the second Monday in December, at Nashville, on the fourth Monday in January, and at Columbia, on the second Monday in January, all terms to be two weeks unless the court dockets were finished earlier.
  2. Acts of 1824, Chapter 14, directed the Supreme Court to meet at Knoxville, Sparta and Nashville, and for the Judges of the Court to arrange among themselves to hold the Chancery court at least twice each year at Greenville, Rogersville, Kingston, Carthage, McMinnville, Franklin, Columbia, Charlotte, and Jackson.  The Court at Charlotte would hear cases from the Counties of Robertson, Montgomery, Dickson, Stewart, Humphreys, and Hickman on the third Monday in June and December.
  3. Acts of 1827, Chapter 79, divided Tennessee into two Chancery Divisions, the Eastern, which contained the Courts meeting at Rogersville, Greenville, Kingston, Carthage and McMinnville, and the Western, which included those at Franklin, Columbia, Charlotte, Jackson and Paris.
  4. Acts of 1832, Chapter 21, Section 5, changed the terms of court for the Chancery Court at Carthage and at Charlotte where the Equity Court would hereafter meet on the third Monday in May and November.
  5. Acts of 1833, Chapter 40, granted the citizens of Wayne County and Perry County the liberty of filing their Bills in Chancery at the Chancery Court in Charlotte in Dickson County but nothing herein would prevent these citizens from filing their bills in Pulaski, or at Jackson, as they had heretofore been permitted to do.
  6. Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 4, separated Tennessee into three Chancery Divisions each of which would be presided over by a Chancellor rather than the Justices of the Supreme Court.  The Court would meet twice each year as prescribed in this Act enacted pursuant to the new 1835 State Constitution.  Each major division was further broken down into Districts. Dickson County was in the 12th District of the Middle Division which also included Humphreys County and Hickman County.  The Court would convene at Charlotte on the fourth Monday of March and September.
  7. Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 20, made it the duty of the Chancellor of the Western Division to hold the Chancery Courts at Savannah and Charlotte and to appoint the Clerks and Masters at these places when necessary.
  8. Acts of 1837-38, Chapter 14, Section 3, established a Chancery Court at Charlotte for the counties of Dickson, Humphreys, Hickman, Stewart, Montgomery, and Cumberland where court terms were to start on the fourth Monday in March and September.  The citizens of Robertson County had the option of filing their suits in this Court.
  9. Acts of 1839-40, Chapter 66, Section 6, provided that the cases now pending in Court at Charlotte which originated in the Counties of Montgomery, Robertson, or Stewart, could, at the request of the parties, be transferred to the Court now meeting at Clarksville.  The Clerk and Master at Charlotte was instructed to transfer the complete manuscript in the cause within 40 days after the request was made.
  10. Acts of 1841-42, Chapter 27, Section 2, provided that the District Chancery Court would be held at Clarksville on the third Monday in March and September and at Charlotte on the fourth Monday in March and September.
  11. Acts of 1843-44, Chapter 155, Section 3, repealed all prior acts which changed the term of the Chancery Court located at Clarksville and at Charlotte and restored the terms which were in effect prior to the passage of the said acts.
  12. Acts of 1845-46, Chapter 21, Section 9, repealed Section 2 of Acts of 1841-42, Chapter 27, Item 10, above.  Hereafter, the Chancery Court at Clarksville would convene on the fourth Monday in March and September and the Court at Charlotte would begin on the third Monday of the same months.
  13. Acts of 1845-46, Chapter 168, directed that hereafter the Chancellor of the Middle Division would hold the Chancery Court at Charlotte and at Clarksville and the Chancellor of the Fourth Division would preside over the Courts at Springfield and Gallatin.  The terms of Court would begin at Charlotte on the third Monday in April and October.
  14. Acts of 1851-52, Chapter 178, scheduled Court terms for all the Chancery Courts in the Middle Division which was composed of the Counties of Wayne, Lawrence, Giles, Marshall, Hickman, Humphreys, Dickson, Robertson, Maury, Williamson, Stewart, Montgomery, and Davidson.  The Chancery Courts in Dickson County would meet on the second Monday in March and September.
  15. Acts of 1853-54, Chapter 54, established the Fifth and the Sixth Chancery Divisions in the State.  Section 2 formed the 6th Chancery Division comprised of the counties of Carroll, Benton, Humphreys, Dickson, Hickman, Perry, Decatur, Henderson, McNairy, Hardin, Wayne and Lawrence.
  16. Acts of 1853-54, Chapter 55, modified some of the Rules of Practice in the Chancery Courts and in Section 4 rearranged the opening dates of the Chancery Court terms for most of the counties in the Middle Division.  The Court in Dickson County would start its regular terms on the Thursday after the first Monday in April and October.
  17. Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 112, Section 4, rescheduled the Chancery Court terms in the Sixth Chancery Division which included the counties of Carroll, Henderson, McNairy, Hardin, Wayne, Lawrence, Hickman, Humphreys, Benton, Decatur, Perry and Dickson where the court terms would begin on the third Monday in March and September at Charlotte.
  18. Acts of 1857-58, Chapter 88, divided Tennessee into the Eastern, Middle, Western, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Chancery Divisions.  The Sixth Division contained the counties of Carroll, Henderson, McNairy, Hardin, Wayne, Lawrence, Hickman, Dickson, Humphreys, Benton, Decatur, and Perry.  Dickson Court terms would continue to start on the third Monday in March and September at Charlotte.
  19. Acts of 1866-67, Chapter 4, Section 4, was a post Civil War Act which assigned the counties of Hickman, Dickson, Humphreys, Henderson, McNairy, Hardin, Wayne, Lawrence, Decatur, and Perry to the Fifth Chancery Division.  Court terms began in Dickson County on the third Monday of March and September.
  20. Acts of 1870, Chapter 32, reorganized the State into twelve Chancery Divisions assigning the counties of Benton, Hickman, Henderson, McNairy, Lawrence, Dickson, Humphreys, Decatur, Lewis, Perry, Hardin and Wayne to the 9th Division.
  21. Acts of 1870, Chapter 47, fixed the opening dates for the terms of the Chancery Court in every County of Tennessee.  In Dickson County the terms would commence on the third Monday in March and September of each year.
  22. Acts of 1870-71, Chapter 10, rearranged the terms of court in the counties of the 9th Chancery Division.  Dickson County would convene the regular terms of court on the first Monday in January and July, all process and bonds being required to conform to those dates.
  23. Acts of 1873, Chapter 5, rescheduled the Chancery Court terms in the 9th Chancery Division switching Dickson County's Court to the first Monday in June and December.
  24. Acts of 1879, Chapter 88, reset the terms of the Chancery Courts in the 9th Chancery Division listing the counties of Lewis, Hickman, Perry, Decatur, Henderson, McNairy, Hardin, Wayne, Humphreys, Benton, Lawrence and Dickson where the terms of court would still open on the first Monday in June and December at Charlotte.
  25. Acts of 1881, Chapter 162, changed the opening dates for some of the counties in the 9th Chancery Division which was made up of the same counties and which made no changes in the terms of court in Dickson County.
  26. Acts of 1885 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 20, was a massive revision of the entire lower Court system of Tennessee in which eleven Chancery Divisions were created.  The Seventh Chancery Division was made up of the counties of Maury, Giles, Lawrence, Lewis, Wayne, Hickman, Hardin, Perry, Decatur, Dickson and Benton.  Dickson County's Chancery Court was still slated to open on the first Monday in June and December.
  27. Acts of 1887, Chapter 5, reset the terms of the Chancery Courts in the Seventh Chancery Division.  In Dickson County the Chancery Court would begin its regular terms at Charlotte on the first Monday in March and the second Monday in September.
  28. Acts of 1895, Chapter 41, amended the 1887 Act, Chapter 5, above, so that the time for holding the Chancery Court in Dickson County was changed from the second Monday in September to the third Monday in August, all bonds and process being made to conform.
  29. Acts of 1899, Chapter 237, Section 10, created a Chancery Court at Dickson in Dickson County with original jurisdiction over causes arising in the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Civil Districts of the County.  The Court was given all the powers and authority of other Chancery Courts and the Clerk and Master of the Court at Charlotte would also be the Clerk of this Court.  The same fees and court costs would be in effect at Dickson as at other places and the Chancellor of Dickson County would preside over the Court at no added compensation on the second Monday in March and August each year at the Courthouse in Dickson.  This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 115.  (See Walker v. State, 188 Tenn. 376, 99 S.W. 366 (1907).)
  30. Acts of 1899, Chapter 427, formed ten Chancery Divisions in the State of Tennessee allocating the counties of Sumner, Robertson, Cheatham, Montgomery, Stewart, Houston, Dickson, Humphreys, Hickman, and Wilson to the 6th Chancery Division.  Dickson County would open the terms of the Chancery Court at Charlotte on the first Monday in June and December.  This Act reformed the entire subordinate judicial system of the State.
  31. Acts of 1901, Chapter 466, stated that after September 1, 1902, the Chancery Court of Dickson County would convene for regular term on the second Monday in January and July of each year.
  32. Acts of 1903, Chapter 277, altered the Chancery Court terms for the counties of Cheatham, Hickman, Houston and Dickson whose court would come together in Charlotte on the first Monday in June and at Dickson on the Thursday after the first Monday in June.
  33. Private Acts of 1905, Chapter 286, set up new court terms for all the Courts in the 6th Chancery Division naming the counties of Hickman, Robertson, Montgomery, Cheatham, Wilson, Sumner, Humphreys, Stewart, Houston and Dickson.  The Court at Charlotte in Dickson County would convene on the fourth Monday in April and October and the Court at Dickson on the Thursday following that Monday.
  34. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 455, rescheduled the terms of the Chancery Courts in the 6th Chancery Division which included the counties of Cheatham, Dickson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner, and Wilson.  Court terms would remain as they were in Dickson County at both Charlotte and Dickson.
  35. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 115, repealed Acts of 1899, Chapter 237, Item 29, above, which created special Chancery and Circuit Courts in Dickson County which courts were hereby abolished, all the cases and jurisdiction being returned to the Circuit and Chancery Court of Dickson County.  All records, transcripts, and process would be made to conform herein to the terms of this Act and be returned to the Court at Charlotte.

Chancery Court - Clerk and Master

The reference list below contains acts which once applied to the clerk and master in Dickson County.  Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

  1. Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 20, Section 8, made it the responsibility of the Chancellor of the Western Division to hold the Chancery Court at Savannah, and at Charlotte, and he would also appoint the Clerks and Masters to serve at those places.
  2. Acts of 1837-38, Chapter 117, stated that nothing contained in any recent act regarding the Chancery Courts in the Middle Division of Tennessee would be construed to affect the Clerks and Masters at Somerville, Huntingdon, Charlotte, and Brownsville.  Each Clerk and Master would hold the office until his current term was completed subject to all the existing rules and regulations.
  3. Acts of 1899, Chapter 281, allowed the Clerk and Master and the circuit court clerk of Dickson County the sum of $100 annually for their expenses for the proper and economical discharge of the duties of the office at Dickson including the employment of Deputies, if the need arose. This amount was appropriated and authorized to be paid out of the general county fund.
  4. Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 165, stated that for the proper and economical discharge of the duties in and about the Chancery Court meeting at Dickson in Dickson County, the Clerk and Master would be reimbursed for all the expenses incurred by him on the account of the said Court, and he would be paid $250.00 each year, in addition to the fees of the office, which would be paid out of the general funds of the County.  Acts of 1899, Chapter 281, was expressly and entirely repealed.
  5. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 363, amended Chapter 165, Private Acts of 1913, Item 4, above, by striking the sum of $250 and inserting $500 in its place, thus increasing the allowance of the Clerk and Master to that amount for keeping the office at Dickson.
  6. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 371, fixed the salary of the Clerk and Master of Dickson County which he would receive in addition to the fees of the office as now provided by law, at the sum of $500 per annum for the services of a Deputy Clerk and Master, which sum would be paid quarterly out of the regular county treasurer.

Circuit Court

The following acts were once applicable to the circuit court of Dickson County but now have no effect, having been repealed, superseded, or having failed to win local approval.  Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

  1. Acts of 1806, Chapter 19, provided that hereafter the counties of Robertson, Dickson, Montgomery, and Stewart would make up the District of Robertson in the State and two Superior Court would be held in Clarksville for the District on the first Monday in June and December, holding for twelve judicial days.
  2. Acts of 1809, Chapter 49, divided Tennessee into five Judicial Circuits of which the Fifth Judicial Circuit contained the counties of Montgomery, Dickson, Hickman, Humphreys, Stewart, and Robertson.  There would be two terms of court each year starting in Dickson County on the first Monday in March and September.  Provisions were made for a substitute judge if the regular judge were incapacitated.
  3. Acts of 1817, Chapter 111, stated that within 40 days from the passage of this Act the Clerk of the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, to which Dickson County belonged, would remove his office to the Courthouse in Charlotte in Dickson County.  The Court would be opened and held at the courthouse in Charlotte on the days appointed by law.  The Act which set up the Court in Clarksville was repealed.
  4. Acts of 1817, Chapter 138, scheduled the terms of court for those counties in the Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Judicial Circuits.  In Dickson County the terms of the Circuit Court would start on the fourth Monday in February and August.
  5. Acts of 1819, Chapter 154, scheduled the terms of court for those counties in the Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Judicial Circuits.  In Dickson County the terms for the Circuit Court would start on the fourth Monday in February and August.
  6. Acts of 1820, Chapter 107, provided that the Court of Errors and Appeals for the Fifth Judicial Circuit would hereafter be held on the fourth Monday in June and December sitting for a term of two weeks unless the business of the court were cleared up sooner than that.
  7. Acts of 1821, Chapter 42, provided that the appeals from the 8th Judicial Circuit, created by this Act and embracing the counties of Henry, Carroll, Henderson, Madison, Shelby, Wayne, Hardin and Perry would be heard by the Court of Errors and Appeals at Charlotte in Dickson County.
  8. Acts of 1823, Chapter 76, declared there would be an extra session of the Circuit Court in Dickson County at the Courthouse in Charlotte on the third Monday in May and November each year, in addition to the terms now scheduled by law.  The Judge would adjourn the Court to the third Monday in May and November, and the jurors would be selected and process made to conform accordingly.  The extra sessions were not to extend beyond one week.  This Act was repealed below. 
  9. Acts of 1823, Chapter 195, repealed the Act passed at this session of the General Assembly which allowed an extra term for the Circuit Court of Dickson County in full.  (Acts of 1823, Chapter 76, above.)
  10. Acts of 1825, Chapter 31, stated that all appeals arising in the Fifth, Eighth, and Ninth Judicial Circuits would be heard by the Court of Appeals sitting at Reynoldsburgh in Humphreys County except those coming out of Robertson, Montgomery, or Dickson Counties which had the option of filing them with the court which met at Nashville.
  11. Acts of 1831, Chapter 53, stated that all appeals and writs of error arising in the counties of Robertson, Montgomery, and Dickson would hereafter be taken to the Supreme Court of Errors and Appeals at Nashville and all causes in Chancery in the Court at Charlotte would also be appealed to the Court at Nashville if any of the parties thereto resided in the above counties.
  12. Acts of 1833, Chapter 14, moved the Supreme Court of Errors and Appeals from Reynoldsburgh to Centerville in Hickman County and all appeals coming out of the Counties of Lawrence, Wayne, Hardin, Humphreys, Hickman and Perry would be filed and heard there while those arising in the counties of Maury, Giles and Dickson were also to go to Centerville or to Nashville at the option of the litigants.
  13. Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 5, was a completely new reorganization of the lower court system enacted pursuant to the 1835 Constitution.  Eleven judicial circuits were formed of which the Seventh Circuit was composed of the counties of Dickson, Hickman, Humphreys, Stewart, Montgomery, and Robertson.  Circuit Court terms in Dickson County would begin on the second Monday in February, June and October.
  14. Acts of 1837-38, Chapter 231, Section 2, directed that hereafter the Circuit Court in Dickson County would be on the second Monday in February, next, and then on the third Monday in February, June and October.
  15. Acts of 1841-42, Chapter 27, Chapter 24, rescheduled the terms of the Circuit Courts in the Seventh Judicial Circuit which not consisted of the counties of Robertson, Dickson, Stewart, Montgomery and Humphreys.  The Circuit Court of Dickson County would continue to meet on the third Monday in February, June and October.
  16. Acts of 1847-48, Chapter 49, rearranged the opening dates of the terms of the circuit courts in Montgomery County, Humphreys County, Stewart County, Robertson County, and Dickson County when the Court would begin its regular terms on the fourth Monday in February, June and October.
  17. Acts of 1857-58, Chapter 98, was a realignment of the circuit court system in Tennessee into sixteen Judicial Circuits.  The 10th Judicial Circuit contained the counties of Montgomery, Robertson, Cheatham, Dickson, and Stewart.  The Court in Dickson County would continue to open its regular terms on the fourth Monday in February, June and October.
  18. Acts of 1870, Chapter 31, divided the State into fifteen regular, and one special, Judicial Circuits.  The Tenth Judicial Circuit consisted of the Counties of Robertson, Montgomery, Stewart, Cheatham, Dickson, Humphreys, and Sumner.
  19. Acts of 1870, Chapter 46, established the opening dates for the terms of the Circuit Courts of every county in Tennessee according to their Judicial Circuit.  In Dickson County the Circuit Court would convene on the third Monday of March, July and November each year.
  20. Acts of 1885 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 20, formed fourteen regular, and one special, judicial circuits in this next reorganization of the lower court system of Tennessee.  The Tenth Judicial Circuit contained the counties of Sumner, Robertson, Montgomery, (for civil cases only), Stewart, Houston, Dickson and Humphreys.  Dickson County's Circuit Court terms would commence on the third Monday in March, July and November.  This Act, plus several prior acts of a similar nature was part of the opinion of the Supreme Court in the case of Flynn v. State, 203 Tenn. 341, 313 S.W.2d 249 (1958), a good summary of early Tennessee jurisprudence.
  21. Acts of 1891 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 20, amended Acts of 1885 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 20, above in Item 20, so as to remove Hickman County and Dickson County from the 9th and 10th Judicial Circuits, and also to remove Cheatham County and Williamson County from the Seventh Judicial Circuit and then combines all of them to form the 19th Judicial Circuit.  All terms of court would remain as they were then constituted and the Attorney General of the 9th Circuit would prosecute in the new circuit in every county but Dickson County where the Attorney-General of the 10th Circuit would continue his duties.  This act was repealed by the one following.
  22. Acts of 1899, Chapter 154, abolished the 19th Judicial Circuit composed of the counties of Hickman, Dickson, Cheatham and Williamson and expressly repealed Acts of 1891 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 20, above.
  23. Acts of 1899, Chapter 237, created a Circuit Court for Dickson County which would have original jurisdiction of all the suits arising in the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Civil Districts.  The Court would be held in the town of Dickson and possess all the power and authority of other Circuit Courts.  The Circuit Judge of Dickson County would preside over regular terms of court beginning on the third in March, July and November.  The Circuit Court Clerk would serve the new court as the Clerk.
  24. Acts of 1899, Chapter 409, Section 7, assigned Dickson County to the Tenth Judicial Circuit and scheduled the opening dates of the court terms to begin on the third Monday in March, July and November at Dickson, and on the fourth Monday in March, July and November at Charlotte.
  25. Acts of 1899, Chapter 427, was the next major revision of the lower judicial system in the State which came up with fourteen Judicial Circuits.  The Ninth Judicial Circuit included the counties of Robertson, Montgomery, Stewart, Houston, Humphreys, Cheatham, Dickson and Sumner.  The Court in Dickson County would start its terms on the third Monday in January, May and September.
  26. Acts of 1901, Chapter 210, rescheduled the opening dates of the terms of the circuit court of Dickson County at Charlotte from the fourth Monday to the second Monday in March, July and November of each year, specifying that person on bail would make their appearance at the court on Tuesday after the second Monday of their respective terms.
  27. Acts of 1901, Chapter 365, amended Acts of 1901, Chapter 210, above, in Section 2, by directing that Williamson County be removed from the Ninth Judicial Circuit into the Seventh Judicial Circuit.  This Act was repealed by Acts of 1901, Chapter 382, Section 5, below.
  28. Acts of 1901, Chapter 382, repealed entirely that portion of Acts of 1901, Chapter 365, above, which moved Williamson County out of the Ninth Judicial Circuit and into the Seventh and in effect returned Williamson County to the Ninth Circuit.
  29. Acts of 1901, Chapter 397, detached Williamson County from the 9th Judicial Circuit and placed it in the 7th Circuit as before.  The terms of court were to continue as they were now established under the law, and all the laws placing Williamson County in the 9th Judicial Circuit were repealed.
  30. Acts of 1901, Chapter 466, provided that the Circuit Court of Dickson County would meet hereafter on the fourth Monday of April, August and December of each year.
  31. Private Acts of 1903, Chapter 29, rescheduled the court terms of the circuit courts in the 9th Judicial Circuit which now included the counties of Sumner, Robertson, Cheatham, Montgomery, Houston, Stewart, and Dickson.  In Dickson County the court at Charlotte would gather regularly on the fourth Monday in March, July and November, and the court at Dickson would meet on the first Monday in April, August and December.
  32. Private Acts of 1909, Chapter 329, changed the opening dates for the Circuit Court terms in the 9th Judicial Circuit.  The Circuit Court at Charlotte in Dickson County would open on the first Monday in April, August and December, and the court at Dickson would begin on the second Monday in the same months each year.  All process and bonds were to conform to the above changes.
  33. Public Acts of 1915, Chapter 57, reset the openings of the regular terms of the Circuit Courts in the 9th Judicial Circuit.  The Circuit contained the counties of Sumner, Robertson, Montgomery, Stewart, Houston, Humphreys and Dickson.  The Court located at Charlotte in Dickson County would convene on the Tuesday after the first Monday in April, and on the fourth Monday in July and November.  At Dickson the court would meet on the second Monday in April and the first Monday in August and December.
  34. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 115, repealed Acts of 1899, Chapter 237, Item 23, above, which established special circuit and chancery courts in Dickson County at the city of Dickson.  These special courts were abolished and all jurisdiction was returned to the courts meeting at Charlotte.  All the records and transcripts in the custody of the court at Dickson would be returned to the court at Charlotte and all process could be adjusted.

Circuit Court - Clerk

The following acts have no current effect, but once applied to the Dickson County Circuit Court Clerk.  They were repealed, superseded, or never received local approval.  Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

  1. Acts of 1899, Chapter 281, allowed the Circuit Court Clerk and the Clerk and Master of Dickson County the sum of $100 each for payment of their expenses for the proper and economical discharge of the duties of their offices including the employment of deputies, when needed.  This sum was authorized to be paid out of the general funds of the county.  This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 165.
  2. Acts of 1903, Chapter 255, was a salary act which fixed the annual salaries of Circuit Court Clerks only according to the population class of the County in which they served.  The Clerk were required to file a sworn, itemized statement with the County Judge, or Chairman, showing all the fees collected in the office.  If the fees were less than the salary, the county would supply the difference, but if the fees exceeded the salary, the Clerk could retain the surplus for his own.
  3. Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 251, set the salary of the Circuit Court Clerk in Dickson County at $900 a year, payable quarterly out of the County Treasury on the warrant of the County Judge which would be full compensation.  All the fees collected in the office would be the property of the county and paid to the Trustee.
  4. Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 165, expressly repealed Acts of 1899, Chapter 281, in its entirety.
  5. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 70, amended Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 251, Item 3, above, by raising the annual salary of the Circuit Court Clerk from $900 to $1200, all other terms and conditions to remain as they were.
  6. Private Acts of 1939, Chapter 464, amended Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 251, so that the annual salary of the Circuit Court Clerk of Dickson County would hereafter be $1,800 instead of $1,200, all other conditions to remain as they were.

District Attorney General - Assistants and Criminal Investigators

The following acts once affecting Dickson County are no longer in effect but are listed here for historical purposes.

  1. Acts of 1807, Chapter 13, provided that one fit and proper person would be appointed in the manner authorized by the Constitution to attend the several superior Courts in all the Districts, including the Robertson District, who would prosecute all causes to which the State was a party and render other services of a similar nature.  The person thus appointed and serving would be paid $45 for each session of a Superior Court attended.
  2. Acts of 1817, Chapter 65, Section 3, established ten Solicitorial Districts in the State assigning to the Tenth District the counties of Dickson, Stewart, Humphreys, Montgomery and Robertson.  The Attorney General of the District would represent the State in all the cases to which it was a party and be paid an annual salary of $150.
  3. Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 28, made each Solicitorial District in the State to be co-extensive with each Judicial Circuit which had criminal jurisdiction.
  4. Public Acts of 1829, Chapter 29, created the position of Assistant Attorney-General for the 9th judicial Circuit except for Montgomery County.  The Assistant must be a licensed attorney, at least 21 years of age, and a resident of the Circuit in which he was appointed.  He would assist the Attorney-General as directed, and prepare cases for trial and for the Grand Jury.  He would serve at the pleasure of the Attorney-General and be paid $3,000 per annum.  The duties of the person appointed under the terms of this Act would cease when the present Attorney General recovered from his current illness.

General Sessions Court

The following acts once affected the general sessions court of Dickson County, but are no longer in effect and are included herein for reference purposes.  Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

  1. Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 412, created a General Sessions Court for which Dickson County was obligated to provide a Court Room at Charlotte, and such supplies, furnishings, dockets and equipment as might be needed by the Court.  The Circuit Court Room could be used when it was vacant for the business of this Court whose Judge could adjourn it to other locations in the County as his judgment might dictate.  The General Sessions Court would have all the jurisdiction, civil and criminal, formerly possessed by Justices of the Peace from whom all such was hereby divested but who could still collect any fees and costs which might be due them.  Court procedures were specified and the amount of costs fixed for trials in the Court.  The Governor must appoint the first Judge who would serve until his successor, elected in the general August election of 1956, could take office on September 1, 1956, after which the terms of office would be 8 years.  The Judge must be sworn and commissioned and devote full time to the position for which his compensation would be $4,500 a year, payable in equal monthly installments out of the county general funds, and which could not be changed during the term.  The Judge could act as clerk of the court, if desired, but could employ assistance if the total cost did not exceed $600 per annum.  The Sheriff was instructed to wait upon the Court, keep good order, and serve the process of the court when properly issued.  This Act was not acted on by the Quarterly Court of Dickson County and therefore never became an effective law under the Home Rule Amendment to the State Constitution.
  2. Private Acts of 1972, Chapter 336, was rejected by the Dickson County Quarterly Court and never became an effective law.  The Act amended Private Acts of 1957, Chapter 214, in Section One so as to place a maximum amount on rent which could be paid for a court room for the court in the hands of the Quarterly Court of Dickson County.  Section 9 was amended to set the Judge's salary at $15,000 per year, payable in equal monthly installments, provided that an election to fill an unexpired term had been held prior to September 1, 1972.  Beginning on September 1, 1974, the base salary of the Judge would be $17,500 which must be adjusted annually to reflect any cost of living increase appearing during the year.  Section 11 was changed to give the Chancellor, or the Circuit Judge, the authority to appoint a temporary Judge of the Court when the regular Judge could not be available.
  3. Private Acts of 1972, Chapter 384, provided for a litigation tax in the General Sessions Court but was repealed by Private Acts of 1974, Chapter 235.