Private Acts of 1947 Chapter 536

SECTION 1. That the Court of General Sessions for Williamson County, Tennessee, as
created by Chapter 424 of the Private Acts of 1939, is hereby vested with jurisdiction to try and
determine and render final judgment in all misdemeanor cases brought before said Court by
warrant, of information wherein the person charged with such offense enters a plea of guilty or
requests a trial upon the merits, and expressly waives an indictment, presentment and a Grand
Jury investigation, and a jury trial. In such cases the trial shall proceed before the Judge and
without a jury. The final judgment of such Court may be appealed to the Circuit Court of
Williamson County, Tennessee, where such appeal shall be tried by the Judge of such Court
without a jury, and without indictment or presentment.
SECTION 2. That it shall be the mandatory duty of the Judge of the Court of General
Sessions when a defendant is brought before such Court upon arraignment for trial, to advise
such defendant of his constitutional rights to the aid of counsel, the right to be tried only upon
presentment or indictment by a Grand Jury, the right to make a statement in reference to the
accusation or the right to waive such statement in reference to the accusation, and the right to a
trial by jury. Upon the defendant agreeing to waive the right to be put to trial only by
presentment or indictment by a Grand Jury and the right to be tried by a jury of his peers such
Court may proceed to hear and determine said case as is provided by Section 1 hereof.
Said waiver shall be written or attached to the warrant substantially in words and figures
as follows:
The defendant _____________, pleads _____ guilty of such offense of ____________
and waives his right to be tried only by presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury and likewise
waives right of trial by jury of his peers.

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SECTION 3. That the legislature expressly declares that each section, paragraph and
provision of this Act is severable, and that should any portion of the Act be held unconstitutional
or invalid, the same shall not affect the remainder of this Act, but such unconstitutional and
invalid proportion shall be elided, and the Legislature declares that it would have enacted this
Act with such parts elided therefrom.
SECTION 4. That all laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act be, and the same
are, hereby repealed.
SECTION 5. That this Act take effect from and after its passage, the public welfare
requiring it.
Passed: March 4, 1947.