Court records of Knox County, Tennessee, are maintained by the clerks of the respective courts and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the clerk's offices. KnoxCourt.us helps find publicly available information about court records in this county. Additional resources include criminal case search, Knox County courts portal, as well as the offices of the Circuit Court and Criminal Court clerks. For state-level records, refer to the Tennessee Judicial Branch.
Knox Court System Overview
Knox County is part of the 6th Judicial District of Tennessee. The District Attorney General's Office represents the state's interests in all criminal cases in this county. The court system includes the Criminal Court, Circuit Court, Chancery Court, General Sessions Court, and Juvenile Court — each with its own jurisdiction and clerk's office.
The General Sessions Court handles preliminary hearings in criminal cases, minor civil claims, and traffic violations. Felonies after the preliminary hearing are transferred to the Criminal Court. Large civil cases and cases related to equity law are handled by the Circuit Court and Chancery Court, respectively.
Courts Serving Knox
Residents of Knox County are served by several courts at the local, state, and federal levels:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Knox County Criminal Court | 300 Main Street, Knoxville, TN 37902 | 865-215-2492 |
| Knox County Circuit Court | 400 Main Street, Knoxville, TN 37902 | 865-215-2392 |
| Knox County Chancery Court | 400 Main Street, Knoxville, TN 37902 | 865-215-2555 |
| Knox County General Sessions Court (Criminal Division) | 300 Main Street, Knoxville, TN 37902 | 865-215-2375 |
| Knox County General Sessions Court (Civil Division) | 400 Main Street, Knoxville, TN 37902 | 865-215-2392 |
| Knox County Juvenile Court | 3323 Division Street, Knoxville, TN 37919 | 865-215-6400 |
| U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee | 800 Market Street, Knoxville, TN 37902 | 865-545-4228 |
| Knoxville Municipal Court (City Court) | 800 Howard Baker Jr. Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37915 | 865-215-2058 |
Federal cases, including bankruptcy, can be tracked through the PACER system.
What Types of Cases Knox Courts Hear
Knox County courts hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic violations and DUI
- Civil claims (from small to large amounts)
- Family law: divorce, child custody, alimony
- Probate, guardianship, conservatorship
- Juvenile and child protection cases
- Adoption and termination of parental rights
Each category is discussed in more detail below in the context of the specific court.
District Court Cases in Knox
In Tennessee, the term "district court" is not used in the classic sense — its role is fulfilled by the Circuit Court and Criminal Court. The Criminal Court hears felonies after the General Sessions Court conducts a preliminary hearing and finds probable cause. The Criminal Court judge presides over the trial, delivers the verdict, and oversees post-trial motions.
The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over civil cases with claims exceeding the General Sessions Court's limit, as well as appeals from lower courts. Cases are distributed among judges according to the local rules of the 6th Judicial District. The Circuit Court Clerk's Office also provides access to the county's law library.
Magistrate Court Cases in Knox
The General Sessions Court in Knox County performs functions similar to a magistrate court in other states. The criminal division handles:
- Misdemeanors and infractions
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Traffic violations and DUI
The civil division accepts claims up to $25,000 according to Tennessee law. Small claims cases are limited to $25,000. General Sessions judges often specialize in specific categories due to high caseloads — some primarily handle criminal cases, while others focus on civil matters.
The General Sessions Court Clerk (criminal division) records the issuance of each warrant and summons in the appropriate register according to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 4.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Knox
Family Law. Divorce, custody, child support, protective orders, and paternity cases are heard in the Circuit Court or Chancery Court depending on the nature of the claim. State-approved divorce forms are available for free on the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts website.
Probate. The Chancery Court handles estate matters, the appointment of guardians, conservators, and trust administration. Applications are submitted through the Chancery Court Clerk's Office in the City-County Building.
Juvenile Matters. The Knox County Juvenile Court hears cases under the Juvenile Justice Act and Child Protective Act. Juvenile records are confidential according to Tennessee law.
How Cases Move Through the Knox Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with a complaint or arrest warrant; a civil case starts with the filing of a complaint or petition in the appropriate court.
- Judge Assignment. The case is assigned to judges according to the internal schedule and local rules of the county.
- Initial Hearing. In criminal cases — arraignment (announcement of charges and determination of bail). In civil cases — a preliminary conference to set the schedule.
- Pretrial Phase. Parties exchange evidence (discovery), file motions. In criminal cases, plea negotiations may occur.
- Trial or Resolution. The case concludes with a jury verdict, plea agreement, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Trial Phase. Sentencing, filing an appeal, or enforcing the court's decision.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Knox
Knox County courts are administered under the guidance of the administrative judge of the 6th Judicial District. Local rules of practice for this district are published on the Tennessee Courts website and govern filing procedures, deadlines, and formatting requirements.
According to the Tennessee Public Records Act (T.C.A. § 10-7-503), most court records are public, except for confidential materials — juvenile cases, sealed records, and some family matters. The county has an official Public Records Policy that outlines the process for handling requests.
Public records requests can be submitted through the Knox County public records online portal. Court hearings are generally open to the public. Some courts offer remote participation — check with the specific court's clerk's office.
To find clerks by county, use the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts portal.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Knox
- Criminal case and docket search: online search for criminal, traffic cases, and county ordinance violations on the Criminal Court Clerk's website.
- Background check: Criminal Court Clerk offers a background check package for $15.00.
- Court forms and self-help resources: Tennessee Courts forms and publications, including forms for protective orders, mediation, and family planning.
- Arrest records for the last 24 hours: arrest list from the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
- Current inmate list: search among inmates in the county detention center.
- Information on state felony offenders: Tennessee Felony Offender Information Lookup for individuals under the Department of Correction's care.
- Knoxville city police reports: Knoxville Police Records Unit accepts requests Monday through Friday, 8:00–16:00; copies — $0.15 per page.
- State appellate cases: Public Case History allows checking the status of cases in the Tennessee Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Court of Criminal Appeals.
- Useful contacts: District Attorney's Office links page contains phone numbers for the General Sessions Court, Criminal Court, and Juvenile Court clerks' offices.