Haywood County Circuit Court, 28th Judicial District
1 N. Washington
Brownsville, TN 38012
731-772-1112

Circuit Court is a court of record. The Circuit Court Clerk’s office is responsible for maintaining and keeping all records and minutes of the court. This includes misdemeanor and felony criminal cases, civil cases over $25,000.00, post convictions, workers compensation, hospital liens, garnishments, executions, name changes, restoration of citizenship and foreign judgments. The court is responsible for preparing and transferring all records for cases on appeal to a higher court. The court also collects, receipts and accounts for all fines, court costs and restitution payments, which are disbursed to various agencies monthly.

The Clerk’s office provides background checks. The records are open to the public during regular office hours.

Judge Clayburn Peeples

Circuit Court Clerk Elma Pirtle

Staff:

Elizabeth S. Hardister Lillie Johnson Judy Powell Brenda Wills Cindy Baynes Lashonsa Jones Roxie Bufford Rita Alvarado Marilyn Bond Tracy Jones Richard Rouse

Circuit Court Staff

General Sessions Court is often the public’s first introduction to the judicial system because of its broad range of jurisdiction. Unlike Circuit Court, this court is not a court of record. The General Sessions Court Clerk’s office is responsible for filing all detainer warrants, orders of protection, evictions and small claims lawsuits. Lawsuits filed in General Sessions cannot be more than $25,000.00. The Clerk’s office also processes and maintains the records on all state warranst, traffic citations, misdemeanor court hearings and felony preliminary court hearings. We have the responsibility for collecting, receipting and accounting for all costs, fines and restitution. This office is a fee office and we collect fees which are disbursed to various state and county agencies on a monthly basis.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Q: Do I need an attorney to represent me in General Sessions Civil Court?
  A: No, in General Sessions Court you may represent yourself unless you are filing for a corporation.
  
  
• Q: What happens if my traffic ticket or citation is not paid on time?
  A: Your ticket will be sent to the Department of Safety and they will suspend your driver’s license.
  
  
• Q: How do I get my license reinstated after they are suspended?
  A: You must pay all outstanding tickets and reinstatement fees. Cost will vary due to state charges for reinstatement fees.
  
  
• Q: What is a civil warrant?
  A: A civil warrant is a money judgment that is not to exceed $25,000.00.
  
  
• Q: What is a detainer warrant?
  A: This warrant is used in civil court to evict a renter or to collect rent that is due.
  
  
• Q: What is a warrant to recover?
  A: This warrant is used to recover personal property from someone or to collect a money judgment.
  
  
• Q: Who qualifies for a Protection Order?
  A: To qualify for a Protection Order you have to show signs or recent physical abuse or to have a recent threat against your life. The person has to be of some relation to you or you must have been involved in a relationship with them.
  
  

Staff:

• Elizabeth S. Hardister
• Lillie Johnson
• Judy Powell
• Brenda Wills
• Cindy Baynes
• Lashonsa Jones
• Roxie Bufford
• Rita Alvarado
• Marilyn Bond
• Tracy Jones
• Richard Rouse

Judge J. Roland Reid

J. Roland Reid, Judge of the Haywood County General Sessions / Juvenile Court is a life-long resident of Haywood County. Judge Reid obtained a B.S. degree in Agriculture with honors from the University of Tennessee in 1981 where he was a pre-veterinary medicine major. He obtained his law degree in 1986 from the University of Memphis. He was in private practice in Brownsville until 1993 when he was appointed as the General Sessions Judge. He was then elected to the position in 1994, re-elected in 1998 and again in 2006. He also served as the City Court Judge of Brownsville for 12 years and recently resigned from that position when he obtained a full time judgeship with the county.

1 North Washington Ave
Brownsville, Tennessee 38012

Judge’s Office is located on the 2nd floor of the courthouse
731-772-2176 / 731-772-1435
Fax 731-772-3864

Judge's Staff:

• Tracy Nichols, Administrative Assistant to Judge Reid
  
  Tracy has been with Judge Reid since 1998.
  
  Duties & Services:
  • Tracy is the mediator between the judge and all law enforcement, attorneys, the general public, etc.
  • She is to handle and maintain the daily court calendar, court dockets, and the judge’s schedule.
  • Operates and handle the video arraignment system daily.
  • Answers and handles all telephone calls coming into the judge’s office.
  • Set up all meetings and special appointments for the judge.
  • Set special court date for special hearing and obtain special judges in certain circumstances.
  • Prepares and distributes Court Calendar for the year to all court personnel, law enforcement, district attorney, public defenders, etc.
  
  
  
• Jean Whitby, Adult Probation Officer
  
  Probation Office is located in the main door of the Fire Department on Franklin Street (last office on the right) 731-772-0467
  
  Duties & Services include but not limited to the following:
  • Maintains files and records for criminal offenders
  • To monitor adult criminal offenders
  • Collect fines, court costs, and restitution
  • Assist Offenders with job services
  • Assist Offender with drug and alcohol treatment
  • Drug screening of offenders on probation
  
  
  

Marilyn Bond, Juvenile Deliquent Clerk Tracy Jones, Child Support Clerk

Juvenile Court Office: Elashia Ramsey, Youth Services Officer / County Juvenile Probation Officer Renae Pullen Jackson, Intensive Juvenile Probation Officer

Weekly Court Schedule

• Monday
  9:00 am Trooper Traffic Court and CERT (crash enforcement reduction team) Court
  1:30 pm Juvenile Court
  
  
• Tuesday
  Mandatory Court Appearance
  9:00 am Criminal Court
  1:30 pm Criminal Court
  
  
• Wednesday
  9:00 am Civil Court
  10:00 am Trooper Traffic Court
  1:30 pm Child Support Court
  
  
• Thursday
  9:00 am Criminal Court
  Thursdays are also reserved for special court settings (DSC cases, juvenile detention hearings, etc.)
  
  
• NO COURT ON FRIDAYS!

Should you have any questions about court dates or specific citation information, please call the clerks office:
General Sessions Court - Court Clerk is Elma Pirtle
731-772-1112

Haywood County Juvenile Court
1 North Washington Avenue
Brownsville, TN 38012
731-772-1435

Staff:

Duties and Services:

Policies Regarding Services:

• Title IV of the 1964 Civil Rights Act
  • Discrimination is prohibited
  • Prohibited Practices include:
    • Denial of services based on race, color, national origin
    • Refusal to grant equal services to clients based on race, color, national origin
    • Impairing human dignity by manner of address or treatment
• Title IV of the 1964 Civil Rights Act is monitored by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth and The Department Of Children Services. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IS THE LAW.

Court Schedule:

• Juvenile Court: Monday 1:30pm (Delinquent and Status Offenders)
• Child Support Court: Wednesday 1:30pm
• Department of Children Services: Cases set as need or requested by Department of Children Services (Dependant Neglect, Child Custody, Emergency Removals, Termination/Surrenders of Parental Rights)

References for Other Services:

• Carl Perkins Child Abuse Center
  51 Kleer-Vu Dr.
  Brownsville, TN 38012
  731-772-3878
  
  
• The Department of Children’s Services
  33 Old Hickory Blvd.
  Jackson, TN 38035
  731-423-6499
  1-888-781-2035
  
  
• 24 Hour Child Abuse Hotline
  1-877-237-0004
  
  
• Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth
  Contact: Rodger Jowers
  State Office Building, Box 13
  225 Martin Luther King Dr.
  Jackson, TN 38301
  731-423-6545
  
  
• Pathways
  114 Tambell
  Brownsville, TN 38012
  731-772-4685
  
  
• Professional Care Services
  130 W. Main St.
  Brownsville, TN 38012
  731-772-9002
  
  
• Maximus Child Support Services
  19 Court Sq. North
  Brownsville, TN 38012
  731-779-2020
  
  

Other Programs:

• Brownsville/Haywood County Teen Court
  • The program is coordinated by Officer Barry Diebold and YSO Elashia Ramsey
  • Judge J. Roland Reid is the presiding judge
  • Teen court is a program for first time juvenile offenders.
  • Participation in teen court allows the defendant to have their case heard by a panel of their peers, receive a sentence, and complete their sentence in order to maintain a clear juvenile record.
  • The teen court panel is made up of Haywood County students selected by school and court officials.
  
  
  
• Haywood County Intensive Probation
  • Intensive Probation services for Haywood County are provided by West Tennessee Community Services
  • Juveniles on this level of Probation are supervised by Renae Pullen-Jackson
  • Juveniles on Intensive Probation are expected to abided by curfews, attend a weekly group meeting, submit to random drug screens, complete community service, attend school regularly in good status, and abide by parental rules and community laws
  • Juveniles on Intensive probation have either already violated County and State Probation or their delinquent acts are serious enough that they skip the first two levels of Probation going straight to Intensive Probation (possession of drugs at school, aggravated assault etc.)
  • Intensive Probation is the last level of probation before a juvenile is committed into State custody by the Judge