Welcome to the Walking Horse Capital of the World, Pencil City USA and Home of Strolling Jim, the first Walking Horse National Grand Champion.

Circuit, General Sessions and Juvenile Court Clerk

Thomas Smith




    1 Public Square, Suite 101 Phone: 931-684-3223
    (Second floor Courthouse) Fax: 931-684-4141
    Shelbyville, TN 37160 Hours: M-F 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
       
    e-mail:  Thomas.Smith@bedfordcountytn.org

    The Court Clerk’s office handles all cases in Circuit Court that are bound over from the General Sessions Court and any cases that are presented directly to the Grand Jury. In Circuit Civil cases, this office handles all cases that are appealed from General Sessions to Circuit and all the cases that are filed when the amount of suit is over $25,000. Additional court cases that go through this office include child support, workman’s compensation and divorce.

    General Sessions criminal cases that flow through this office are those from city police officers that could be a jailable offense and all county sheriff deputy cases that are generated through the Judicial Commissioners’ office.

    General Sessions civil cases include all cases under $25,000. Examples of these are automobile accidents, unlawful detainer warrants and orders of protection.

    Juvenile Court cases include those that involve a juvenile under 18 years of age. Examples are juvenile child support and any other cases that involved juveniles.

    Office staff are: Rachel Arnold, Pam Chambers, Annette Anderson, Donna Reed, Julie Harris, Jessica Day, Jane Care and Diane Clanton.

    All records in the Circuit Court office are open to the public with the exception of juvenile records. Fees are charged for copies of records.

    I was born and raised in Bedford County and Graduated Shelbyville Central High School. I am a member of the Fairlane Church of Christ. I was a route salesman for thirty years before being elected to the Bedford County Circuit Court Clerk’s position in 1986. I am a member of the Clerk’s Association and hold a certificate for Certified Public Administrator from the University of Tennessee. I have been a sixteen year past member of the Shelbyville Kiwanis Club, holding the offices of Past President and Past Lt. Governor and was awarded the George F. Hixson Fellowship. I am a member of the Duck River Agency Board of Directors since 1998 and a member of the American Legion Post 23 serving as Past Commander. I was a member of Leadership Bedford in 1995 and served as a board member for three years. I am a member of the Chamber of Commerce and also a member of the Bedford County Democratic Club and have served as Past President. I am also a member of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Association, also President of the Breakfast Rotary Club for 2007-2008 year.

    The Clerks office is an office that keeps records of all criminal and civil cases in Circuit Court and in General Sessions Court. The clerk is responsible for keeping and maintaining all the records. The Clerk is responsible for being in court at all times to record everything that is said by the judge, and for getting the jury for trial when the judge sets the cases. When a case is appealed from a court of record, the Clerk is responsible for compiling the records needed for the appeal. It is very important that the records are well kept and maintained. The Clerk is also responsible for all fines and fees collected and judgments that have been paid to the court and this money is disbursed in a timely fashion.