Administration:  County Legislative Body (previously County Court)

Each county in Tennessee, except those with a metropolitan form of government, has a county legislative body, which is also formally known as the board of county commissioners, or informally known as the county commission.

The county legislative body replaced the quarterly county court as provided in the Public Acts of 1978, Chapter 934, T.C.A. §5-5-101 et seq.

The county commissioners are vested with all the legislative powers and duties formerly vested in justices of the peace, but possess no judicial powers and are not charged with any judicial functions. Under T.C.A. §36-3-301, members of county legislative bodies may solemnize marriages.

The following acts once applied to the quarterly court or the county legislative body of Jefferson County and are included herein for historical purposes. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. The Territorial Ordinance of June 11, 1792, signed by William Blount, Governor, in and over the Territory of the United States south of the Ohio River, created a Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in Jefferson County. This Court possessed both judicial and legislative powers for many years to come. The Court was held in 1792 in Jefferson County at the home of Jeremiah Matthews on the fourth Monday in January, April, July, and October.
2. The Territorial Ordinance dated February 16, 1793, changed the time of holding the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in Jefferson County to the second Monday in February, May, August, and November, of each year.
3. The Territorial Ordinance dated March 21, 1793, changed the place for holding the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in Jefferson County to the north side of the French Broad River, on the lands of Francis Dean, near the Rev. Mr. Henderson's lower meeting house, at such particular spot as the commissioners should fix upon.
4. Acts of 1794, Chapter 8, Page 77, Section 3, rescheduled the opening dates of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in Jefferson County to the first Monday in February, May, August, and November.
5. Acts of 1797, Chapter 6, Page 31, changed the dates for the terms of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in Jefferson County to the third Monday in January, April, July, and October.
6. Acts of 1809, Chapter 93, Page 121, fixed the terms of court for every Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in the State. In Jefferson County the terms would begin on the second Monday in March, June, September, and December.
7. Acts of 1811, Chapter 72, Page 73, repealed the original jurisdiction given to the Circuit Court by Acts of 1809, Chapter 49, which had formerly belonged to the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions and returned the same to that Court.
8. Acts of 1813, Chapter 77, Page 101, returned concurrent jurisdiction with the Courts of Pleas and Quarter Sessions to the Circuit Court, gave the Circuit Court equity jurisdiction, and provided for appeals from the Court of Pleas and Quarter Session to go to either the Circuit Court or the Supreme Court of Errors and Appeals.
9. Acts of 1821, Chapter 123, Page 120, authorized the Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions to build a house for use as a Clerk's Office on some part of the Public Square in the city of Dandridge, upon the death, resignation, or removal of the Clerk, his successors would have the use of the house as his office when he paid the Clerk, or his heirs and representatives, the value of the said building as the same might be determined at that time.
10. Acts of 1835-36, Chapter 6, Page 45, established a County Court in every County, pursuant to the 1835 Constitution, changed the name of the Court to the Quarterly County Court which would meet on the first Monday of every month as a "Quorum Court" and every three months as a Quarterly Court. This Court could select jurors for some of the other courts of equal jurisdiction, generally one from each of the 25 civil districts but could select more jurors if the need existed. Jurors would be paid $1.00 per day for each day served for which purpose a tax could be levied if the funds were not available from other sources.
11. Acts of 1851-52, Chapter 279, Page 494, Section 4, declared that the town of New Market in Jefferson County would be allowed a Justice of the Peace who must reside within the corporate limits of the town and be elected by the qualified resident voters thereof. This Justice would be in addition to all other Justices of the Peace and possess the same powers and authority conferred upon them.
12. Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 175, Page 267, was the legal authority for the qualified voters residing in Dandridge, in Jefferson County to elect a Justice of the Peace for that city who must be a resident of the town and who would have all the authority and jurisdiction given to other Justices.
13. Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 58, Page 183, fixed the compensation of the Justices of the Peace in the counties of Hamblen, Jefferson, and Williamson at $2.50 per day for each day's attendance at a regular, or special, session of the Quarterly Court. The Justices would also be paid five cents per mile for each mile traveled going to and from their homes and the Court.
14. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 513, Page 1600, is listed in some publications as being applicable to Jefferson County but the population figures of 1920 which are quoted in the Act would make it apply only to Loudon County. The Act set up a schedule of fees to be charged for certain services performed by county officials.
15. Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 519, Page 1429, established the per diem rate of pay for the Justices of the Peace in Jefferson County (identified by the use of 1940 Federal Census figures) at $5.00 per day for each day's attendance at all regular and called sessions of the Quarterly Court, plus whatever mileage allowance which was permitted under the law.