Dear Colleagues and Community Members, 

As we welcome December, the Holidays, and the arrival of winter, I'm reminded this time of year invites us to pause and appreciate the joy and resilience within our community.

2025 has been a year of change but the General Sessions team has remained steadfast in our commitment to innovation, transparency, and access. I'm proud to share that this year, we've taken big steps toward transforming the entire General Sessions Court for the better.

In the Civil Division, we've upgraded workstation technology, added new information screens, and refreshed our physical footprint to improve workflow and customer service. Looking ahead to 2026, we'll introduce customer service kiosks in the Civil Division to enhance the experience further. Once these upgrades are complete, we'll begin improvements in the Criminal Division.

I'm also excited about new technological advancements on the horizon, including Live Translation services and an online expungement assistance tool. By continuing our mission to modernize the court and better serve our community, we're working to make justice more accessible for everyone.

This year, we convened the Interagency Operations Justice Workgroup (IJOW), a collaborative action group that includes partners from across Shelby County Government. We also launched the IJOW Dashboard, a powerful new resource that gives our community direct access to arrest, citation, and warrant data directly from the Shelby County General Sessions Court. Now, anyone can see what's happening in our justice system right from their phone or computer.

As we close out the year, I want to thank the people of Shelby County, our partners, our team, and our broader community for your continued support and collaboration. Your trust fuels our progress, and I remain deeply committed to driving the good work forward in 2026.

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a peaceful, hopeful start to the new year.

In Service, 

Tamara A. Sawyer 

Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk 

Join General Sessions in celebrating our December team birthdays:

We hope you have a Happy Birthday!

Pictured (L - R): Leticia Coleman, Terrance Harris

Our Community Engagement Team also showed up in partnership at the Memphis Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Community Resource and Job Fair!

Civil Court Fee Increase

Effective January 1, 2026, filing fees for certain General Sessions Civil Division court cases will change under House Bill no. 487.

Visit the Filing Fee Increase Notice at the link below to see the updated filing fees. Please share this information.

Expungement Resources

Expungement is the legal erasure of certain criminal records. Wondering if you or someone you know may qualify for expungement?

Click below or call (901) 222-0303 for more information.

Rental Assistance Resources

Do you or someone else need help with rent or housing in Shelby County? Support with rental payments, mortgages and more is available for those who qualify. Visit the link below for more information.

Public Records Requests

Shelby County citizens have the right to access certain types of public records through the Tennessee Records Act. If you've ever needed access to public records but didn't know where to start, contact us!

Click below or call (901) 222-3585 for more information.