Memphis City Court

Memphis City Court cases in Shelby County, Memphis, TN

Memphis City Court is a municipal court serving the City of Memphis. It has limited jurisdiction to adjudicate violations of Memphis municipal ordinances, chiefly traffic and parking offenses and other city-code infractions issued by city police and agencies. The court's functions include hearing these cases, determining liability, imposing fines and other penalties authorized by ordinance, and entering judgments. It does not handle state criminal prosecutions, family law, or general civil litigation, which are heard in Shelby County courts. Appeals from Memphis City Court are taken de novo to the Shelby County Circuit Court.

Memphis City Court Contact and Location Information

Services and Case Types Handled in Memphis City Court

Memphis City Court serves the public by:
- Adjudicating City ordinance, traffic, and parking violations (including camera citations).
- Scheduling and holding arraignments, trials, and compliance/show-cause hearings; offering payment options and, when eligible, driver-safety school or community-service dispositions.
- Processing case filings related to its matters (citations, motions such as continuances, and appeals), and issuing certified records/dispositions.
- Collecting fines, fees, and costs; providing online/in-person payments, court-date information, and license-clearance notices.

Not handled:
- Protective orders-file in Shelby County General Sessions/Circuit/Chancery.
- Jury services-City Court does not conduct jury trials; jury administration is by the Shelby County Jury Commission. Some matters may be appealed de novo to a court of record for a jury, where allowed.