Loudon County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Loudon County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Loudon County.
Who can help me in Loudon County?
For general information about your case the Loudon County court clerk will be able to provide legal information about your specific criminal case. Legal information is not legal advice though, the court clerk will only be able to provide information about your case, like date/time of hearings what will occur at the hearing and what you may be required to do in the hearing. They cannot provide advice about what you should do or what the best legal options may be for your particular case. Only an attorney can provide legal advice and this is your best place for information about your specific criminal proceeding. If you cannot afford to hire a private attorney to represent you, a judge will appoint an attorney to represent you, this is most often a public defender.
Right to Jury Trial
For “Serious Crimes”, those that can have a potential penalty of 6 months in jail OR a minimum $500 penalty, the US Constitution guarantees a right to trial by jury. This is guaranteed by Article III of the Constitution and the 6th Amendment. The accused has the ability to waive their right to trial by jury.
Loudon County Criminal Court
What if I can’t afford an attorney?
The 6th Amendment guarantees you the right to an attorney whether or not you can afford one. If you cannot afford one, a public defender will be appointed by the court to represent you.
Required Court Appearances in Loudon County
Any required court appearances in Loudon County Criminal Court must be attended by the defendant. Failure to appear in court at your required date and time may result in the judge issuing an arrest warrant.
What is Jury Deliberation?
After both the prosecution and defense have presented their cases, the judge in the case will provide instructions to the jury about what they must decide. The jury will be dismissed to the jury room where they will deliberate about the guilt or innocence of the defendant. After reaching a unaminous decision, they return their decision to the court where it is read aloud in the courtroom. If the jury is unable to reach a unaminous decision, the jury is deadlocked, also known as a hung jury, in which a mistrial will be declared.
Loudon County Arraignments
An arraignment is a court hearing. In Loudon County this is the first thing that will happen in a criminal case. The defendant will be brought before a judge in Loudon County Criminal Court and the judge will read the charges that were filed against the defendant. The judge will also read the rights the defendant has and ask the defendant if they understand both the charges filed against them and their rights as a defendant in the case. In Loudon County a plea of Guilty, Not Guilty or No Contest may be entered. In a guilty or no contest plea the sentencing of the defendant may take place at the same arraignment hearing or a later date may be scheduled for sentencing. For a not guilty plea, a date will be set for a trial.
Loudon County Criminal Court locations
Criminal proceedings take place in the Loudon County Criminal Courts. A list of the criminal courts are located here.
Appealing a guilty verdict
A defendant may appeal a guilty verdict to an appellate court. This is not a request to have another trial, but a request for an appellate court to review the case and determine that it was handled in a correct legal manner. There are a number of outcomes in an appeal including an upholding of the conviction, a finding that errors were made resulting in a retrial or resentencing or possibly a complete disimissal of all charges.
Who is the prosecutor for Loudon County?
Depending upon the case, the prosecutor for Loudon County criminal cases will either be a representative of Loudon County or a representative from Tennessee. After reviewing evidence it is the prosecutor’s decision whether to file charges or drop a case. Most prosecutors have the ability to negotiate plea bargains, and determine how the case will be prosecuted.
What is a Plea Agreement?
A plea agreement is a deal made between the prosecution and the defendant in a case, where the defendant agrees to plea guilty to a particular charge in exchange for some concession from the prosecutor. In practice, more than 90% of criminal cases end with a plea agreement.
Burden of Proof
The burden of proof is always on the prosecution in a criminal trial. In other words, the prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime. The defense must only prove that there is a reasonable possibility that the defendant did NOT commit the crime. If the prosecution cannot prove that the defendant committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, the jury will be instructed to find the defendant not-guilty.
If guilty, who sentences the defendant?
If the defendant is found guilty after the trial, the defendent will be sentenced. In some cases, this can occur at the same hearing the defendant is found guilty in court, in other cases a separate hearing will be required. Often the prosecution will request a particular sentence for the defendant and the judge will determine whether to enforce this sentence or impose a different sentence for the defendant.
Loudon County Criminal Court Locations
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Loudon County Circuit Court
Address: 601 Grove Street, PO Box 280, Loudon, TN 37774
Phone: 865-458-2042 Fax: 865-458-2043 -
Loudon County Chancery Court
Address: PO Box 509, Loudon, TN 37774
Phone: 865-458-2630 Fax: 865-458-0829 -
Loudon County Criminal Court
Address: PO Box 280, Loudon, TN 37774
Phone: 865-458-2042 Fax: 865-458-2043 -
Loudon County General Sessions Court
Address: 12680 Highway 11 West, Suite 3, Lenoir City, TN 37771
Phone: 865-986-3505 Fax: 865-986-7355 -
Loudon County Juvenile Court
Address: 12680 Highway 11 West, Suite 3, Lenoir City, TN 37771
Phone: 865-986-3505 Fax: 865-986-7355 -
Lenoir City Court
Address: 600 East Broadway, PO Box 445, Lenoir City, TN 37771
Phone: 865-635-0006 -
Loudon City Court
Address: 100 Cedar Street, Loudon, TN 37774
Phone: 865-408-0408