Sevierville serves as the county seat for Sevier County, Tennessee, with the courthouse and many government services located within town. The Circuit Court is the trial court of record primarily handling criminal and civil matters, including jury trials. The Circuit Court is part of a judicial district, with four Circuit Court judges presiding on a geographic rotation within the surrounding counties in the district. The Chancery Court is also a trial court of record served by one judge (the Chancellor), also serving several counties within the circuit. Although empowered to conduct jury trials, the Chancellor predominantly hears non-jury matters, including real property, contract and equity cases. General Sessions Court serves as a small claims civil court and court for preliminary criminal proceedings and lesser offenses. Probate Court is under the jurisdiction of the General Sessions Court as well. The county is also served by a Juvenile Court Referee. The county’s three cities, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville each have municipal judges handling traffic offenses, municipal code violations, etc. State administrative proceedings are typically heard in Nashville, the state capitol.

 

The United States District Court is located in Knoxville, which adjoins Sevier County, as is the United States Bankruptcy Court. Most criminal and civil matters occurring in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (adjacent to Sevier County) are under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court. Tennessee is within the Federal Sixth Circuit.