Just as The State Supreme Court has been referred to as the "court of last resort," the General Sessions Court has been called the "court of first resort." The General Sessions Court is the first court in which most criminal and civil cases originate. For most citizens, it is the "people’s court" - the court of first and last resort.
The primary function of General Sessions Court is to ensure that the laws in the community are upheld and that justice is served. In addition to a sizeable and diverse caseload and multiple court activities, the Judges of the General Sessions and Juvenile Court in Williamson County supervise nearly 50 employees.
The General Sessions Court deals each week with many different types of cases and litigants. On a weekly basis, a General Sessions Judge hears:
- Criminal warrants
- Search warrants
- Writs for possession of property
- Sets bonds
- Conducts criminal and civil hearings
- Issues orders of protection
- Reviews probation
- Presides over traffic court
In Williamson County more than 15,000 cases are heard each year in General Sessions Court. That’s more than 300 per week.
The Judge usually reviews a case several times before final disposition. The case flow through General Sessions Court is efficient as long as the participants are reasonably well-informed and prepared when they come to court.
Even when things go awry, as they sometimes do, efforts are made by court personnel to make General Sessions expedient in handling cases.