Attorney General Opinions 
Relating to County Government

2007 Courts

• No statute or guideline promulgated by the Department of Human Services permits the attachment of guardian ad litem fees to a parent’s child support obligation, however, a judge may assess guardian ad litem fees as discretionary costs pursuant to Tenn. R. Civ. P. 54.04(2).  Opinion No. 07-154 (November 21, 2007).

• In a county in which the general sessions court also serves as the juvenile court, under T.C.A. § 37-1-210 the general sessions court clerk also serves as the juvenile court clerk after July 1, 2006 unless otherwise provided by law.  The clerk and master is not qualified to serve in that capacity because it is not an elected position.  Opinion No. 07-97 (July 3, 2007).

• A juvenile court would have exclusive original jurisdiction under T.C.A. § 37-1-103(a)(1) over all cases in which a child has violated a city traffic ordinance.  The juvenile court lacks jurisdiction to hear violations of non-traffic city ordinances committed by children because they are not “delinquent” acts under T.C.A. 37-1-102(b)(9), but to the extent that such a violation constitutes the act of an “unruly child” under T.C.A. § 37-1-102(b)(23) the juvenile court would have exclusive original jurisdiction.  Opinion No. 07-48 (April 10, 2007).

• The Supreme Court, the juvenile judge, or the clerk of the court may have authority over the juvenile court and its employees, depending on whether the issue is of a judicial or clerical nature and other circumstances. Opinion No. 07-04 (January 11, 2007).