Voter Education Your Court System Tennessee Courts Some of this talk about "General Sessions" or "Circuit" Court might be confusing. Just to explain, here are a few details about the different Courts we have in our system. General Sessions Court Hears damage cases involving amounts of $25,000 or less, and criminal misdemeanor cases where the right to trial by jury is waived. General Sessions Court Judges are paid by the County. Circuit Court Hears damage cases involving any dollar amount, no matter how big or small, and also hears all felony criminal cases or other criminal cases where a jury trial is demanded. Hears appeals from General Sessions Court. Circuit Judges are paid by the State of Tennessee. Court of Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals Three Judge panel which hears all appeals from Circuit Court and sometimes from General Sessions Courts. Supreme Court Five Judge panel which hears a select number of appeals from the lower courts.