Duties of the magistrate

Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-5-303, under Oversight of Magistrates in Counties.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-5-303

(1) The duties of the criminal magistrate are to:(1) Conduct arraignments, pursuant to Rule 10 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure;(2) Conduct initial appearance hearings, pursuant to Rule 5 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure, and set initial appearance bonds, pursuant to § 40-11-118;(3) Determine a defendant's indigency status;(4) Accept entry of pleas of guilt, pursuant to Rule 11 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure, for misdemeanors and Class D and Class E felonies;(5) Issue search warrants and arrest warrants;(6) Conduct preliminary hearings, pursuant to Rule 5.1 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure; and(7) Review and issue summary adjudication orders, if appropriate, for all collateral petitions for all misdemeanors and Class D and Class E felonies. As used in this section, “collateral petitions” include, but are not limited to, motions to modify or waive sentence requirements, post-conviction relief petitions, and petitions for writs of error coram nobis.

(1) Conduct arraignments, pursuant to Rule 10 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure;

(2) Conduct initial appearance hearings, pursuant to Rule 5 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure, and set initial appearance bonds, pursuant to § 40-11-118;

(3) Determine a defendant's indigency status;

(4) Accept entry of pleas of guilt, pursuant to Rule 11 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure, for misdemeanors and Class D and Class E felonies;

(5) Issue search warrants and arrest warrants;

(6) Conduct preliminary hearings, pursuant to Rule 5.1 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure; and

(7) Review and issue summary adjudication orders, if appropriate, for all collateral petitions for all misdemeanors and Class D and Class E felonies. As used in this section, “collateral petitions” include, but are not limited to, motions to modify or waive sentence requirements, post-conviction relief petitions, and petitions for writs of error coram nobis.