United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
About This Court
The Eastern District of Tennessee is one of three federal judicial districts in Tennessee, covering the eastern portion of the state. The district encompasses the Appalachian region, including major population centers such as Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Greeneville, and sits within the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
The district is geographically diverse, spanning from the Great Smoky Mountains in the south to the upper East Tennessee valley. It serves a region with a significant rural population as well as several mid-sized urban areas, and its cases reflect both the industrial and rural character of the region.
Court operations are conducted across multiple divisions, with the clerk's office headquartered in Knoxville. The district handles the full range of federal civil and criminal matters, including cases arising under federal environmental, labor, and constitutional law.
Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Tennessee. Appeals go to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Divisions
Northern Division (Knoxville), Northeastern Division (Greeneville), Southern Division (Chattanooga), Winchester Division (Winchester)
Caseload
The Eastern District of Tennessee handles a substantial volume of criminal cases, including drug trafficking prosecutions reflecting the region's proximity to major interstate corridors. Civil cases include significant federal civil rights, employment, and environmental matters.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the Eastern District of Tennessee by applying to the clerk of court and demonstrating active membership in good standing with the Tennessee Bar or another state bar, consistent with the court's local rules.
Clerk's Office
800 Market Street, Suite 130, Knoxville, TN 37902
(865) 545-4228
Active Judges 9
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Atchley | Donald J. Trump | 2020 | Samford University, Cumberland School of Law |
| Curtis Collier | William J. Clinton | 1995 | Duke University School of Law |
| Clifton Corker | Donald J. Trump | 2019 | William and Mary Law School |
| Katherine Crytzer | Donald J. Trump | 2020 | George Mason University School of Law (now Antonin Scalia Law School) |
| Robert Edgar | Ronald Reagan | 1985 | Duke University School of Law |
| J. Greer | George W. Bush | 2003 | University of Tennessee College of Law |
| Travis McDonough | Barack Obama | 2015 | Vanderbilt University Law School |
| Thomas Phillips | George W. Bush | 2002 | Vanderbilt University Law School |
| Thomas Varlan | George W. Bush | 2003 | Vanderbilt University Law School |
Local Rules
The Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, which supplement the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.
Civil Rules 46
Criminal Rules 5
General Rules 12
Attorney Rules 5
Patent Rules 1
| Rule | Title |
|---|---|
| LR3.1.1 | Patent, Trademark and Copyright Cases |