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Rule 115 Recording Hearings

General Provisions

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Rule Text

All hearings, except ex parte hearings, shall be audio recorded by the clerk of the court and retained for a minimum of one year from the date of the final disposition of the case.

Plain-English Summary (for reference only — not a substitute for the rule text above)

This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.

Every hearing in juvenile court must be recorded, with one exception. If a hearing is "ex parte," meaning only one side is present and the other side wasn't notified or involved, it does not need to be recorded. For all other hearings, the court clerk is responsible for making an audio recording.

The clerk also has to keep that recording for at least one year after the case is fully resolved. This means if you need to check what was said in court, or if you want to appeal a decision, there should be a recording available to review. This rule helps protect everyone involved by creating an accurate record of what happened during the hearing, rather than relying on people's memories of the proceedings.

Committee Notes

Advisory Commission Comments.

In accordance with T.C.A. §§ 37-1-124(c) and 37-1-159(a), the juvenile court is a court of record. Under this rule, all juvenile courts must create and maintain an audio recording of all hearings in juvenile court, in addition to keeping and maintaining appropriate minutes of hearings. Alternative means of recording, e.g. audio-visual equipment, are acceptable. This rule does not preclude simultaneous recording by a court reporter or other means of recording by a party.

This rule is not applicable to reviews conducted by a foster care review board.

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Last updated: August 2026

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