Tennessee Public Defender's Office, Fourth Judicial District

Another NOT GUILTY, for the Sevier County Office! Big “Shout Out” to Jenae Easterly and Sydney Pack a/k/a the Dream Team, for continuing to protect the constitutional rights of the citizens of the 4th Judicial District. Gold Star today ladies! Congratulations!🎉

General Sessions Court for Thursday, February 5th 2026 has been cancelled per Judge Roach.

Contact your attorney for your reset date or visit jeffersoncircuit.com and click "Public Records Search" to locate your case information to include the reset date.

The Circuit Court Clerks Office will be open. I will continue to evaluate conditions and post an update if necessary.

FINAL UPDATE for Wednesday February 4, 2026 pm closed and delayed schedule for county government offices.

Register of Deeds: 9:00 - 4:30
Trustee’s Office: 9:00 - 12:00
Sheriff’s Office: 10:00 - 4:30
County Clerk: 10:00 - 12.00
Election Commission: 10:00 - 4:00
Sessions Clerk: 9:00 - 4:00
Juvenile Office: 9:00 - 4:00
Circuit Clerk: 10:00 - 4:30
Sessions Court (Strange) - Closed
Circuit Court (Gass) - Closed
Chancery Court: 9:00 - 4:00
Property Assessors: 10:00 - 12:00
Mayors Office: 10:00 - 4:00
Cocke County Schools: Closed
Newport Grammar School: Closed

Convenience Centers and Landfill: N/A at this time.

Wednesday normal business hours for trustees office, property assessors office, and clerks office always shut down at noon, as they open on Saturday.

Sevier County General Sessions Court is cancelled for tomorrow, February 2, 2026. Individuals scheduled to be in court should call Sevier County General Sessions Court Clerk when they open to obtain a new court date. (865) 453-6116

*UPDATE: The physical office will remain closed TUESDAY February 3rd. Staff will continue to operate in a work from home status.*

The Jefferson County Circuit, General Sessions and Juvenile Court Clerks Office is closing the physical office at 2pm on January 30th and will remain closed on Monday February 2nd.

Judge Moore Circuit Court Monday February 2nd: Cancelled
Judge Gass Circuit Civil and Criminal Court February 2nd: Cancelled
Judge Roach General Sessions Court February 2nd: Cancelled
Judge Gass Jury Trial February February 3rd: Cancelled

The office will continue to be accessible by the following email addresses:

Kevin Poe - [email protected]
Circuit Criminal - Shannon - [email protected]
Circuit Civil - Teresa - [email protected]
General Sessions Criminal - Morgan - [email protected]
General Sessions Civil - Lisa - [email protected]

Additionally, case information can be found and payments made anytime at jeffersoncircuit.com

Continue monitor this page for updates.

Once again our office has fought for JUSTICE!

Attorneys Sydney Pack and Jenae Easterly, along with Investigator Alexis Trotter received a not guilty verdict (aquittal of all charges) in Sevier County Circuit Court today.

We take pride in our work and congratulate this team on their dedication to seek justice and hold the system accountable to the truth!

Thank you for continuing to protect the constitution and rights of every client! Congratulations!!!

The Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk's Office will be operating on a 2 hour delay on Thursday, January 15th. The office will open at 10am unless this post is updated to advise otherwise.

General Sessions Criminal Court is Cancelled
Circuit Civil Court is Cancelled

Contact your attorney regarding rescheduling.

Questions can be directed by email to:

Circuit Civil - Teresa - [email protected]
General Sessions Criminal - Morgan - [email protected]

Our phones are experiencing service interruptions, utilize email for the most reliable contact.

Our office is asking for prayers for one of our own, Angela Gwathney, wife of Gordon “Ted” Gwathney. Angela is our legal secretary in the Sevierville office. Please keep her and us in your prayers. She is completely devastated.

It is with profound sadness that the Knoxville Police Department announces the tragic passing of beloved KPD Lieutenant Gordon Gwathney.

Gwathney, 57, died after drowning on Sunday morning while on a hunting trip near Woodworth, North Dakota.

“This is an incomprehensible loss for our agency and the entire Knoxville community,” Chief of Police Paul Noel said. “Gordon was beloved by our department and so many members of our community. He was a truly exceptional police officer who mentored generations of officers, dedicated his entire life to service and embodied the true spirit of community policing. We are completely devastated by his passing and ask the community to lift his family, the members of our department and all who loved Gordon up in prayer.”

"Gordon Gwathney will always be remembered first and foremost as 'Officer G', the friendly, accessible, caring officer who took the time to really get to know the people he was entrusted to serve and protect," said Mayor Indya Kincannon. "His commitment to listening and earning the trust of the community was exceptional. Our hearts are with his family, friends, and co-workers as we grieve his untimely death."

Gwathney served the KPD since 1997, ascending to the rank of Sergeant in 2003 and Lieutenant in 2010. Gwathney, known endearingly as “Officer G” throughout the East Knoxville community, served virtually his entire career on patrol. Early in his career, he was assigned as the first-ever School Resource Officer at Austin-East High School, where he formed countless lasting relationships in the community.

Gwathney, a Sevier County native, was recognized as KPD’s Officer of the Year in 2013 and nominated for the award again in 2019. Prior to joining the KPD, he served his country as a member of the U.S. Army, a tenure that included a deployment to Korea, and later as a member of the Tennessee National Guard.

The KPD appreciates the support of the agencies who responded to this morning's incident, which includes the Carrington Fire Department, Carrington Ambulance, Stutsman County Water Rescue, Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Funeral services for Lt. Gwathney have not been finalized and will be shared in the coming days.

Happy Bosses Day, Becca Lee!