City Court

City Court Dates
City Court is held on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 3:30 p.m., on the 1st floor of Springfield City Hall, located at 405 North Main Street. Every person charged with violating a municipal ordinance is entitled to a trial and disposition of his or her case. The City Court retains a Spanish language interpreter for each court session.

Questions

If you have a question about the operation and administration of the City Court, please call the Records Division of the Springfield Police Department at 615-384-8422 during regular business hours. Regular business hours are Monday - Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

City Judge
The City Judge is the officer designated by the Charter of the City of Springfield, Tennessee to handle judicial matters within the municipality and to preside over the City Court. The City Judge is appointed by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to serve for a term of 2 years beginning July 1 of every even numbered year. The City Judge must be licensed to practice law in the State of Tennessee. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen also designate a qualified person to serve as Interim Judge in the absence or disability of the City Judge.

Mr. Gary Dilliha currently presides as City Judge and Ms. Charlotte Fleming serves as Interim Judge.

Duties & Authorities
The City Judge tries all persons charged with violation of City ordinances. The City Judge has the authority to levy fines, penalties and forfeitures not exceeding $50, or the maximum established by state law, for each offense and to impose such costs as the Board of Mayor and Aldermen may by ordinance provide, to issue all necessary process, to administer oaths, and to punish for contempt by fine. All fines, penalties, and costs shall be imposed and recorded on the City Court docket in open court.

The City Judge has the authority to issue warrants for the arrest of persons charged with violating municipal ordinances. The City Judge may, in lieu of issuing an arrest warrant, issue a summons ordering the alleged offender to personally appear before the City Court at a time specified therein to answer to the charges against him or her. The City Judge may also subpoena as witnesses all persons whose testimony will be relevant and material to matters coming before the court.

Misdemeanors
Pursuant to T.C.A. 16-18-302(a), the municipal court for the City of Springfield possesses jurisdiction in and over cases for violation of the laws and ordinances of the municipality; or arising under the laws and ordinances of the municipality. The City of Springfield municipal court also possesses jurisdiction to enforce any municipal law or ordinance that mirrors, substantially duplicates or incorporates by cross-reference the language of a state criminal statute if, and only if, the state criminal statute duplicated or cross referenced is a class C misdemeanor.

Court Costs
Court costs in the sum of $70 shall be assessed in each case in which there is a plea of guilty or a trial and conviction in City Court. Such court costs shall be in addition to any fine assessed upon either a plea of guilty or conviction. The City Judge, at his or her discretion, may waive court costs, in whole or in part, in each separate case.

Payment
Citations issued for City Court can be paid prior to the court date on the citation by coming to the Records Division of the Springfield Police Department, 802 Willow Street, Monday - Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.