Judge Carol Chumney
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Attorney filings
Court-wide- Within 2 Days Before Argument
- Within 5 Days Before Argument
Brief
Court-wide- At Least 7 Days Before Argument
Courtesy copies
Court-wide- At Least 15 Days Before Hearing
- At Least 7 Days Before Argument
Notice of Party Status
Court-wide
Communication
Clerk
Chambers
Phone
Clerk
Document Format Requirements3 rules
If the ruling is oral or by letter, then the proposed Order shall be submitted by the prevailing party in word format via email at circuit.division2@shelbycountytn.gov or placed in the Division II Orders Box in Room 208 within seven (7) days of the ruling.
Formatting
- •Word format
Competing orders must be presented in redline form.
The Court may request that any order be sent electronically in word format for editing.
Document Filing Requirements8 rules
All counsel must comply with Local Rule 5 (B) before setting the motion and a certificate of consultation must be on the motion as required by Local Rule 5(H) or it will be stricken.
- Document
- Motion
Must include
- •Certificate of conference
Please make sure all required signatures and/or a certificate of service are on the proposed Order.
- Document
- Proposed order
Must include
- •Certificate of service
Please make sure all required signatures and/or certificates of service are on the proposed Order.
- Document
- Proposed order
Must include
- •Certificate of service
The Pre-Trial Order must contain the seventeen categories of information listed by the Court, including parties, pending motions, factual and legal issues, exhibits, witnesses, trial length, damages, trial participants, equipment, and mediation status.
- Document
- Pretrial order
Must include
- •Exhibit list
Court's wording
The Pre-Trial Order shall contain the following information: (1) Parties; (2) Jurisdictional/Venue Questions; (3) Any pending motions; (4) a Case Summary; (5) Each Parties’ Contentions; (6) State of any Uncontested Facts/Stipulations/Admissions; (7) Statement of Contested Facts; (8) Contested Issues of Law; (9) Exhibit List for Each party with any objections identified and the Rule relied upon for such objection(s); (10) List of Witnesses & any objections; (11) Deposition and/or Expert testimony that will be introduced; (12) Anticipated Length of Trial; (13) whether the case is a Jury or Non-Jury trial; (14) Ascertainable Damages; (15) Attorneys that will participate at trial; (16) Any special equipment required for the trial; (17) whether or not the parties have mediated, and if not whether or not they oppose mediation.
Any Pre-Trial briefs ordered by the Court shall be hand-delivered to the Courtroom clerk no later than three (3) days before the trial commences.
Any proposed jury instructions and jury verdict form must be submitted to the Court via hand-delivery at least three (3) days before the Pre-Trial Conference.
If the parties can not agree, then each party is to provide the Court with that party’s proposed Pre-Trial Order no later than three (3) days before the Pre-Trial conference by email to circuit.division2@shelbycountytn.gov or hand-delivery.
The pretrial order must include the parties, jurisdiction and venue issues, pending motions, case summary, contentions, facts, legal issues, exhibits and objections, witnesses, testimony, trial length, jury status, damages, trial attorneys, equipment needs, and mediation status.
- Document
- Pretrial order
Must include
- •Exhibit list
Court's wording
The Pre-Trial Order shall contain the following information: (1) Parties; (2) Jurisdictional/Venue Questions; (3) Any pending motions; (4) a Case Summary; (5) Each Parties’ Contentions; (6) State of any Uncontested Facts/Stipulations/Admissions; (7) Statement of Contested Facts; (8) Contested Issues of Law; (9) Exhibit List for Each party with any objections identified and the Rule relied upon for such objection(s); (10) List of Witnesses & any objections; (11) Deposition and/or Expert testimony that will be introduced; (12) Anticipated Length of Trial; (13) whether the case is a Jury or Non-Jury trial; (14) Ascertainable Damages; (15) Attorneys that will participate at trial; (16) Any special equipment required for the trial; (17) whether or not the parties have mediated, and if not whether they oppose mediation.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Orders may be submitted in person during a court session, by email to the Division II address, or through the Order Box in Room 208.
The Court will continue to receive Orders in person at the 10:00am or 2:00pm docket when the Court is in session, via email at circuit.division2@shelbycountytn.gov, or they may be placed in the Order Box in Room 208.
Page 2 | I. ORDERS
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
If an electronically submitted order has not been entered within seven days, a hard copy must be delivered to the Division II Courtroom Clerk or Room 208.
If an Order is submitted electronically and is not entered within seven (7) days by the Court, please drop off a hard copy with the Div. II Courtroom Clerk or in Room 208.
Page 2 | I. ORDERS
All orders must be submitted within seven days.
All Orders are due within seven (7) days.
Page 2 | I. ORDERS
The parties must submit the order within seven days after the ruling is issued.
Parties shall submit an Order within seven (7) days once a ruling is issued in accordance with the local rules.
Page 3 | V. NON-DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS
The listed divorce documents must be emailed to both the Courtroom Clerk and Deputy Divorce Referee no later than noon on the Friday before the hearing.
Please email a copy of the Affidavit/Interrogatories (file-stamped), Martial Dissolution Agreement or Order of Default Judgment, Parenting Class attendance certificates, Military Affidavit (file-stamped), Final Decree, Permanent Parenting Plan, Health Insurance notification form (file-stamped), cost bill, IVD form, confidential divorce info form, and any other required documents to the Courtroom Clerk at circuit.division2@shelbycountytn.gov and to the Deputy Divorce Referee Dewun Settle at dewun.settle@shelbycountytn.gov, no later than noon on the Friday preceding your hearing date.
Page 4 | VII. UNCONTESTED DIVORCES
The prevailing party has seven days after an oral or written ruling to submit the proposed order by email or in the Division II Orders Box.
If the ruling is oral or by letter, then the proposed Order shall be submitted by the prevailing party in word format via email at circuit.division2@shelbycountytn.gov or placed in the Division II Orders Box in Room 208 within seven (7) days of the ruling.
Page 4 | VI. DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS
Documents that are not timely received by the Shelby County Divorce Referee’s office will cause the matter to be struck from the docket.
Documents not timely received by the Shelby County Divorce Referee’s office will result in the matter being struck from the docket.
Page 5 | VII. Uncontested Divorces
When ordered by the Court, Pre-Trial briefs must be hand-delivered to the Courtroom Clerk no later than three days before trial begins.
If the Court orders Pre-Trial briefs, then they shall be hand-delivered to the Courtroom clerk no later than three (3) days before the trial commences.
Page 6 | X. Jury Trials
If the parties cannot agree on a Pre-Trial Order, each party must submit its proposed order to the Court by email or hand-delivery no later than three days before the Pre-Trial Conference.
If the parties can not agree, then each party is to provide the Court with that party’s proposed Pre-Trial Order no later than three (3) days before the Pre-Trial conference by email to circuit.division2@shelbycountytn.gov or hand-delivery.
Page 6 | X. Jury Trials
When the parties cannot agree, each party's proposed pretrial order is due no later than three days before the pretrial conference, with delivery by email or hand-delivery.
If the parties can not agree, then each party is to provide the Court with that party’s proposed Pre-Trial Order no later than three (3) days before the Pre-Trial conference by email to circuit.division2@shelbycountytn.gov or hand-delivery.
Page 7 | XI. BENCH TRIALS (including CONTESTED DIVORCES).
Proposed jury instructions and the jury verdict form are due at least three days before the pretrial conference.
Any proposed jury instructions and jury verdict form must be submitted to the Court via hand-delivery at least three (3) days before the Pre-Trial Conference.
Page 7 | X. JURY TRIALS
Ordered pretrial briefs are due no later than three days before trial commences.
Any Pre-Trial briefs ordered by the Court shall be hand-delivered to the Courtroom clerk no later than three (3) days before the trial commences.
Page 7 | XI. BENCH TRIALS (including CONTESTED DIVORCES).
A proposed pretrial order must be submitted at least three court days before the pretrial conference.
Proposed Pre-Trial Orders are due at least three (3) Court days before the Pre-Trial Conferences.
Page 11 | OTHER RELEVANT MATTERS
Proposed jury instructions must be hand-delivered to the court at least three days before the pretrial conference.
Any proposed jury instructions must be submitted to the Court via hand-delivery at least three (3) days before the Pre-Trial Conference.
Page 11 | OTHER RELEVANT MATTERS
Discovery requests and related filings requiring a response must be submitted sufficiently early for the response to occur before the discovery deadline.
All discovery requests or other discovery-related filings that require a response must be filed sufficiently in advance of the discovery deadline to enable the opposing party to respond prior to that date.
Page 11 | OTHER RELEVANT MATTERS
Documents required for the Court’s review, including medical records, must be provided to the Courtroom Clerk at least three court days before the hearing.
Provide the Courtroom Clerk with any documents the Court needs to review, including medical records, at least three (3) court days before the hearing.
Page 6 | IX. Other Petitions (Domestic & Non-Domestic), Minor Settlements, Writs of Inquiry & Other Matters
Service and Proof of Service Rules
An unsigned proposed order must be presented in open court with proper proof of notice to all other counsel and parties.
If all counsel and/or self-represented litigants have not signed the proposed Order, then it must be presented in open court with proper proof of notice to the other counsel and parties.
Page 2 | I. ORDERS
A hearing will be reset if the party setting it fails to comply with the notice requirements.
All hearings will be reset for failure to comply with notice requirements.
Page 5 | VII. Uncontested Divorces
The party setting a default-judgment divorce hearing must provide all attorneys and self-represented parties proper notice, including Zoom sign-on information, at least five business days before the hearing, with three additional days when notice is by mail.
The party setting the hearing is responsible for providing proper notice to all other attorneys or self-represented parties including the Zoom sign-on information no later than five (5) business days (and three (3) additional days if notice is by mail) of the date and time set for the Zoom hearing, and to ensure that the party(ies) are available to participate via Zoom in an appropriate setting.
Page 5 | VII. Uncontested Divorces
The order's certificate of service confirms that a copy was mailed postage prepaid to all parties of record or their counsel at the last known address.
The undersigned hereby certifies that a copy of the foregoing order has been mailed postage prepaid to the parties of record or their counsel, if represented at their last known address.
Page 12 | CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuances ordinarily will not be granted by email, although a medical or other emergency is an exception.
No continuances will be given via email unless there is a medical or other emergency.
Page 8 | XII. DISMISSAL DOCKETS
Deadlines in the order will not be modified or extended absent good cause, and an extension requires written consent from all counsel with court permission or a court order.
This order has been entered after consultation with all parties. Absent good cause shown, the deadlines set by this Order will not be modified or extended. If good cause exists to modify or extend the deadlines set by this Order, it must be done by written consent of counsel for all parties with permission of the Court, or by Order of this Court.
Page 11 | OTHER RELEVANT MATTERS
Chambers Communication Rules
The Courtroom Clerk must be notified by email on the scheduling day if the motion will be heard by Zoom.
Also, the Courtroom Clerk must be advised via email on the day that the motion is scheduled online that it will be heard by Zoom.
Page 3 | V. NON-DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS
A party requesting a dispositive-motion hearing date and time must email the Courtroom Clerk at the provided address.
Please contact the Courtroom Clerk email at circuit.division2@shelbycountytn.gov to request a date and time that is mutually convenient for all parties.
Page 3 | VI. DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS
The Courtroom Clerk must be notified by email on the scheduling day if a dispositive motion will be heard by Zoom.
Once a hearing date is set, the Courtroom Clerk must be advised via email on the day that the motion is scheduled if it will be heard by Zoom.
Page 4 | VI. DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS
Email communications with the Court must include all counsel and all parties who are self-represented.
E-mail communication with the Court must include all counsel or parties (if self-represented).
Page 2 | I. ORDERS
If no response to a status-conference request is received within seven days, the requester should follow up with the Courtroom Clerk or Judicial Assistant in person, by email, or by telephone.
If the requestor(s) does not hear back within seven (7) days, then please check with the Div. II Courtroom Clerk, Ms. Annie Wells, or Judicial Assistant, Ms. Regina Neal in person, or via email or telephone.
Page 2 | III. STATUS CONFERENCES
Counsel or parties may seek a Zoom or telephone status conference by contacting the Courtroom Clerk within 24 hours if necessary.
The counsel or parties may address the court in person at the regular 10:00am docket when the Court is in session or contact the Courtroom Clerk for an appropriate time for a Zoom or telephone Status Conference within 24 hours if necessary.
Page 2 | II. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A requester for a Zoom status conference must ensure that all parties can access Zoom and provide the necessary access information.
If the Status Conference is requested to be conducted by Zoom, the counsel/self-represented litigant must ensure that all parties have access to Zoom and provide the appropriate access information.
Page 2 | III. STATUS CONFERENCES
Before confirming a court-proposed status-conference date, the requestor must verify that all counsel and self-represented litigants are available or notify the court that another date is needed.
If a date is provided by the Court for the Status Conference via email, the requestor must first confirm that all counsel and any self-represented litigants are available on that date before confirming the date with the Court or advise that a different date is needed.
Page 2 | III. STATUS CONFERENCES
A status-conference email request must identify whether the conference will be in person, by conference call, or by Zoom, and must copy all other counsel and self-represented litigants.
The Clerk needs to be advised in the email whether the request is for the Status Conference to be conducted in person, by conference call or via Zoom. All other counsel/self-represented litigants must be copied on the email request.
Page 2 | III. STATUS CONFERENCES
Counsel must email the Courtroom Clerk to request a special setting when expected oral argument will exceed 20 minutes.
If oral argument on a motion is expected to exceed twenty (20) minutes, then counsel is to email the Courtroom Clerk for a special setting.
Page 3 | V. NON-DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS
Participants must notify the Courtroom Clerk or Judicial Assistant of Zoom link or credential problems at the hearing.
At the time of the hearing, please notify the Courtroom Clerk or Judicial Assistant (if you are unable to reach the Courtroom Clerk), if you are experiencing any issues with the Zoom link and credentials.
Page 4 | VI. DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS
If the counsel and/or parties are requesting a Zoom hearing, please email the clerk.
If the counsel and/or parties are requesting a Zoom hearing, please email the clerk.
Page 5 | IX. Other Petitions (Domestic & Non-Domestic), Minor Settlements, Writs of Inquiry & Other Matters
The law clerk's email address is to be used only when responding to her contact about a specific motion.
Alanna.Rice@shelbycountytn.gov (Only to be used when responding to her contact about any specific motions).
Page 1 | COURT CONTACT INFORMATION FOR DIVISION II
Counsel and self-represented litigants may request a status conference by emailing the Courtroom Clerk.
The counsel and/or self-represented litigants may contact the Courtroom Clerk at circuit.division2@shelbycountytn.gov to request any Status Conferences.
Page 2 | III. STATUS CONFERENCES
Attorneys and self-represented parties may email the Courtroom Clerk to obtain a ruling after it is issued.
Attorneys and self-represented parties may also contact the Courtroom Clerk via email at circuit.division2@shelbycountytn.gov to obtain the ruling via email once it is issued.
Page 3 | V. NON-DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS
Participants experiencing difficulties with Zoom links or credentials should contact the courtroom clerk or judicial assistant.
Please contact the Courtroom Clerk and/or Judicial Assistant if you are experiencing any difficulties with the Zoom link and credentials.
Page 8 | XIII. ZOOM LINK LOGINS AND PROCEDURES: