Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk's Office

Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk's Office Responsible for maintaining the court records, administration of the nine (9) Criminal Court divisions, and collecting fines & fees.

As directed by the Tennessee Code Annotated, revenue is generated by fees for service.

It's 9/25 and we're showing our love for the one and only Dolly Parton! All of Shelby County Government wore pink in hon...
09/25/2026

It's 9/25 and we're showing our love for the one and only Dolly Parton! All of Shelby County Government wore pink in honor of her life and incredible legacy. 🌸🦋

Our September e-newsletter is here!Catch up on the latest news, updates and happenings from the Criminal Court Clerk’s O...
09/22/2026

Our September e-newsletter is here!
Catch up on the latest news, updates and happenings from the Criminal Court Clerk’s Office.
Read it here:https://canva.link/cccoseptember2026

The Criminal Court Clerk’s Office proudly celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month!We honor the rich culture, heritage and con...
09/22/2026

The Criminal Court Clerk’s Office proudly celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month!

We honor the rich culture, heritage and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Memphians who help make our community the vibrant city we call home.

The Criminal Court Clerk’s Office mourns the passing of retired Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Arthur T. Bennett, wh...
09/22/2026

The Criminal Court Clerk’s Office mourns the passing of retired Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Arthur T. Bennett, who died Monday at the age of 93.

Judge Bennett was a trailblazer whose distinguished legal career helped open doors for generations of Black attorneys and judges in Memphis and Tennessee.

After earning his law degree from Howard University in 1964, he returned to Memphis and became the first Black prosecutor in the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office in 1965 and, according to the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association, the first Black prosecutor in Tennessee since Reconstruction.

He was later appointed to the Shelby County Criminal Courts bench, where he served until his retirement in 2014. We honor Judge Bennett’s life of public service and his lasting contributions to the legal profession and judiciary.

Our condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and all who were touched by his life and work.

— Criminal Court Clerk Joe Towns, Jr. and Staff

Today, the Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk’s Office pauses to remember and honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001...
09/11/2026

Today, the Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk’s Office pauses to remember and honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and the countless families and communities forever changed by that tragic day.

We honor the bravery and sacrifice of our first responders who ran toward danger to save others, and we express our deepest gratitude to the members of our military who have served—and continue to serve—to protect our nation and our freedoms.

May we never forget the lives lost, the heroes who answered the call, and the strength and unity that brought Americans together.

Remember. Honor. Unite. 🇺🇸

Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk Joe Towns, Jr. & Staff

Criminal Court Clerk Towns welcomed actors Terrell Carter, known as Varney from Beauty in Black, and Javon Johnson, who ...
09/10/2026

Criminal Court Clerk Towns welcomed actors Terrell Carter, known as Varney from Beauty in Black, and Javon Johnson, who plays Richard Hallsen on The Oval, for a special meet-and-greet with our staff.

Safe to say, there were plenty of smiles, laughs and a few starstruck moments around the office! ⭐️ Thanks for stopping by and spending some time with our Criminal Court Clerk’s Office family!

Clerk Joe Towns, Jr. has completed his first week as Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk, taking the helm of an office th...
09/08/2026

Clerk Joe Towns, Jr. has completed his first week as Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk, taking the helm of an office that maintains the records of the county's nine Criminal Court divisions, supports the daily operation of the courts, and collects the fines and fees assessed by them.

Towns spent the week at the Walter L. Bailey, Jr. Criminal Justice Center at 201 Poplar Avenue, meeting with staff across the office's divisions, reviewing case-processing and records operations, and beginning conversations with judges, attorneys, and justice system partners about how the office can serve the public more efficiently.

"This office touches people on some of the hardest days of their lives, and how we treat them matters," said Clerk Joe Towns, Jr. "My first week has been about listening — to the employees who keep these records moving, to the judges and attorneys who depend on us, and to the residents standing at our counter looking for an answer. The people of Shelby County deserve an office that is accurate, accessible, and accountable, and that is exactly what we are going to build here."

A lifelong Memphian, Towns brings more than three decades of public service to the office. He represented Memphis-Shelby County in the Tennessee House of Representatives for over 32 years.

Clerk Joe Town’s Announces Administrative Leadership Team----------Clerk Towns will be supported by the office's adminis...
09/08/2026

Clerk Joe Town’s Announces Administrative Leadership Team
----------
Clerk Towns will be supported by the office's administrative leadership team:
• Rebekka Freeman Terrell, Esq., Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
• Bennie Smith, Deputy Chief Administrator of IT, Finance, & Administrative Services
• Lawrence Denton, Deputy Chief Administrator of Operations
• Patrick Smith, Director of Finance
• Anthony Gunn, Director of Administrative Services
• Kesha Whitaker, Public Information Officer
• Mary Smith, Executive Assistant
"I inherited a team of professionals who know this building and know this work," Towns said. "We are going to give them the tools and the support to do their jobs well, because the quality's of this office is a direct reflection of the people in it."

Clerk Joe Town’s Announces Administrative Leadership Team----------Clerk Towns will be supported by the office's adminis...
09/08/2026

Clerk Joe Town’s Announces Administrative Leadership Team
----------
Clerk Towns will be supported by the office's administrative leadership team:
• Rebekka Freeman Terrell, Esq., Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
• Bennie Smith, Deputy Chief Administrator of IT, Finance, & Administrative Services
• Lawrence Denton, Deputy Chief Administrator of Operations
• Patrick Smith, Director of Finance
• Anthony Gunn, Director of Administrative Services
• Kesha Whitaker, Public Information Officer
• Mary Smith, Executive Assistant
"I inherited a team of professionals who know this building and know this work," Towns said. "We are going to give them the tools and the support to do their jobs well, because the quality of this office is a direct reflection of the people in it."

Address

201 Poplar Avenue Suite 3034
Memphis, TN
38103

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+19012223200

Website

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