--- title: "Betty J. Thomas Moore | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/betty-j-thomas-moore-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-shelby" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Betty J. Thomas Moore Tennessee General Sessions Court, Shelby County · General Sessions Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Tennessee General Sessions Court, Shelby County - State: Tennessee - Role: General Sessions Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - The first elected female judge in the history of Tennessee’s General Sessions Civil Court, serving Division 5 of the Shelby County General Sessions Court since 1998 - Began her legal career as an Assistant Public Defender in Shelby County - Recognized for fairness, impartiality, and dedication to accessible justice for working families - Adjunct professor at the University of Memphis, teaching Civil Law and Procedure for over 14 years ### Education - UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS Law School 1986 - UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS Undergraduate 1982 ### Additional information - She has served on the Judicial Ethics Committees for Tennessee and the American Judges Association, and was appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court to the Access to Justice Task Force in 2006 - In September 1998, she was elected to the General Sessions Civil Court, becoming the first woman and first African American woman to serve in that court’s history. - handling serious criminal cases, including capital murder trials from 1994 to 1998. - She was one of the few attorneys in the county qualified to try death penalty cases and attended Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College in 1996 Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts - Assistant Public Defender in the criminal courts ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### media coverage and recording Scope: statewide Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 30 allows media coverage of public judicial proceedings subject to the presiding judge's control and requires written media requests at least two business days before the proceeding unless waived. Evidence excerpt: Requests by representatives of the media for such coverage must be made in writing to the presiding judge not less than two (2) business days before the proceeding is scheduled to begin. [Rule 30: Media Guidelines](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### recording restrictions Scope: statewide Tennessee Rule 30 prohibits media coverage of jury selection, jurors, closed proceedings, and certain minor or juvenile-court participants. Evidence excerpt: Media coverage of jury selection is prohibited. [Rule 30: Media Guidelines](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote technology Scope: statewide Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 55 permits teleconferencing, video conferencing, or other technology for court proceedings at the discretion of the trial or appellate court. Evidence excerpt: The use of teleconferencing, video conferencing or other technology to conduct court proceedings or other court business remotely is permissible at the discretion of the trial or appellate court. [Rule 55: Use of Technology for Court Proceedings](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-55-use-technology-court-proceedings) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/betty-j-thomas-moore) - [Official roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/betty-j-thomas-moore) - [Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/betty-j-thomas-moore) - [Rule 30: Media Guidelines](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines) - [Rule 55: Use of Technology for Court Proceedings](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-55-use-technology-court-proceedings) - [Betty J. Thomas Moore](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/betty-j-thomas-moore) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/betty-j-thomas-moore-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-shelby", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/betty-j-thomas-moore-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-shelby", "name": "Betty J. Thomas Moore | KnowJudges", "description": "Betty J. Thomas Moore, Tennessee General Sessions Court, Shelby County. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/betty-j-thomas-moore-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-shelby#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/betty-j-thomas-moore-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-shelby#judge", "name": "Betty J. 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