--- title: "David Stewart | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-stewart-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-franklin" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # David Stewart Tennessee General Sessions Court, Franklin County · General Sessions Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Tennessee General Sessions Court, Franklin 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 ### Education - Bachelor’s degree from Centre College and completed his J.D. at the University of Louisville, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law in 2003. ### Additional information - Judge David L. Stewart was elected to the Franklin County General Sessions Court in 2022 and also presides over the Franklin County Juvenile Court. - Jeffrey F. Stewart (Ret.), held the role of a chancellor for the 12th Judicial District Chancery Court for 29 years before retiring in 2018. - Before his election to the bench, he practiced law privately from 2003 onward, gaining extensive experience in civil and criminal matters - David Stewart previously ran an unsuccessful campaign for his father’s seat - Judge Stewart comes from a family with a strong judicial tradition. - Civil dockets for cases presided over by Judge Stewart are typically posted by noon the day before court dates, and he manages both civil and juvenile proceedings in Franklin County. - He is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, and the Franklin County Bar Association. ## 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/david-l-stewart) - [Official roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/david-l-stewart) - [Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/david-l-stewart) - [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) - [David Stewart](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/david-l-stewart) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-stewart-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-franklin", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-stewart-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-franklin", "name": "David Stewart | KnowJudges", "description": "David Stewart, Tennessee General Sessions Court, Franklin 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/david-stewart-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-franklin#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-stewart-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-franklin#judge", "name": "David Stewart", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-stewart-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-franklin", "jobTitle": "General Sessions Court Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Tennessee General Sessions Court, Franklin County" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/david-l-stewart" ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Tennessee", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/tennessee" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Stewart", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-stewart-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-franklin" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Rule 30: Media Guidelines](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-c1debbfd57a23e78c6318aec) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines). Collected 2026-07-26.