---
title: "Deborah Means Henderson | KnowJudges"
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updated: "2026-08-02"
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# Deborah Means Henderson

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

- Position: Judge, Division IV, Shelby County General Sessions Court, Memphis, TN
- Her leadership has been recognized statewide and nationally for improving access to justice and reducing litigation costs

### Education


### Additional information

- Year Elected/Appointed: 2006
- Henderson spent 16 years in private practice focusing on domestic relations, probate, and juvenile law.
- She has also held the role of President of the Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference and is a member of the National Council of Negro Women and Delta Sigma Theta sorority

## 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/deborah-means-henderson)
- [Official roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/deborah-means-henderson)
- [Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/deborah-means-henderson)
- [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)
- [Deborah Means Henderson](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/deborah-means-henderson)

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## 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.