--- title: "Gary Starnes | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/gary-starnes-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-hamilton" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Gary Starnes Tennessee General Sessions Court, Hamilton County · General Sessions Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Tennessee General Sessions Court, Hamilton 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 - He has been licensed to practice law in Tennessee since 1987 and in Georgia since 1990 - Position: Gary W. Starnes serves as a judge for the Hamilton County General Sessions Court, having been elected to the bench on August 2, 2012 ### Education - Bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1981 and completed his Juris Doctor (J.D.) at the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1986. ### Additional information - His family values and community ties are important aspects of his life - He handles both civil and criminal cases - Early Life: Born in Detroit, Michigan, Starnes moved to Tennessee with his family during his childhood. - Legal Experience: Before becoming a judge, Starnes practiced law in private practice and was involved in mediation and arbitration. - He has also served on the Board of the American Red Cross - received the Leon Ruben Memorial Award for Excellence from the Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference ## 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/gary-starnes) - [Official roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/gary-starnes) - [Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/gary-starnes) - [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) - [Gary Starnes](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/gary-starnes) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/gary-starnes-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-hamilton", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/gary-starnes-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-hamilton", "name": "Gary Starnes | KnowJudges", "description": "Gary Starnes, Tennessee General Sessions Court, Hamilton County. 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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.