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title: "Joyce C. Broffitt | KnowJudges"
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# Joyce C. Broffitt

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.

## 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/joyce-c-broffitt)
- [Official roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/joyce-c-broffitt)
- [Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/joyce-c-broffitt)
- [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)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court, Division 9, Tennessee (1996–2014)
- She was re‐elected in 1998 and 2006, but was defeated in the 2014 general election and retired when her term expired on August 31, 2014 Before becoming a judge, she held the role of assistant district attorney for Shelby County from 1989 to 1996, and as a pretrial counselor with Shelby County pretrial services from 1983 to 1988

### Education

- University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in and her undergraduate degree in psychology from Rhodes College — J.D. (1986)

### Additional information

- Died in 2024
- She was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 1987
- Born September 20, 1955 in Covington, Tennessee, she was raised in Tipton County and was active in her community, including service on the Rhodes College Board of Trustees and as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc



## 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.
