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pleading or motion for a defendant without expressly limiting the appearance, or by
receiving an appointment from the court.
An attorney of record may only withdraw from a case by filing a written motion
to withdraw and, in open court, obtaining permission to withdraw. To a motion to
withdraw, counsel shall append a notice of the date and time of the hearing and the
defendant’s obligation to attend and a certificate of service on the defendant, any surety,
and the state. In addition, the clerk shall notify any surety of the defendant’s obligation
to attend the hearing.
Rule 10. Conduct in the courtroom
The space within the bar is, at all times, reserved for members of the bar, officers
of the court, the clerk, any witness in the witness box, and any person at a table whom the
state or the defendant designates as a necessary aide. All other persons who are in the
courtroom while court is in session shall be seated outside the bar in the space reserved
for spectators.
While a case is pending before a jury and the jury is occupying the jury box or a
jury room, no one, other than officers who are in charge of the jury and attorneys who are
presenting or arguing a case, may stand, walk, or sit in the immediate vicinity of the jury
box or jury room. While the judge is on the bench, no one, other than counsel, may walk
between a counsel table and the bench.
Except for occupants of the tables and witness box, who may drink water within
the bar, no one may consume food or drink or use tobacco products in the courtroom.
Except as used by counsel in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. § 20 9 104 and by the
media in accordance with Rule 11 of these rules, the use of any recording device, aural or
visual, in the courtroom is prohibited and the use of any communication device in the
courtroom for a purpose other than aural or visual recording must be silent and brief. The
presence of small children in the courtroom is discouraged, and counsel shall so apprise
their clients and witnesses.
All persons shall stand when addressing the court, except those suffering from a
physical or other disability and counsel when voicing an objection and having insufficient
time to rise.
Rule 11. Operation of media
Media and their agents who record or broadcast in a courtroom shall understand
and comply with Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 30, which governs media access to public judicial
proceedings in the courts of this state, prohibits the recording or broadcasting of certain
participants, proceedings, and conferences, limits the number, sensitivity, and
obtrusiveness of certain media devices and the number and conduct of the operators of
such devices, and authorizes pooling arrangements. At no time may media record on or
broadcast from the third floor of the City-County Courts Building, except, in compliance