History & Organization

The Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature (TISL) created the new Tennessee Intercollegiate Supreme Court (TISC) in 2007 by amendment to its Constitution.

TISC has original and sole jurisdiction over questions arising from the TISL Constitution and the Legal Code of the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature.

Its justices also preside over the Appellate Moot Court Collegiate Championship (AMC3), which is held concurrently with the TISL General Assembly and the annual session of TISC at the State Capitol.

TISL and TISC are programs of the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature Foundation, a 501(c)(3) educational corporation chartered by the State of Tennessee.

The structure of TISC parallels the structure of the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Five justices are appointed by the Governor of TISL from a list put forth by the Supreme Court Nominating Commission. The justices elect the Chief Justice from among their own number.

Mirroring a unique provision of the Tennessee Constitution, the Supreme Court elects the TISL Attorney General but doesn't have power of oversight or removal.

The concept of a Supreme Court was introduced in the TISL Constitution of 1977, which provided for the General Assembly to create a Supreme Court through the legislative process.

Within a few years, that was replaced by a more specific plan. The first Supreme Court was appointed in the early 1980s and focused on

The 1991 Constitution revised the judicial article heavily and introduced the concept of a moot court.

With the court moribund after the revival of TISL, the Executive Council began an effort to revise the program again. The goals were to more closely model the structure of the Tennessee Supreme Court and to design a moot court program in consultation with the Supreme Court, the Tennessee Bar Association and other partners.

Related Links

History of the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature

Tennessee Supreme Court

Supreme Court Begins July 1

Gov. Ken Taylor of the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature will appoint the Tennessee Intercollegiate Supreme Court by July 1, 2008.

The new Court was created by the 38th TISL General Assembly in November 2007, and the Supreme Court Nominating Commission began accepting applications March 5, 2008, with an application deadline of April 11.

After its appointment, the Court will meet for an organizational session during summer or fall and will convene on November 13, 2008, coinciding with the 39th TISL General Assembly.

Justices serve one-year terms and are eligible for re-appointment to a maximum of three terms.

TISC will meet in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the State Capitol.

Justice William Koch of the Tennessee Supreme Court and Judge Frank Clement Jr. of the Tennessee Court of Appeals will advise the Court on ethics, decorum and procedure. The Tennessee Supreme Court will also provide physical resources such as a portable bench and other support.

The Court has two primary functions:

• It is the court of original and sole jurisdiction for issues arising from the TISL Constitution, laws and proceedings.
• It presides over the Appellate Moot Court Collegiate Challenge.

Related Links

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