Flooding and a loss of potable water shut down Shelby County’s General Sessions and Criminal courts on Tuesday, halting in-person dockets across downtown Memphis. County officials said water made its way into parts of courthouse workspaces and affected building systems, leaving the facilities unsafe for proceedings and forcing hearings to be postponed while staff checked damage and utility problems.
According to FOX13 Memphis, flooding was reported in the General Sessions clerk’s office, and Criminal Divisions 7 through 15 were closed for the day. Officials cited both standing water and the resulting loss of running water as the reasons normal operations were impossible. County crews had started their assessments, but there was no immediate word on when the courts would reopen.
Which buildings were affected
The shutdown covered downtown courthouses that handle General Sessions and Criminal dockets, including the Walter L. Bailey Criminal Justice Center at 201 Poplar and the Judge D’Army Bailey Courthouse at 140 Adams, according to the Shelby County General Sessions Court website. The site lists phone numbers and office hours for the clerk’s civil and criminal divisions and serves as the county’s official reference for court locations and contact information.
How could this ripple through the system
Even a single day off the calendar can cause scheduling backups in Shelby County’s already stretched criminal justice system, which a report from the Tennessee Comptroller described as complex and dealing with lengthy case processing times. The Comptroller’s analysis tracked how cases move through General Sessions, the grand jury, and Criminal Court and noted the administrative pressure on court dockets.
Local outlets have also detailed how weather can throw one more wrench into that system. During severe winter weather in January, clerk’s offices closed, and staff had to reschedule cases and issue new dates, a disruption Action News 5 reported alongside broader concerns about systemic strain.
What residents should do
If you had a hearing scheduled, you are advised to check your case status online and contact your attorney or the clerk’s office for updates. The Shelby County General Sessions Court website posts calendars and contact numbers for the Criminal and Civil divisions.
Jurors and litigants are encouraged to follow official notices before heading downtown, since conditions inside the buildings may change faster than the rumor mill. The county’s Shelby County Civic Alerts page carries closure and reopening information. For the latest status, residents should consult the court website or the county’s civic alerts page.
