Cockrell v. Woods
Cockrell v. Woods
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
This is an appeal from a judgment entered in the County Court of Maury County appointing appellees, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Woods, custodial guardians of their granddaughter, Stacey Michelle Woods, age nine. Appellant, who is the natural mother of Stacey Woods insists that the county court does not have jurisdiction to appoint a custodial guardian for a minor child where, as in this case, there exists a previous award of custody of the child in a divorce action.
Appellees have moved- in this court to dismiss thevappeal on the ground that an appeal from a judgment of the county court is to the circuit court of the county and not to this court.
Generally, an appeal from the judgment of a county court goes to the circuit court of the county, unless otherwise expressly provided. T.C.A. 27-401. T.C.A. 27-402 provides for a direct appeal to the Court of Appeals or to this court, dependent upon the method of trial in the county court, in eases where “the jurisdiction of the county court is concurrent with the circuit or chancery courts,” or in cases where the parties consent. The controlling question then is: Does either the circuit or chancery court have concurrent jurisdiction with the county court over the appointment of guardians of the person of a minor child? If so, the appeal sub judice would be to this court. If not, the appeal is to the Circuit Court of Maury County.
T.C.A. 16-610, adopted in the Code of 1858 and subsequent codes, undertakes to grant to the chancery court jurisdiction con
Accordingly, appellees’ motion to dismiss the appeal to this court is sustained, and the case is transferred to the Circuit Court of Maury County for consideration of the appeal. Costs in this court are adjudged against appellant, Carleen Anderson Cock-rell, and her surety. Other costs will await the outcome of the appeal.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Carleen Anderson COCKRELL v. Mr. and Mrs. Earl WOODS
- Status
- Published