Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-2-104: Scire facias by general sessions judge

The party at whose instance a witness is summoned before a judge of the court of general sessions, on the trial of a cause, instead of having the subpoena returned to court as in § 24-2-103 , may elect to move before the judge of the court of general sessions for judgment against the witness, in which case a conditional judgment shall be given for twenty-five dollars ($25.00), and scire facias shall issue to the witness to show cause why final judgment shall not be entered, and, on failure to show cause, final judgment shall be rendered for the penalty and costs.