Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-702: Required training and continuing education for judges - Course content

(a) All judges involved in child custody proceedings shall complete at least two (2) hours of training or continuing education courses on domestic violence or child abuse per year or ten (10) hours per five (5) years. (b) (1) The training or continuing education courses may include the following topics: (A) Child sexual abuse; (B) Physical abuse; (C) Emotional abuse; (D) Coercive control; (E) Implicit and explicit bias, including biases relating to parents with disabilities; (F) Trauma; (G) Long-term and short-term impacts of domestic violence and child abuse on children; (H) Victim and perpetrator behavior patterns and relationship dynamics within the cycle of violence; and (I) Any relevant topic addressing the best interest of the victim. (2) The training required in subsection (a) must: (A) Be provided by: (i) A judge or retired judge with experience in assisting survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, or child sexual abuse; or (ii) A professional with experience in assisting survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, or child sexual abuse; and (B) Rely on evidence-based research by recognized experts in the listed topics. (c) The training and continuing education courses may be offered in person or virtually by the administrative office of the courts in conjunction with the annual meetings of the judicial conferences in accordance with §§ 17-3-104 , 17-3-203 , and 37-1-504 . Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 799,s 3, eff. 4/23/2024. Acts 2023, ch. 266, § 2.

(a) All judges involved in child custody proceedings shall complete at least two (2) hours of training or continuing education courses on domestic violence or child abuse per year or ten (10) hours per five (5) years.

(b) (1) The training or continuing education courses may include the following topics: (A) Child sexual abuse; (B) Physical abuse; (C) Emotional abuse; (D) Coercive control; (E) Implicit and explicit bias, including biases relating to parents with disabilities; (F) Trauma; (G) Long-term and short-term impacts of domestic violence and child abuse on children; (H) Victim and perpetrator behavior patterns and relationship dynamics within the cycle of violence; and (I) Any relevant topic addressing the best interest of the victim. (2) The training required in subsection (a) must: (A) Be provided by: (i) A judge or retired judge with experience in assisting survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, or child sexual abuse; or (ii) A professional with experience in assisting survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, or child sexual abuse; and (B) Rely on evidence-based research by recognized experts in the listed topics.

(1) The training or continuing education courses may include the following topics: (A) Child sexual abuse; (B) Physical abuse; (C) Emotional abuse; (D) Coercive control; (E) Implicit and explicit bias, including biases relating to parents with disabilities; (F) Trauma; (G) Long-term and short-term impacts of domestic violence and child abuse on children; (H) Victim and perpetrator behavior patterns and relationship dynamics within the cycle of violence; and (I) Any relevant topic addressing the best interest of the victim.

(A) Child sexual abuse;

(B) Physical abuse;

(C) Emotional abuse;

(D) Coercive control;

(E) Implicit and explicit bias, including biases relating to parents with disabilities;

(F) Trauma;

(G) Long-term and short-term impacts of domestic violence and child abuse on children;

(H) Victim and perpetrator behavior patterns and relationship dynamics within the cycle of violence; and

(I) Any relevant topic addressing the best interest of the victim.

C) Emotional abuse;

(D) Coercive control;

(E) Implicit and explicit bias, including biases relating to parents with disabilities;

(F) Trauma;

(G) Long-term and short-term impacts of domestic violence and child abuse on children;

(H) Victim and perpetrator behavior patterns and relationship dynamics within the cycle of violence; and

(I) Any relevant topic addressing the best interest of the victim.

(2) The training required in subsection (a) must: (A) Be provided by: (i) A judge or retired judge with experience in assisting survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, or child sexual abuse; or (ii) A professional with experience in assisting survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, or child sexual abuse; and (B) Rely on evidence-based research by recognized experts in the listed topics.

(A) Be provided by: (i) A judge or retired judge with experience in assisting survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, or child sexual abuse; or (ii) A professional with experience in assisting survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, or child sexual abuse; and

(i) A judge or retired judge with experience in assisting survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, or child sexual abuse; or

(ii) A professional with experience in assisting survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, or child sexual abuse; and

(B) Rely on evidence-based research by recognized experts in the listed topics.

(c) The training and continuing education courses may be offered in person or virtually by the administrative office of the courts in conjunction with the annual meetings of the judicial conferences in accordance with §§ 17-3-104 , 17-3-203 , and 37-1-504 .