Newport Housing Authority v. Ballard

OPINION

O’BRIEN, Justice.

In this appeal of a landlord-tenant dispute we are asked to rule upon whether a defendant in an unlawful detainer action, brought under T.C.A. § 29-18-101 et seq., has the constitutional right to a jury trial in a general sessions court.

The appellee, Newport Housing Authority, caused a detainer warrant to be issued against tenant, Linda Ballard. At the de-tainer warrant hearing in general sessions court Ms. Ballard demanded a jury trial. The demand was denied and after a hearing upon the merits of the cause, the general sessions judge found for the plaintiff and…