Motions are preliminary matters in a larger piece of litigation. Motions can be set upon a motion day, so long as they take less than an hour to resolve.  Longer matters must go to a trial day. Motions are placed upon the motion docket by the Clerk of Fourth Circuit, 865.215.2404. Motions are not set by the Judicial Secretary. 

Once a motion has been set and notices sent out to the parties or their counsel, it cannot be moved to a different day except by agreement of counsel/parties, made known to the Clerk by both counsel/parties. Failing that, both counsel/parties must appear on the scheduled motion day (or earlier), and ask the Judge to put the motion on a different motion day.  Such requests are freely granted by the Judge, because there are so many motion days. On the other hand, a change of a trial day is rarely permitted by the Judge.

Motions are generally heard on Wednesdays in Fourth Circuit Court, and also on some additional days, particularly in December. Click here to view the Motion Days Calendar.