Music City Community Court | General Sessions Court of Metropolitan Nashville & Davidson County

The General Sessions Music City Community Court, Division VIII (8) was founded by Judge Rachel L. Bell in 2012.

Mission/Vision-

To create initiatives focused on preventive, diversionary and restorative justice with the concept, that “Justice does NOT stop at the courthouse steps!” ® and charged to all it can do to help break the playground (school) to prison pipeline, to restore lives by using its power and resources to move the needle for marginalized people.

The Music City Community Court has three (3) SPECIALTY COURTS:

RESTORE
Re-Entry Court for Returning Citizens
C.A.R.E.
Diversionary Court for Ages 18-30
L.E.G.A.C.Y.
Housing Resource Diversionary Court & Program

To learn more about each Court please click the link.

Music City Community Court
408 2nd Ave. North, Suite 4130
Nashville, TN 37219

Email: musiccitycommunitycourt@jisnashville.gov
Phone: 615-862-8117

Dedicated Space for programming:

Bordeaux North Community Justice Center
2013 25th Ave. North, Room 23
Nashville, TN 37208

To learn more about the Music City Community Court please visit our site and click the various buttons associated with our programs.

NEWS:

Saturday Restoration Expungement/Legal Clinic, Indigency Docket & Resource Fair with Judge Rachel L. Bell, Howard Gentry – Criminal Court Clerk, and Community Partners

Date: Saturday, June 15, 2024
Location: Bordeaux-North Community Justice Center, Rm. 23 at the C. E. McGruder Family Resource Center
Address: 2013 25th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37218

Registration is required – NO WALK-INS!!!

Time:

9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Registered Participants Sign In

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Vendor Resource Fair (Open to the Public)

10:15 a.m. – Saturday, Expungement & Legal Clinic (Must Pre-Register Online- NO WALK INS)

10:30 a.m.– Saturday, Indigency Docket **

*All Indigency registrants must be interviewed and receive a court date from Criminal Court Clerk Office.

NO Walk-Ins Please!! LIMITED TO THE FIRST 100 REGISTRANTS!!

Community Service Work Return Docket

Date: Saturday, August 24^th, 2024

Event Time: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Location: Bordeaux-North Community Justice Center, Room 23 at the McGruder Family Resource Center

Address: 2013 25^th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208

Participants must register by Friday, August 23, 2024 at 12:00 p.m.

Participants will receive verification for 4 hours of community service work signed by Judge Rachel L. Bell.

Saturday Expungement Clinic, Indigency Docket & Resource Fair with Judge Rachel L. Bell, Howard Gentry – Criminal Court Clerk, and Community Partners

Date: Saturday, June 19, 2021
Location: Bordeaux-North Community Justice Center, Rm. 23 at the C. E. McGruder Family Resource Center
Address: 2013 25th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37218

Registration is required – NO WALK-INS!!!

Time:

9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Registered Participants Sign In

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Vendor Resource Fair (Open to the Public)

10:15 a.m. – Saturday, Expungement & Legal Clinic (Must Pre-Register Online- NO WALK INS)

10:30 a.m.– Saturday, Indigency Docket **

*All Indigency registrants must be interviewed and receive a court date from Criminal Court Clerk Office.

NO Walk-Ins Please!! LIMITED TO THE FIRST 50 REGISTRANTS !!

February 4, 2021- North Nashville judge runs “unprecedented’ courtroom aimed to rehabilitate low-level criminals

NASHVILLE, Tenn (WKRN) — The McGruder Center sits in the heart of North Nashville. For some, it’s a refuge, surrounded by violence.

For the past 3 years, violent crime has rocked Nashville’s North Precinct, with 77 homicides in that time. It’s a grim fact one judge is hoping to turn around.

On a normal day, when someone commits a crime, the process is generally the same. The person is arrested, appears before a judge inside the Justice A.A. Birch Building, the judge makes his or her ruling, and the process continues from there. However, a different kind of courtroom is helping to stop young adults from becoming repeat offenders.

“I have always known that North Nashville and parts of Nashville, had some serious issues that were dealing with lack of resources and opportunities and you know when you’re growing up in North Nashville you can’t help but know that there are some issues,” explained Judge Rachel Bell, Founder of the Music City Community Courtroom.

Judge Bell has served as a General Sessions Court Judge since 2012. Bell, a third generation Nashvillian, was re-elected to her seat in 2014 on the slogan, “Nashville’s Judge serving ON and OFF the bench, Ringing the BELL for Justice!!”

Full Story

For immediate release: Wednesday, October 21, 2020–

To: Registered Participants and Pro Bono Attorneys

From: Judge Rachel L. Bell & the Music City Community Court

Due to unfortunate circumstances related to COVID-19, we will need to postpone this weekend’s expungement clinic. This clinic will be rescheduled in 3 weeks and we will give you ample enough time to let us know if you are still in need of our assistance in getting legal advice or getting your record expunged. In the meantime, please contact the following:

1. Record Expungement, Voter Rights Restoration and Driver’s License Reinstatement

Criminal Court Clerk Compliance Division, Howard Gentry Office
for

615-880-3838

Monday- Friday- 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

2. Legal Advice, Restoration of Rights or Re-Entry Program Services-
Nashville Office, Legal Aid Society

1-800-238-1443

Monday- Friday- 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 15, 2020- CommUnity Day
Expungement & Legal Clinic

Time: 10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED- Click here to register

Registration Ends on August 10, 2020 at 2:30 p.m.

Limited to the first 100 people to register.

Please join us as we celebrate CommUnity Day with the New Covenant Christian Church – Disciples of Christ and for participants registered with the Music City Community Court- EXPUNGEMENT & LEGAL CLINIC with Judge Rachel L. Bell and Howard Gentry, Criminal Court Clerk for Davidson County, Nashville, TN.

Licensed Lawyers from across the State of TN are volunteering as Pro Bono Attorneys to assist the participants in restoring their rights and providing legal advice.

There will be a presentation that gives highlights about the Music City Community Court and several community organizations will be sharing information of available resources for people to tap into.

Saturday, June 20, 2020- FREEDOM-A-THON in honor of Juneteenth
Expungement & Legal Clinic

Where: ZOOM Meeting ID: 848 4921 3692
FB LIVE- @musiccitycommunitycourt & @Judge Rachel L. Bell

Time: 10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED- Click here to register

Registration Ends on Friday, June 12, 2020 at 2:30 p.m.

Limited to the first 100 people to register.

Please join us as we celebrate Juneteenth with a FREEDOM-A-THON for participants registered with the Music City Community Court- EXPUNGEMENT & LEGAL CLINIC with Judge Rachel L. Bell and Howard Gentry, Criminal Court Clerk for Davidson County, Nashville, TN.

Licensed Lawyers from across the State of TN are volunteering as Pro Bono Attorneys to assist the participants in restoring their rights and providing legal advice.

There will be a presentation about Juneteenth given by Pastor Kelli X and the Village Church, Disciples of Christ. A DJ will be on the ones and twos and several community organizations will be sharing information of available resources for people to tap into.

POSTPONED – Saturday, March 21, 2020 – Out of an abundance of caution this clinic is POSTPONED due to the Coronavirus.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EXPUNGEMENTS IN DAVIDSON COUNTY, TN, please visit the Criminal Court Clerk’s Website by clicking this link: https://ccc.nashville.gov/about-our-services/expungement-information/

TN REGISTER, Friday, January 24, 2020– New Community Court Brings Justice to North Nashville

01-24-20 TN REGISTER ‘New justice center opens’

Monday, January 20, 2020- MLK Day at 1:30 pm-

Courtroom Dedication, Open House & Tour

Location:
Bordeaux-North Community Justice Center, Rm 23 located at the McGruder Family Resource Center
2013 25th Ave., North, Nashville, TN 37208

Saturday, January 18, 2020 – MLK Weekend – 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM **Registration Is Required

Saturday Expungement Clinic, Indigency Docket & Resource Fair with Judge Rachel L. Bell, Howard Gentry – Criminal Court Clerk, and Community Partners

Date: Saturday, January 18, 2020-MLK WEEKEND

Location: Bordeaux-North Community Justice Center, Rm. 23 at the C. E. McGruder Family Resource Center

Address: 2013 25th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37218.

Registration is required – NO WALK-INS!!!

Time:

8:00 am- 10:00 am-
Registered Participants Sign In

8:30 am- Saturday, Community Service Return Docket** (Must receive Court Date from Judge Rachel L. Bell or Steering Clear)

9:00 am- 12:00 pm- Vendor Resource Fair (Open to the Public)

10:15 am- Saturday, Expungement Clinic Docket (Must Pre-Register Online- NO WALK INS)

10:45 am- Saturday, Indigency Docket** (Must receive Court Date from Criminal Court Clerk Compliance Division)

NO Walk-Ins Please!! LIMITED TO THE FIRST 100 REGISTRANTS!!

Please register at: https://gscourt.nashville.gov/about-us/judges/division-viii-judge-rachel-l-bell/

*All Indigency registrants must be interviewed and given court date by Criminal Court Clerk Compliance Division.
*All Community Service Work participants must be court ordered by Judge Rachel Bell or Steering Clear.

TN REGISTER, Friday, December 27, 2019– New Community Court Brings Justice to North Nashville

12-27-19 TN REGISTER ‘New community court brings justice to North Nashville’

Saturday, December 14, 2019 – Expungement Clinic, Indigency Docket & Resource Fair Location: Andrew Jackson Boys & Girls Club916 16th Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37208. Pre- Registration IS Required- NO WALK INS!!

Please register at: https://gscourt.nashville.gov/about-us/judges/division-viii-judge-rachel-l-bell/

WKRN-Channel 2- December 6, 2019– Newsmaker: Community Court Restores Freedom

https://www.wkrn.com/news/newsmaker-community-court-restores-freedom/

Fox 17 News (WZTV)- Thursday, November 21, 2019– Community Court working to change the game in most incarcerated zip code in the country

https://fox17.com/news/local/community-court-working-to-change-the-game-in-most-incarcerated-zip-code-in-country

Pride Publishing Group- Thursday, November 21, 2019– Judge Rachel L. Bell creates Bordeaux North Community Justice Center

https://www.pridepublishinggroup.com/pride/2019/11/21/judge-rachel-l-bell-creates-bordeaux-north-community-justice-center/

Tennessee Bar Association- Tuesday, November 19, 2019– Community Justice Center to Open in North Nashville

https://www.tba.org/news/community-justice-center-to-open-in-north-nashville

Nashville Public Radio (WPLN)- Monday, November 18, 2019-A New Community Justice Center Brings A Different Kind of Courtroom To North Nashville

https://wpln.org/post/new-community-justice-center-brings-a-different-kind-of-courtroom-to-north-nashville/

37208 Focus Groups and E3-Series Viewing & Criminal Justice Forum Panel Discussion Saturday, November 16, 2019- Register on Eventbrite. Please register by visiting: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/80377175295

Soft Launch for the C.A.R.E. Diversionary Court and the Bordeaux North Community Justice Center, Thursday, November 14, 2019 @ 10:00 A.M.

November 12, 2019 – Press Release – EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC, INDIGENCY DOCKET & RESOURCE FAIR, Saturday, December 14, 2019 to be hosted by Nehemiah Missionary Baptist Church at the Andrew Jackson Boys & Girls Club located at 916 16th Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37208. Check-In 9:00 – 9:30 AM, Clinic Docket: 10:15 AM – 1:00 PM, Indigency Docket*10:30 AM – 11:30 AM (*Must be interviewed and given court date by Criminal Court Clerk Compliance Division) – NO Walk-Ins Please!! LIMITED TO THE FIRST 100 REGISTRANTS!!

Press Release- November 8, 2019 – The General Sessions Music City Community Court, Division VIII (8) has found a home and designated space in Zip Code 37208.

September 5, 2019 – Press Release – General Sessions Music City Community Court, Division VIII (8) with Judge Rachel L. Bell presents:
Community Beautification Day!! Landscaping & Litter Pick – up
In Partnership with Steering Clear, the McGruder Family Resource Center, and the Bordeaux-North Nashville Chamber of Commerce
Saturday, October 5, 2019 Check – in Time: 8:00- 8:30 AM, CSW Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00PM (4Hours CSW Credit) Location: 2013 25th Ave. N. Nashville, TN 37208.
To register, please email us at GSC8CSW@jis.nashville.org

August 27, 2019 – Press Release – Judge Rachel’s 7 Year Snap Shot, “Ringing the Bell for Justice!!”

August 23, 2019- Judge Rachel L. Bell and the General Sessions Music City Community Court, Division VIII (8) host an Expungement Clinic, Indigency Docket & Resource Fair with Criminal Court Clerk, Howard Gentry at New Covenant Christian Church, Disciples of Christ- Annual Community Day, Saturday, August 17, 2019.

August 22, 2019– Judge Rachel L. Bell wins the 2019-Nashville Power Moves Award for Community Advocacy!

August 30, 2019 – Press Release – EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC, INDIGENCY DOCKET & RESOURCE FAIR
Saturday, October 26th , 2019 to be hosted at Gordon Memorial UMC – National Prison Summit located at 2334 Herman St. Nashville, TN 37208. Check – In 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM, Clinic Docket: 10:15 AM – 1:00 PM, Indigency Docket*: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM (*Must be interviewed and given court date by Criminal Court Clerk Compliance Division) – NO Walk-Ins Please!! LIMITED TO THE FIRST 100 REGISTRANTS!!

May 30, 2019 – Press Release – General Sessions Music City Community Court, Division VIII (8) with Judge Rachel L. Bell presents:
Community Beautification Day!! Landscaping, Litter Pick – up, & Painting MLK Bridge
In Partnership with the Bordeaux-North Nashville Chamber of Commerce Committee Chairs: Stacey Diltz Thomas & Patricia Clayton Bailey
Saturday, June 29, 2019 Check – in Time: 8:00 AM. Location: MNPD North Precinct, 223126th Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37208

May 16, 2019– Center for Court Innovation announces General Sessions Music City Community Court selected to receive the 2018 Community Court Grant. Following a national solicitation, the Center has selected five jurisdictions to receive funding and technical assistance, and named four new mentor community courts.

https://www.courtinnovation.org/community-court-grant-program

May 7, 2019 – Press Release– EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC & RESOURCE FAIR, Saturday, June 15, 2019 to be hosted at The Village Church located at Fifty Forward in Madison, TN. Address, 301 Madison Street, Madison, TN 37115. Check – In begins at 9:00 a.m. – LIMITED TO THE FIRST 100 REGISTRANTS!! NO WALKINS!!!

March 6, 2019 – Press Release– EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC, Saturday, April 27, 2019 to be hosted by The Salvation Army located at 611 Stockell St. Nashville, TN 37207. The event will be held at the Magness-Potter Community Center (Salvation Army’s Red Shield East Campus). Check- In begins at 9:00 a.m. – LIMITED TO THE FIRST 100 REGISTRANTS!! NO WALKINS!!!

February 15, 2019 – Press Release- Judge Rachel Bell releases The 2019 General Sessions Music City Community Court, Division VIII- Expungement Clinic & Resource Fair Schedule in partnership with Howard Gentry, Criminal Court Clerk and Community Partners

January 9, 2019 – EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC, Saturday, February 23, 2019 to be hosted by Napier Community Center at 9:00 a.m. – 73 Fairfield Ave. Nashville, TN 37210 – LIMITED TO THE FIRST 100 REGISTRANTS!! NO WALKINS!!!

Press Release, January 8, 2019- General Sessions Music City Community Court, Division VIII (8), Job Posting for Program Manager/Program Director with Judge Rachel L. Bell

Judge Rachel L. Bell
General Sessions Music City Community Court, Division VIII (8)

Program Manager/Director- Job Posting

Posting- Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at 1:00 pm

Expires- Friday, January 15, 2019 at 11:59 pm

Please refrain from emailing or calling Judge Rachel L. Bell directly.

All interested applicants must submit an application for consideration through Metro HR with Government Jobs.

Please click the link below for more information.

http://agency.governmentjobs.com/nashville/job_bulletin.cfm?JobID=2313218

December 15,2018 – EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC, Saturday, December 15, 2018 to be hosted at Andrew Jackson Boys & Girls Club 916 16th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208. Limited to the first 100 registered. NO Walk-Ins!

October 28, 2018– Radio Station 92.3-WNPC- The Best Country Ever!! shares Judge Rachel L. Bell’s new Diversionary Court named C.A.R.E. (Creating Avenues for Restoration and Empowerment)

October 24, 2018 –Federal Funding Will Establish New Community Court Diversionary Program with Judge Rachel L. Bell and the General Sessions Music City Community Court

October 19, 2018 –Judge Rachel L. Bell launches Diversionary Court named C.A.R.E. for ages 18-26, Part 1 of 3