Tipton County, Tennessee · Est. 1823
General Sessions & Juvenile Court Judge
Serving Tipton County with justice that is firm in its standards and redemptive in its vision.
“Sometimes a person needs the strong hand of justice, and sometimes a person needs the soft hand of mercy. The challenge to the court is to discern the difference.”
Four divisions serving Tipton County under one unified vision of justice.
Criminal misdemeanors and traffic offenses, preliminary hearings for felonies, small claims and civil disputes under $25,000, and orders of protection.
Delinquency, dependency and neglect, custody, guardianship, DCS cases, and truancy proceedings.
Adult supervision, compliance monitoring, drug testing, case management, and community service coordination.
Intensive supervision, substance abuse treatment, accountability hearings, graduation milestones, and community reintegration.
We serve Tipton County — find the right office below.
Court Administrator
For administrative matters, media inquiries, and court operations, contact the Court Administrator directly.
1801 South College St., Suite 102
Covington, TN 38019
(Justice Center)
Phone: (901) 476-0251
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00am–4:30pm
1801 South College St.
Covington, TN 38019
(Justice Center)
Phone: (901) 475-3322
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00am–4:30pm
Youth Services Officers:
Xavier Richardson, Casey Duncan
1801 South College St.
Covington, TN 38019
(Justice Center)
Phone: (901) 475-3319
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00am–4:30pm
Officers:
Jeff Fletcher, Penny Goracke
1801 South College St.
Covington, TN 38019
(Justice Center)
Phone: (901) 706-1356
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00am–4:30pm
Coordinator: Gracie Slater
April 1, 2026
Judge M.O. Eckel III administered the Oath of Office to the three founding members of the Tipton County Veterans Court Board: David Bitzer (U.S. Navy, 24 years), Major Dondi O. Albritton (U.S. Army Reserve, ATF retired), and Captain J. Houston Gordon (U.S. Army JAG Corps). The first-of-its-kind advisory body, modeled after the CASA framework, will serve the unique needs of justice-involved veterans in Tipton County. More than 30 community members attended the inaugural ceremony at the Central Justice Center in Covington.
Read Full Release →More coming soon.
Since Judge Eckel took the bench on January 2, 2024 — measurable results.
2023 baseline (pre-bench) vs. Judge Eckel’s tenure. 2026 data is year-to-date.
| Metric | 2023 (Pre-Bench) | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 YTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases Filed | 1,076 | 999 | 997 | 258 |
| Judicial Diversions | 277 | 369 | 211 | 54 |
| Diversions Issued | 16 | 49 | 80 | 27 |
| Out-of-Home Placements | 70 | 120 | 92 | 23 |
| Detention Hearings | 22 | 18 | 12 | 9 |
| Truancy Petitions | 73 | 15 | 2 | 0 |
| DCS Referrals | — | — | 9 | 7 |
Recovery Court was established in April 2024 under Judge Eckel. The program did not exist before his tenure. Participants progress through five phases over a minimum of 12 months, combining accountability hearings, substance abuse treatment, drug testing, and community reintegration.
Misdemeanor commitments and average daily population for inmates serving General Sessions sentences. Source: Captain John Weatherly, Tipton County Sheriff’s Office.
| Metric | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 YTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor Commitments | 415 | 595 | 503 | 759 | 401 | 87 |
| Avg. Daily Inmate Population | 56 | 69 | 70 | 73 | 67 | 70 |
Last Updated: April 2026 · Sources: Court Staff Reports, Tipton County Sheriff’s Office
Meet the Judge
General Sessions & Juvenile Court Judge · Tipton County, Tennessee
Judge M.O. Eckel III serves as General Sessions Court Judge and Juvenile Court Judge for Tipton County, Tennessee. He presides over four court divisions — General Sessions, Juvenile Court, Probation Services, and Recovery Court — each reflecting his belief that justice must be both firm in its standards and redemptive in its vision.
His Recovery Court program represents one of his deepest commitments: that addiction is a condition deserving accountability and a pathway to restoration, not just punishment. In Juvenile Court, Judge Eckel operates with the conviction that the decisions made for young people today determine the community Tipton County becomes tomorrow.
He approaches every case with the understanding that the law is not merely a set of rules — it is the framework through which a community declares what it values and who it protects.