Cordova doesn’t have its own criminal court — and that’s exactly why a Cordova arrest confuses people. Depending on where in Cordova the stop happened and which agency made it, your case may land in the Shelby County courts at 201 Poplar, Memphis City Court, or even Bartlett Municipal Court. Brooks Law Firm defends DUI, drug, domestic assault, theft, and other criminal charges for Cordova residents in all of them.
Charged after a stop or arrest in Cordova? Call (901) 324-5000 or call/text the criminal defense line at (901) 412-2973.
Which Court Handles a Cordova Case?
Cordova straddles jurisdictional lines. Most of it was annexed into the City of Memphis, but portions fall inside Bartlett’s limits and some areas remain unincorporated Shelby County. In practice:
- Arrested by Memphis Police (MPD) — state criminal charges (DUI, drugs, domestic assault, theft) go to Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court at 201 Poplar Avenue in downtown Memphis. City ordinance and traffic citations go to Memphis City Court.
- Arrested by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office — patrols the unincorporated pockets; state charges likewise go to General Sessions at 201 Poplar.
- Arrested by Bartlett Police — addresses on the Bartlett side of the line start in Bartlett Municipal Court before serious matters are bound over to Shelby County.
Jurisdiction follows where the offense allegedly occurred and who charged it — not your mailing address. The agency name at the top of your citation or arrest ticket tells you which courthouse you’re headed to. If you’re not sure, call and we’ll tell you.
Charges We Defend for Cordova Clients
DUI
Germantown Parkway, Macon Road, Walnut Grove, and the N. Highway 64 retail corridor generate steady DUI enforcement. A first offense carries a mandatory minimum 48 hours in jail and a one-year license revocation, and a DUI conviction can never be expunged in Tennessee. A DUI defense tests the stop, the field sobriety tests, and the breath or blood evidence. We also handle the charges that travel with DUI — reckless driving and driving on a suspended or revoked license.
Drug Charges
From simple possession to possession with intent under the Tennessee Drug Control Act, drug cases turn on the legality of the stop and search. The difference between a misdemeanor and a felony is often packaging, cash, or quantity — and the difference between a conviction and a dismissal is often a suppression issue.
Domestic Assault
Domestic assault arrests carry a 12-hour mandatory hold, possible firearm consequences, and — like DUI — a conviction that can never be expunged. Many Cordova cases involve a companion order of protection heard separately. Early defense involvement matters in both proceedings.
Theft and Property Offenses
The retail strips along Germantown Parkway produce a steady docket of theft and shoplifting charges, graded by value under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-105. First-time offenders are often eligible for outcomes that keep the charge off their record entirely.
Keeping It Off Your Record
For qualifying first offenses, judicial diversion followed by expungement can erase the charge completely. Eligibility depends on the offense and your history — DUI and domestic assault convictions are the two significant exceptions, which is precisely why those charges deserve a full defense rather than a quick plea.
Other Courts We Serve
Brooks Law Firm appears throughout West Tennessee: Germantown · Bartlett · Collierville · Fayette County · Tipton County · Lauderdale County · Haywood County — or see all courts we serve and the criminal defense overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
I live in Cordova — why is my court date at 201 Poplar downtown?
Because most of Cordova is inside Memphis city limits, state criminal charges from MPD or Sheriff’s Office arrests are heard in Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court at 201 Poplar Avenue. Cordova has no courthouse of its own.
My citation says Bartlett Police. Does that change anything?
Yes — your case starts in Bartlett Municipal Court rather than 201 Poplar. Parts of Cordova fall inside Bartlett’s city limits, and the arresting agency determines where the case begins. Felonies are later bound over to the Shelby County courts either way.
Can I get a Cordova charge expunged?
Many charges, yes — through dismissal or diversion for qualifying first offenders. DUI and domestic assault convictions are the notable exceptions: Tennessee law never allows them to be expunged, which makes fighting those charges at the outset especially important.
Brooks Law Firm defends criminal charges for Cordova residents in the Shelby County, Memphis, and Bartlett courts. Call (901) 324-5000 or call/text (901) 412-2973. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.