(a) A person who has been convicted in this state of an infamous crime, as defined by § 40-20-112, other than one specified in subsection (b), or convicted under the laws of the United States or another state of an offense that would constitute an infamous crime if committed in this state, shall be disqualified from qualifying for, seeking election to or holding a public office in this state, unless and until that person’s citizenship rights have been restored by a court of competent jurisdiction.
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 40-20-114

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Plea agreement: An arrangement between the prosecutor, the defense attorney, and the defendant in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for special considerations. Source:
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) to the contrary, a person convicted in this state of an infamous crime, as defined by § 40-20-112, or convicted under the laws of the United States or another state of an offense that would constitute an infamous crime if committed in this state, and the offense was committed while that person is holding an elected public office at the federal level, or in this or any other state or any political subdivision of this or any other state, shall be forever disqualified from qualifying for, seeking or holding any public office in this state or any political subdivision of this state, if the offense was committed in the person’s official capacity or involved the duties of the person’s office. This subsection (b) shall apply even if the person’s citizenship rights have been restored, but shall not be construed as limiting the restoration of any other citizenship rights, including the right of suffrage provided for in § 2-2-139, § 2-19-143, or § 40-29-105.
(c) If a person is holding an elected public office and was convicted of an infamous crime pursuant to the qualifications in subsection (b) that was committed prior to July 1, 2007, the person shall be allowed to remain in office for the remainder of the term, but shall forever be prohibited from qualifying for, seeking or holding any public office in this state or political subdivision of this state after July 1, 2007, or when the term expires or when the person vacates the office, whichever is first.
(d) If a person is holding an elected public office and is convicted of an infamous crime pursuant to the qualifications in subsection (b) that was committed on or after July 1, 2007, the conviction shall be grounds for removal from office in the manner provided by law and the person shall forever be prohibited from qualifying for, seeking or holding any public office in this state or political subdivision of this state after July 1, 2007.
(e) A court shall not accept any plea agreement that allows an elected public official who is charged with an infamous crime involving an offense committed in the person’s official capacity or involving the duties of the person’s office, to qualify for, seek, or hold public office in this state or any political subdivision of this state at some point in the future. If an elected public official accepts a plea agreement for an offense committed in the person’s official capacity or involving the duties of the person’s office, the person is prohibited from qualifying for, seeking, or holding public office in this state or any political subdivision of this state at some point in the future after the plea agreement has been agreed to by all parties.
(f) If any provision of this section or the application of this section to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the section that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to that end this section is declared to be severable.
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