Tennessee was admitted to the Union as a state in 17961 but Congress did not make provision for the establishment of the Federal Courts in the new state until its next session. The first district court for Tennessee was created in 1797 and consisted of the entire state.2 One district judge was authorized and directed to hold court alternatively at Nashville and Knoxville. The first Tennessee district judge was John McNairy, appointed by President George Washington on February 17, 1797, at a salary of $800 per year. The first session of court was held at Nashville beginning July 3, 1797. In 1802,3 Tennessee was divided into two districts but with only one authorized judge.
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