Tenn. Code § 8-622
For the purpose of providing funds with which to defray the costs of the retirement provided for attorneys general and for judges, there is fixed upon every original suit in a court of record and upon every appeal from a justice of the peace or general sessions court, and upon each criminal case finally disposed of by any court of general sessions, a fee of two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50), which shall be known as the judges and attorneys general retirement tax, and which shall be collectible and payable under the same circumstances as state and county tax is now collected upon litigation, save that this fee shall be paid, secured, or worked out, in criminal cases. There shall also be levied upon each indictment or presentment in criminal court or courts having criminal jurisdiction a like amount. The tax as herein provided shall be in addition to such litigation taxes as are now levied by law upon such suits. It shall be a state tax only and no county or municipality shall levy a similar tax. All sums collected from the tax herein levied shall be paid over to the appropriate state official as other litigation tax is now paid. Two-fifths (2/5) of the amount collected hereunder shall be paid into the attorneys general retirement fund and three-fifths (3/5) of the amounts collected shall be paid into the judges' retirement fund.
T.C.A. § 8-622