Tenn. Code § 17-316
The certificate of intention of a judge to retire and the application therefor shall be in writing, addressed to the governor and shall set out the facts pertaining to the court or courts served by such judge, the period of time embraced by such service, and his age. The board of trustees of this judges' retirement system shall verify the facts and determine if all applicable requirements pertaining to the application for retirement are met and the board of trustees shall indorse the application accordingly and file the application in the office of the division of retirement. The board of trustees shall thereafter authorize payment of benefits to which the retired judge is entitled under the provisions of this judges' retirement system.
T.C.A. § 17-316