Tennessee Jury Duty Laws: Pay, Exemptions and Employer Rules

Tennessee sets the rules for state-court jury service in Title 22 of the Tennessee Code, starting with the qualifications in Tenn. Code Ann. § 22-1-101. Tennessee requires most employers to keep paying your usual wages while you serve, though an employer may deduct your juror fee and employers with fewer than five regular employees are exempt from the pay rule (§ 22-4-106).

State law sets juror pay at a floor of $10 a day, and each county can pay more (§ 22-4-101). There is no automatic age exemption: a person 75 or older is excused only on a written declaration of a mental or physical condition that prevents service (§ 22-1-103(e)).

Information last verified on October 7, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This page covers jury service in Tennessee state courts, which is run county by county. A summons from a U.S. District Court in Tennessee follows federal law, summarized on our jury duty laws by state hub.

About our sources: The official Tennessee Code is published through LexisNexis and could not be opened for this review, so the statute text quoted here comes from the 2025 Tennessee Code as compiled on law.justia.com. The 2026 breastfeeding-mother excuse is quoted from the enrolled public chapter published by the Tennessee Secretary of State. County details come from county court websites.

Do you have to go? The short answer

Yes, unless you are not qualified, the court excuses you, or you postpone. Section 22-1-101 states the policy that qualified citizens have an obligation to serve when summoned unless excused.

Each county's jury coordinator, who is the circuit court clerk unless the circuit or criminal court judges appoint someone else, handles summonses, excuses and postponements (§ 22-2-201(a)(1)). To see which category might fit your situation before you contact the coordinator, try our jury duty exemption checker.

Who can serve on a jury in Tennessee

Under § 22-1-101, "Every person eighteen (18) years of age, being a citizen of the United States, and a resident of this state, and of the county in which the person may be summoned for jury service for a period of twelve (12) months next preceding the date of the summons, is legally qualified to act as a grand or petit juror, if not otherwise incompetent under the express provisions of this title."

That means four tests: at least 18, a U.S. citizen, and 12 months' residence in both Tennessee and the county that summoned you. The qualification sections (§§ 22-1-101 and 22-1-102) do not list an English-language test or a pending-charge disqualification; a mental or physical condition is handled as an excuse instead.

Criminal convictions

Section 22-1-102 says "The following persons are incompetent to act as jurors: (1) Persons convicted of a felony or any other infamous offense in a court of competent jurisdiction; or (2) Persons convicted of perjury or subornation of perjury."

The jury statute does not say how long that lasts, but Tennessee treats jury service as a restorable right. Under § 40-29-101(1), "citizenship rights" include "The right to serve on a jury," and § 40-29-102(a) lets a person seek restoration by petitioning the circuit court after a pardon, after discharge on serving or expiration of the maximum sentence, or after a certificate of final discharge from parole supervision.

We did not review every condition and exclusion in that chapter, and part of it was restructured in 2025, so if you have a felony or perjury conviction and a summons, ask the jury coordinator or a Tennessee lawyer how the rules apply to you.

Excuses, postponements and age rules in Tennessee

Tennessee's Title 22 does not list exemptions by occupation, such as for students, military members, first responders or public officials, in the sections we reviewed. Instead, the statute offers a medical excuse, a hardship excuse, the 75-and-older declaration and, since March 2026, an excuse for breastfeeding mothers, plus a postponement right.

Medical excuses

Under § 22-1-103(a), "Any person may be excused from serving as a juror if the prospective juror has a mental or physical condition that causes that person to be incapable of performing jury service." The juror or the juror's personal representative "must provide the court with documentation from a physician licensed to practice medicine."

As we read § 22-1-103(d), a person excused becomes eligible again after the period the court orders, which cannot exceed 24 months, unless the judge determines the grounds are permanent.

Hardship excuses

Section 22-1-103(b)(1) allows an excuse "upon a showing that the person's service will constitute an undue or extreme physical or financial hardship to the prospective juror or a person under the prospective juror's care or supervision." The statute limits hardship to these situations:

• leaving a person under your personal care without any possible substitute caregiver;
• costs that would have a substantial adverse impact on the necessary daily living expenses of you or your dependents;
• physical hardship resulting in illness or disease; or
• loss of pay because you work out of state and that employer will not pay you, or because your employer is not required to pay you under § 22-4-106 and declines to do so voluntarily.

Two limits matter. "Undue or extreme physical or financial hardship does not exist solely based on the fact that a prospective juror will be required to be absent from that prospective juror's place of employment" (§ 22-1-103(b)(4)). And you must back the request with documentation, such as income tax returns, statements from licensed physicians, proof of dependency or guardianship, or an affidavit that you cannot find a substitute caregiver; without it the request may be denied (§ 22-1-103(b)(5)). Those documents are not public records (§ 22-1-103(c)).

You must "take all actions necessary to have obtained a ruling on that request by no later than the date on which the person is scheduled to appear for jury duty" (§ 22-1-103(b)(3)). Do not assume you are excused until you hear back.

Age 75 and older

Tennessee's only age rule is in § 22-1-103(e): "A person who is seventy-five (75) years of age or older is excused from jury service upon a showing that the person is seventy-five (75) years of age or older and that the person is incapable of performing jury service because of a mental or physical condition."

Age alone is not enough. The jury coordinator "shall excuse the person from jury service upon receiving a written declaration stating the person's name and date of birth, and declaring the mental or physical condition that causes the person to be incapable of performing jury service." The declaration may be completed by you or your personal representative, each county coordinator must make declaration forms available, and the subsection "does not prevent a person seventy-five (75) years of age or older from participating in jury service." A person of any age may also ask for a medical or hardship excuse under the rules above.

Breastfeeding mothers

A 2026 law, Public Chapter 594 (signed March 23, 2026), added a new subsection to § 22-1-103: "A mother who is breastfeeding a child is excused from jury service upon providing the court with a supporting medical statement from a licensed physician or a certified professional midwife."

The jury coordinator "shall excuse a mother who is breastfeeding a child from jury service upon receiving a written request to be excused and a supporting medical statement from a licensed physician or a certified professional midwife." This route does not require the proof of undue or extreme hardship that the hardship excuse does. Because it took effect in 2026, it may be missing from code compilations dated 2025.

Military service members

Title 22 has no separate military category in the sections we reviewed, so a service member would normally use a postponement or the hardship process. Separately, federal law says an active-duty member of the armed forces may not be required to serve on a state or local jury if the member's branch Secretary determines that service would unreasonably interfere with military duties or adversely affect unit readiness, and that determination is conclusive (10 U.S.C. § 982). Ask your command if that applies to you.

Postponing jury service

Under § 22-2-315(a), "When requested, postponements shall be granted by the jury coordinator" if you have not had a postponement before, you ask in person or by telephone, electronic transmission or in writing, and, with the coordinator's agreement, you fix a specific new date, within 12 months of your original date and when the court is in session, before the postponement is granted.

A second postponement "may be approved by a judge only on the basis of an extraordinary event, such as a death in the prospective juror's family, sudden grave illness or a natural disaster or national emergency in which the prospective juror is personally involved, that could not have been anticipated at the time the initial postponement was granted." You must then fix a date within 12 months (§ 22-2-315(c)). A postponed juror remains under summons for the new date.

How much does jury duty pay in Tennessee?

Juror pay is set county by county, above a state floor.

Section 22-4-101(a) says "Every regular juror, including jurors on chancery court juries, is entitled to receive at least ten dollars ($10.00) for each day's attendance." Counties pay jurors from the county treasury, and the section does not repeal special or private acts already in effect, so local rates differ. Tolls are reimbursed only if proved under oath before the jury coordinator (§ 22-4-103).

Two county examples: Davidson County says "Effective 07/31/23 all jurors will be paid $20 per day" (Nashville jury duty general information), and Knox County says "Jurors are paid $11.00 each day that they report" (Knox County Circuit Court jury information). For any other county, ask the jury coordinator named on your summons.

Tennessee employer rules for jury duty

Time off: show your summons

Under § 22-4-106(a)(1), "Upon receiving a summons to report for jury duty, any employee shall, on the next day the employee is engaged in the employee's employment, exhibit the summons to the employee's immediate superior, and the employer shall thereupon excuse the employee from employment for each day the employee's service as a juror in any court of the United States or this state exceeds three (3) hours." The rule covers federal as well as state jury service.

That notice step is important: the job protection below applies only if you gave the required notice before taking time off.

Night shifts

If you work a night shift, or hours before court normally sits, you are also excused from the shift immediately before your first day of service. After the first day, on any day your jury duty exceeds three hours, you are excused from your next scheduled work period within 24 hours. Questions about how this applies to a particular shift "shall be conclusively resolved by the trial judge of the court to which the employee has been summoned" (§ 22-4-106(a)(2)).

Your employer must keep paying you, with limits

Section 22-4-106(b) says "the employee shall be entitled to the employee's usual compensation received from such employment; however, the employer has the discretion to deduct the amount of the fee or compensation the employee receives for serving as a juror." The employer need not pay for more time than you actually spent serving and traveling to and from jury duty. The State of Tennessee does not deduct it for its own employees: the state's leave guidance says employees may keep the compensation the court pays them for jury duty (State of Tennessee HR Support).

The pay rule has two exceptions: "If an employer employs less than five (5) people on a regular basis or if the juror has been employed by an employer on a temporary basis for less than six (6) months, the employer is not required to compensate the juror during the period of jury service pursuant to this section." Those exceptions apply only to pay, not to the time-off and anti-retaliation protections. Under § 22-4-106(f), "employer" includes the state of Tennessee and local governments.

Whoever pays jurors must give each juror a statement of the daily fee and total received and, on request before service, a statement of the hours served each day, which you can give your employer (§ 22-4-106(c)). Section 22-4-106 does not address whether an employer may require you to use sick or vacation leave.

Your job is protected

"No employer shall discharge or in any manner discriminate against an employee for serving on jury duty if the employee, prior to taking time off, gives the required notice pursuant to subsection (a)" (§ 22-4-106(d)(1)).

The section does not state a filing deadline for a reinstatement or wage claim; the general limitations statute may set one, so talk to a Tennessee employment lawyer promptly if you were disciplined or fired over jury service. For how this fits with other limits on firing, see our page on Tennessee at-will employment laws.

What happens if you miss jury duty in Tennessee

Tennessee uses civil contempt, not a criminal charge, under § 22-2-309:

1. If you were summoned and not excused but fail to appear or respond, "a show cause order shall issue and be served upon the person," requiring you to come to court on a set date and explain why you should not be held in civil contempt.
2. If your excuse is sufficient, you are excused, but you pay the costs of the show-cause order unless the judge waives them.
3. If it is not, "the person shall be adjudged in civil contempt of court and shall be assessed a civil penalty of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) and the costs of the show cause order."
4. "The court shall suspend payment of that portion of the civil penalty in excess of fifty dollars ($50.00) upon the condition that the person complete the jury service term for which the person was summoned." The statute calls the penalty "remedial in nature."

Section 22-2-309 as we read it states no jail term. Davidson County's jury site adds that failing to respond makes a personal appearance mandatory and may bring a fine and contempt. If you missed your date, call the jury coordinator right away.

How long jury duty lasts in Tennessee

The statutes we reviewed do not fix the length of a jury service term; each county sets it. Davidson County's FAQ says "your obligation is for one week or the duration of the trial" (Nashville jury duty FAQ). Knox County says "Jury Service is nine (9) working days," with cases set Monday through Friday of the first week and Monday through Thursday of the second.

After you serve, you get a break: "A juror who has completed a jury service term shall not be summoned to serve another jury service term in any court of this state for a period of twenty-four (24) months following the last day of such service" (§ 22-2-314). A county legislative body may extend that period by majority vote.

How to respond to a Tennessee jury summons

We did not find a statewide juror portal; the jury-service address we tried on the state courts' website (tncourts.gov) returned "Page not found." Your county jury coordinator runs the process, so the instructions on your summons control. The steps that apply statewide:

1. Show the summons to your immediate superior on your next workday (§ 22-4-106(a)).
2. If you need a postponement, contact the jury coordinator in person, by phone, electronically or in writing and fix a new date (§ 22-2-315).
3. If you need a medical or hardship excuse, are 75 or older with a disqualifying condition, or are a breastfeeding mother, send the coordinator or court your documentation, declaration or written request with a medical statement, and get a ruling before your report date (§ 22-1-103).
4. Treat your report date as firm until the court confirms its decision.

Two large counties publish their own routes. Davidson County takes excuse requests in writing on the summons or online through its jury duty site, and Knox County has an online juror hardship form that a judge reviews (Knox County jury information).

Watch for jury duty scam calls

The Tennessee Attorney General's office warns: "Jury Duty Scam: Scammers may pose as court officials or law enforcement officers claiming that you’ve missed jury duty and are now subject to fines or arrest unless a fee is paid immediately" (Tennessee Attorney General, Aug. 14, 2024). Davidson County's jury site says "we will never call you and ask for money to cancel a warrant or ask you for confidential information. If you receive a call from anyone that ask you for money, hang up immediately."

Our guide to government impersonation scams explains how these schemes work, and our page on Tennessee scam and fraud laws covers where to report.

Recent changes

The age-75 declaration in § 22-1-103(e) was added by 2021 legislation (Acts 2021, ch. 544), and the breastfeeding-mother excuse was added by 2026 legislation (Pub. Ch. 594, signed March 23, 2026). The legislature's "Juries and Jurors" subject index for the 2025-2026 session lists no other enacted bill amending Title 22. Confirm current rules with your county jury coordinator.

Disclaimer: This page is general legal information about Tennessee jury service, not legal advice. The court and county jury coordinator that summoned you decide every excuse and postponement request. Information verified October 7, 2026. For questions about your summons, contact the jury coordinator listed on it; for an employment dispute, consult a lawyer licensed in Tennessee.

Related pages

• Jury duty laws by state
• Tennessee at-will employment laws
• Tennessee court records
• Tennessee scam and fraud laws

Last updated: October 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my employer have to pay me for jury duty in Tennessee?

Usually yes. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 22-4-106(b) you are entitled to your usual compensation, though the employer may deduct your juror fee and pay only for time spent serving and traveling. Employers with fewer than five regular employees, and temporary workers employed under six months, are excepted from the pay rule.

How much does jury duty pay in Tennessee?

State law guarantees at least $10 per day of attendance, and counties may pay more (§ 22-4-101). Davidson County says it pays $20 a day and Knox County $11 a day; sequestered jurors get at least $30 a day.

Can I get out of jury duty in Tennessee if I am over 75?

Only if you are also incapable of serving because of a mental or physical condition. The county jury coordinator must excuse you on a written declaration giving your name, date of birth and the condition (§ 22-1-103(e)); age alone does not excuse you.

Can I be fired for jury duty in Tennessee?

No, if you showed your summons to your supervisor on your next workday. Under § 22-4-106(d) an employee fired, demoted or suspended for jury service is entitled to reinstatement and lost wages and benefits, and the employer commits a Class A misdemeanor.

How do I get excused from jury duty in Tennessee?

Ask the court or jury coordinator for a medical excuse with a licensed physician's documentation, a hardship excuse backed by documents such as tax returns or caregiver affidavits, or, if you are breastfeeding, a written request with a medical statement from a licensed physician or certified professional midwife, which the coordinator must grant (§ 22-1-103). Missing work alone is not a hardship, and you must get a ruling before your report date.

Can I postpone jury duty in Tennessee?

Yes. The jury coordinator must grant your first postponement if you ask and fix a new date within 12 months of your original date (§ 22-2-315(a)). A second postponement needs a judge and an extraordinary event such as a death in the family, with a new date within 12 months.

What happens if I miss jury duty in Tennessee?

The court issues a show-cause order. If your excuse is insufficient you are held in civil contempt with a penalty of up to $500 plus costs, and the court suspends everything over $50 if you complete your jury service (§ 22-2-309).

How often can you be called for jury duty in Tennessee?

After completing a jury service term you cannot be summoned to another term in any Tennessee court for 24 months, and a county legislative body may extend that period (§ 22-2-314).

Can a felon serve on a jury in Tennessee?

A person convicted of a felony, another infamous offense, or perjury is incompetent to serve under § 22-1-102. Jury service is among the citizenship rights a person may petition the circuit court to restore under Title 40, Chapter 29, after a pardon, sentence expiration or final discharge from parole.