How do you get out of jury duty in Tennessee?

Tennessee has a list of specific excuses that can be used to be exempt from reporting for jury duty, including excuses for elected official, student, breastfeeding, age, police, medical worker and firefighter. You can also be excused if you don’t meet the basic eligibility requirements for jury duty in TN.

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

These varies depending on the counter, however, once you have served your dutiful time, you will not be summoned for Tennessee jury duty for at least 24 months. Do keep in mind that some cases could run on for an extended period of time; this is on a case-by-case basis.

Does your employer have to pay you for jury duty in Tennessee?

Under Tennessee law, employers must pay their employees “usual compensation” for time spent serving and traveling to and from jury service. The employer has the discretion to deduct any juror fee or expense payment received from the court (TN Stat. Sec. 22-4-106(b)).

What is a jury summons letter?

Your Jury Summons asks you to attend for jury service. It will tell you the date, time and court building you have to attend. You must reply to this summons using the Reply to Jury Summons form.

Can jury service be deferred twice?

Jury service can only be deferred once. Applications to be excused from jury services are only considered in exceptional circumstances. You also have the right to be excused from jury service if you have previously served or attended to serve on a jury in the previous 2 years.

What happens if you are not selected for Tennessee jury duty?

If you were not selected to serve on any jury during the voir dire process, you can go home, and your Tennessee jury duty obligations are complete. You will receive nominal Tennessee jury duty pay for the jury selection day, as well as for any days served on a jury.

How do I notify my employer of jury duty in Tennessee?

Tennessee jury duty laws also state that the employee must give notice of leave on the day after receiving the summons. The first step in preparing for jury duty should be informing your employer you’ll be absent. If you want to avoid awkward conversations, you can formally notify them with a jury duty leave request letter.

Is jury duty a civic duty in Tennessee?

While jury duty is a civic requirement for all eligible citizens in Tennessee, there are a number of excuses that can be used to legally get out of being required to report for jury selection or jury duty, or receive a deferral.

Who is exempt from jury duty in Tennessee?

Elderly individuals may still be able to request exemption from jury duty on account of health, mobility, or other factors. Prospective jurors in Tennessee currently on active service in Armed Forces may be exempt from service.