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Jury FAQs

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1. Is there an Age Limit that allows me to take my name off the Jury List?

The Age Limit that allows your name to be removed from the Jury List starts at 70.

2. How do I get my name removed from the Jury List due to the Age Limit?

Fill out the Jury Questionnaire Card that is attached to your Jury Summons. Provide a copy of your Driver’s License, Personal ID, or any documentation that includes your date of birth. When your Jury Questionnaire Card/documentation is received, you will be contacted.

3. I no longer live in Blount County/Tennessee. What do I need to do?

Fill out Jury Questionnaire Card that is attached to your Jury Summons. Include your new Primary Address on Line #2 of Jury Questionnaire Card. You will be contacted when your Jury Questionnaire card is received.

4. I am a Full Time/Graduate/Nursing Student. What do I need to do to be excused?

Fill out the Jury Questionnaire Card that is attached to your Jury Summons. Provide a copy of your Student ID or Class Schedule. You will be contacted when your Jury Questionnaire Card and documentation have been received.

5. I have medical conditions that make me unable to serve on a Jury. What do I need to do to be excused?

Fill out the Jury Questionnaire Card that is attached to your Jury Summons. Provide a letter/note from your Doctor or any Medical Documentation that you have. You will be contacted when your Jury Questionnaire and documentation have been received.

6. What makes a Juror ineligible to serve on a Jury?

A Juror is ineligible to serve if the Juror is not a resident of Blount County, has a Felony Charge, has a letter/note from a licensed doctor that request for the Juror’s name to be removed, or is not a U.S Citizen.

7. I am willing to serve at another time this year. How do I request a postponement on my Jury Service?

All Jurors are allowed only one Postponement request per Jury Service. A Juror’s Jury Service can be postponed up to one full year. Fill out Jury Questionnaire Card that is attached to your Jury Summons. On the back of the Jury Questionnaire Card, under Postponement of Service, provide a month that you will be available for jury service. You will be contacted and provided with your new Jury Summons date.

8. If I have already received a Postponement and circumstances arise that prohibit me from serving, what will I need to do to be granted one more Postponement?

If you need one more Postponement then you will need to provide documentation and a letter explaining the reasoning behind the second Postponement request. You will also need to provide a month that you can better serve on a jury. You will be contacted as soon as your Jury Questionnaire/documentation is received and an alternative date given to you if possible. Otherwise, you will need to appear on the summons date, before the judge, to asked to be excused.

9. If I had served on a Jury within the past two years, will this excuse me from my Jury Service?

You can be excused if you had already completed your Jury Service within the past two years. Fill out your Jury Questionnaire Card which is attached to your Jury Summons and include the date of your previous Jury Summons on Line #18 of the Jury Questionnaire Card. Return the card to our office and you will be contacted regarding your service.

10. If I will be out of state or out of the country, how will I go about being excused from my Jury Service?

The best that I can do is set you up with a Postponement. Fill out Jury Questionnaire Card, attached to your Jury Summons. On back of Jury Questionnaire Card, under Postponement of Service, provide a month that you will be available for. I will contact and provide you with your new Jury Summons date.

11. If I have a pending case in Circuit Court, am I allowed to serve as a Juror?

If you have a case pending in Circuit Court then you cannot serve until the pending case is over. However if you know someone that has a pending case, family member or friend, then you are still able to serve unless if you are a part of their case.

12. If I have received a Jury Summons and that the Jury Summons is not for me but for another Juror. What do I need to do in order for the Juror to not be in trouble?

If you have received a Jury Summons for another Juror then you will need to place all the Jury Information back in the envelope, not the spare envelope that was included with the Jury Summons. Place the envelope back in your mail box and the Mail Service will pick it up and bring it back to me and I will take care of that Juror.

13. If I do not have available Child Care for my child/children. What do I need to do in order to be excused so my child/children are not left alone?

Fill out Jury Questionnaire Card, attached to your Jury Summons. Include either a handwritten/typed letter explaining your situation. I will call you with a decision.

14. If I am a care giver for an individual and cannot find them care. What do I need to do in order to be excused for being a full time care giver?

Fill out Jury Questionnaire Card, attached to your Jury Summons. Include either a handwritten/typed letter explaining your situation. I will call you with a decision.

15. If I have a Felony Conviction and I know that I am not eligible to serve on a Jury. What do I need to do in order for my name to be removed from the Jury List?

Fill out Jury Questionnaire Card, attached to your Jury Summons. On Line #19 provide us with the charged and where the charge was from. I will contact you when I received your Jury Questionnaire Card.

16. What are the requirements in order to be considered to be excused due to a Work Hardship?

The requirements are that your employer must employ less than five people or that you work part time. If you just started a job with the employer less than six months then we can set you up with a Postponement, if you have not used one already.

17. Does my employer compensate me if I do serve as a Juror?

Your employer must provide a Juror’s usual compensation for the time the juror actually spends serving and traveling to and from Jury Duty. I can provide copies of laws explaining compensating employers for Jury Service. Your employer is not required to compensate you if your employer employs less than five people, work part time, or if you are employed on a temporary basis for less than six months.

18. In order to be excused for a Work Hardship, what will I need to do or provide to the courts?

Fill out Jury Questionnaire Card, attached to your Jury Summons. Include either a handwritten/typed letter from your employer explaining your situation and why it would cause a Work Hardship. I will call you with a decision.

19. What do I need to do in order to be excused if I am Self Employed?

Fill out Jury Questionnaire Card, attached to your Jury Summons. Include either a copy of your Business License or the first page of your latest Tax Return. I will call you with a decision.

20. I do not have transportation to get me to the Justice Center. Will this excuse me from my Jury Service?

Not having transportation will not excuse you from your Jury Service.

21. I do not believe or feel comfortable in judging others because of my religious beliefs. Will this excuse me from my Jury Service?

We do respect all religious views; however this will not excuse you from your Jury Service. Only the Judge is allowed to excuse you from your Jury Service.

22. I feel that me not being able to read, write, speak, or understand well enough to serve as a Juror. Will this excuse me from my Jury Service?

Only the Judge and the Attorneys are allowed to excuse you from your Jury Service due to not being able to read, write, speak, or understand well.

23. Will me knowing a Judge, attorney, defendant, officer, or clerk make me unable to serve as a Juror?

Only the Judge and the Attorneys are allowed to excuse you for knowing a Judge, attorney, defendant, officer, or clerk.

24. I used to work in the justice system as an officer/judge/attorney/clerk. Does this make me unable to serve as a Juror?

Only the Judge and the Attorneys are allowed to excuse you for working in the justice system as an officer, judge, attorney, or clerk.

25. Do I qualify to be excused due to a Work Hardship if I work night shift?

If your employer employs more than 5 employees and you work full time then you will not be eligible to be excused due to a Work Hardship. A Juror who works the night shift or the hours immediately preceding the hours court is normally held the employee shall be excused from employment for the shift immediately preceding the employee’s service.

26. If a Jury Summons was sent to me and I share the same name with a family member, what do I need to do to see who the Jury Summons was for?

You need to call, 865-273-5400 and select Option #1 for Jury Services, and ask us to check for you.

27. If I had sent in my Jury Questionnaire and Documentation, when will I know my paperwork was received or if I have been excused?

 A Clerk will contact you as quickly as possible, either by a phone call or email, when your Jury Questionnaire and Documentation is received. You are more than welcome to call, 865-273-5400 and select Option #1 for Jury Services, and ask for a status update on your Jury Summons at anytime.