Grand Jury Duty Information

Online registration is optional and not mandatory. You may register by opening the link below. You will need your summons number available for the registration process.

Register online (optional)

Requests to postpone should be submitted no later than 10 days prior to your scheduled date of service. You must choose a 4 month prescheduled term from the calendar link below. Upon receipt of your request to postpone, a letter of confirmation will be mailed to you.

Postpone Jury Duty (Online Form)

Grand Jury Calendar (PDF)

Juror qualifications

Minimum eligibility

A person is only eligible for jury service if they meet the following criteria:

1. Is a citizen of the United States
2. Is 18 years of age or older
3. Your primary residence has been in Hamilton County, TN for the past 12 months
4. Is not a Convicted Felon
5. Is not currently an active member of The United States Armed Forces
6. Has not served on a Federal or State Jury in the past 24 months

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria, please confirm by circling YES or NO on the Juror Qualification Questionnaire (postcard), the Yellow Summons, and/or completing and submitting a Jury Service Affidavit.

Jury Service Affidavit (PDF)
Qualification Questionnaire Sample (PDF)

Criteria for Excuse

Prospective Jurors will only be excused if serving will cause an “UNDUE OR EXTREME PHYSICAL OR FINANCIAL HARDSHIP”. Such a hardship may be present if the juror has a mental or physical condition which causes the juror to be incapable of performing jury service, or if the juror would:

• Be required to abandon a person under such juror’s personal care or supervision due to the impossibility of obtaining an appropriate substitute caregiver during the period of participation in the jury service.
• Incur costs that would have a substantial adverse impact on the payment of the juror’s necessary daily living expenses or on those for whom such juror provides the principle means of support.
• Suffer physical hardship that would result in illness or disease; or
• Be deprived of compensation due to out-of-state employment and employer is not required to compensate jurors and declines to do so voluntarily.

How to be excused from Jury Duty

Submit your request no later than 10 days prior to your date of service. Fill out a jury service affidavit form (PDF) and send the proper documentation to the jury clerk. All documentation should include your summons number and phone number. Choose one of the delivery options below:

• Email Address: juryclerk@hamiltontn.gov (this is most expedited form of communication)
• Fax Number: (423) 209-6701
• Mailing address: Jury Coordinator, 625 Georgia Ave. – 5th Floor, Chattanooga, TN 37402

Acceptable Forms of Documentation to be Excused in each Scenario

• Physical disabilities: Doctors must fax excuses to (423) 209-6701
• Full-time college students: submit a copy of your student I.D. or their class schedule issued by the school
• Non-Residents: submit documentation that includes your name and new address (Example – Driver’s License, Power Bill or Lease Agreement)
• Extreme Financial Hardship: Complete a "Jury Service Affidavit" (This does not apply solely based on a juror being required to be absent from their employment)
• Dependency / Guardianship / Primary Caretaker: Complete a "Jury Service Affidavit"

Failure to provide satisfactory documentation in a timely manner may result in a denial of the request to be excused. Any information faxed must include your summons number for proper identification. For jurors, documentation must be provided no later than the day before a juror is scheduled. For grand jurors, documentation must be provided no later than 10 days before the juror is scheduled. You may fax such documentation and summons to 423-209-6701.

Jury Service Affidavit (PDF)

Compensation

Selected grand jurors are paid $13.00 for each day they are present for service, including orientation day. A check will be mailed to you weekly.

Please advise the Jury Coordinator if you would prefer to donate your jury compensation to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund (will open in a new tab).

Employment Policy

No employer shall discharge or in any manner discriminate against an employee for serving on jury duty.

If an employee is working a night shift or is working during hours preceding those in which court is normally held, such employee shall also be excused from employment for the shift immediately preceding the employee’s first day of service. After the first day of service, if the employee is serving more than three hours during a day, shall be excused from the employee’s next scheduled work period occurring within twenty-four hours of such day of jury service.

If an employer employs less than five people on a regular basis or if the juror has been employed by an employer on a temporary basis for less than six months, the employer is not required to compensate the juror during the period of jury service. All other Tennessee employers must provide a juror’s usual compensation for the time the juror actually spends serving and traveling to and from jury duty. An employer has the discretion to deduct the amount of compensation the juror receives from the court. You may request a certificate of attendance when you report for jury duty, if your employer requires such a certificate. If your employer would like specific times you must provide a time sheet to the Jury Coordinator.

You can read Tennessee Code Annotated 22-4-106 to learn more about your employment rights during jury duty.