States
Jury duty in Tennessee: pay, employer rules and excuses
Independent site, not a court. Answer your summons and ask for an excuse only through the court that summoned you.
See how Tennessee county juror pay combines with the rule that employers with five or more workers keep paying wages, and check the age 75 declaration.
What jury duty in Tennessee will pay you
You receive for 10 days
$2,000
| Court fee (state minimum) | not specified |
| Employer, by law | $2,000 for 10 days |
| A normal 10 days of work | $2,000 |
| Income lost | $0 |
| Age rule | 75 and over, may ask to be excused |
Tennessee: Each county sets juror pay under Tenn. Code § 22-4-101. The statewide minimum could not be read on an official site. County examples: Blount $10 a day, Knox $11 a day, Hamilton $25 a day. Before tax. Employers with 5 or more regular employees must pay usual wages for time spent serving and traveling, minus the juror fee. This does not apply to employers with fewer than 5 regular employees or to temporary workers employed under 6 months.
All jury rules in TennesseeTennessee lets each county set juror pay under Tenn. Code Ann. § 22-4-101, and the statewide minimum could not be read on an official site; county examples are Blount at $10 a day, Knox at $11 and Hamilton at $25. The employer rule is what matters most: under § 22-4-106, employers with 5 or more regular employees must pay your usual wages for time spent serving and traveling, minus the juror fee. It does not cover employers with fewer than 5 regular employees or temporary workers employed under 6 months. Show the summons to your immediate superior on the next workday after you receive it. There is no automatic age exemption: at 75 or older you are excused by filing a written declaration that a mental or physical condition prevents service (§ 22-1-103). Terms are set by county, for example 2 weeks in Knox and 2 or 3 weeks in Hamilton. A statewide penalty maximum was not found; Knox County says a no-show may be held in contempt and fined $500.
Statutes and court pages read by Radif Partners on October 29, 2026 · Method and sources
Tennessee wages minus the juror fee
Tennessee is one of the states where many workers keep their paycheck during jury service. If your employer has 5 or more regular employees, it must pay your usual wages for the time you spend serving and traveling to court, and may deduct the county juror fee. The duty does not reach businesses with fewer than 5 regular employees, nor temporary workers employed for less than 6 months. Because terms can run 2 weeks or more, the calculator opens at ten days. Notify your immediate superior by showing the summons on your next workday.
Postponing by county in Tennessee
Tennessee leaves postponement to county jury coordinators or clerks. In Knox County, ask at orientation or contact the Jury Coordinator. In Hamilton County, make the request at least 10 days ahead and choose a new 2- or 3-week term. For an excuse, send the county jury clerk a jury service affidavit with documentation before your date. Recognized grounds include undue or extreme physical or financial hardship, a mental or physical condition, caregiving without a substitute, costs that harm necessary daily living expenses, out-of-state employment without compensation, and age 75 or older with a disabling condition.
The rules in Tennessee, law by law
| Rule | What the law or court says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Juror pay | not specified by the state | Tenn. Code Ann. § 22-4-101 |
| Mileage | not specified by the state | Tenn. Code Ann. § 22-4-101 |
| Employer must keep paying | Employers with 5 or more regular employees must pay usual wages for time spent serving and traveling, minus the juror fee. This does not apply to employers with fewer than 5 regular employees or to temporary workers employed under 6 months. | Tenn. Code Ann. § 22-4-106 |
| Job protected | Yes | Tenn. Code Ann. § 22-4-106 |
| Age | 75 and over: may ask to be excused | Tenn. Code Ann. § 22-1-103 (Public Chapter 544 of 2021) |
| Length of service | Set by each county: for example 2 weeks in Knox County and 2 or 3 weeks in Hamilton County. | knoxcounty.org |
| Before another summons | 24 months | hamiltontn.gov |
| Postponing | Handled by the county jury coordinator or clerk. Knox: ask at orientation or contact the Jury Coordinator. Hamilton: request at least 10 days ahead and pick a new 2- or 3-week term. | hamiltontn.gov |
| Not showing up | Statewide maximum not found in an official source. Knox County says a no-show may be held in contempt and fined $500. | knoxcounty.org |
Excuses and postponement in Tennessee
Send the county jury clerk a jury service affidavit with documentation before your date (Hamilton asks for at least 10 days ahead). Handled by the county jury coordinator or clerk. Knox: ask at orientation or contact the Jury Coordinator. Hamilton: request at least 10 days ahead and pick a new 2- or 3-week term.
Can I be excused or postpone?
Tennessee
No ground named: ask to postpone
| Age rule | 75+, on request |
Send the county jury clerk a jury service affidavit with documentation before your date (Hamilton asks for at least 10 days ahead). Handled by the county jury coordinator or clerk. Knox: ask at orientation or contact the Jury Coordinator. Hamilton: request at least 10 days ahead and pick a new 2- or 3-week term.
A request is decided by the court, often with proof (a doctor's note, a school schedule). Ignoring a summons is not an excuse.