As a juror, you serve a vital role in our Judicial System and your service is an important responsibility of citizenship. The United States Constitution guarantees everyone the right to trial by an impartial jury. Without willing jurors, the fairness and integrity of our Judicial System could not be maintained.

Jurors are selected at random from a computerized jury pool that is currently made up of Tennessee Department of Safety licensed Blount County drivers and Blount County registered voters. Jurors are compensated at the rate of $10.00 for each day's attendance.

Absence from employment - Amount of compensation (T.C.A. 22-4-108)

• Any employee shall on the next day the employee is engaged in such employee's employment exhibit the summons to the employee's immediate superior. 
• The employee shall be entitled to such employee's usual compensation received from such employment, less the amount of the fee or compensation the employee received for serving as a juror.
• This does not apply to any employer who employees on a regular basis less than five (5) people or to any employee who has been employed on a temporary basis for less than six (6) months.

Basic qualifications (T.C.A. 22-1-101, 22-1-102)

• Must be 18 years of age
• US Citizen
• Resident of Blount County for 12 months
• No felony convictions
• No pending state case or be a party to a pending case

The Grand Jury consists of thirteen members and up to five alternates.

       The duties of the grand jury are:

• To consider all criminal cases submitted to it by the District Attorney General
• To inquire into any report of a criminal offense brought to its attention by a member of the grand jury
• To inquire into any abuse of office by state or local officer

• To report the results of its actions to the court.

The Grand Jury meets the first Monday of each month.

The Board of Jury Commission consists of three discreet members who are at least 25 years of age, who are and have been residents of the county for at least five years. Each member of the Board of Jury Commissioners is appointed by the Circuit Court Judges and the Chancellor. The Circuit Court Clerk administers the commissioners' oath of office and serves as the Clerk of the Board of Jury Commissioners.

The Jury Commission is responsible for approving the list of names to be placed in the computerized jury information system. This list is replaced every two years.

The Jury Commission meets monthly to approve prospective jurors for each term of court.