The Putnam County Circuit Court Clerk's Office:

• collects fines for general sessions and criminal court
• issues warrants, summons, citations, etc.
• keeps records and minutes for general sessions and circuit courts
• send in new and renewal for passports
• jury duty

Helpful Information from this Department

Jury Service

This page applies to jury service in the circuit and criminal courts of Putnam County, Tennessee.

You may receive in the mail a jury summons from the court indicating that you are being called to serve as a prospective juror. This means that your name was drawn from the current list of licensed drivers or registered voters in the county.

All names are selected at random from these sources, which provide the jury system with a fair cross-section of the communities that it represents. At all stages of selection, the jury commissioner must insure that the selection process represents a random cross-section of qualified persons residing within the county. As a necessary part of this requirement, no person or persons can be selectively included or excluded from the list of qualified jurors.

The Tennessee Code spells out the minimum requirements for a person competent to act as a juror. One of the primary requirements is that you must be a citizen of the United States, of the age of 18 or older, and you must reside in the county for a period of at least 12 months prior to service on a jury.

You are not automatically excluded solely because of imperfect loss of sight or partial loss of hearing. If you believe there is a medical reason you should not serve as a juror, it may be necessary to submit a supporting statement in writing from your doctor.

You will be summoned to serve on either civil or criminal cases depending on the court issuing the summons. Circuit court and criminal court handle the method jurors serve differently, and you will be instructed as to the procedure for your court on the day you are summoned to appear. Each time you come in as a prospective juror, you can expect to go into the courtroom and go through the jury selection process. If you are not selected as a juror on the date summoned, you are excused and given instructions on when you need to return.

If you cannot serve during the scheduled impanelment period, it may be possible for the judge to excuse you to be summoned at a later date. It is expected that if your obligation is deferred, you will make appropriate arrangements so that you can serve during a later impanelment period. Only the judges may excuse a prospective juror.

For each appearance as a trial juror, you are entitled to the nominal fee of $10.00 per day plus mileage ($.10 one way).

Remember, jury service is your right and duty as a citizen. Failure to respond to a jury summons could result in sanctions against you by the court. Your assistance and participation is needed in order that the courts may operate in the most efficient manner possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I know when my court date is?

You may call the Circuit Court Clerk's office at 528-1508 or check the list below:

• General Sessions Criminal: The defendant is given a court date when papers are served or they are in custody. The plantiff is notified by the sheriff's department.
• General Sessions Civil: The date is on the warrant when it is issued.
• General Sessions Domestic: The lawyer gives the court date.
• Circuit Criminal: The defendant would receive a notice in general sessions court when the case is bound over to criminal court.
• Circuit Civil: The date is given by the attorney.

2. How can I find out how much my fine is?

• Call the clerk's office at 528-1508 to find out your fine.

3. When are the new dockets available?

• New dockets are run differently in each court. General Sessions Criminal has court Monday, Wed., & Fri. and runs a new docket the day before court.
• General Sessions Civil has court Tues. & Thur.
• The other courts vary