Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 20-9-508 (2026)
Poll of jury on request
✓ current as of May 2026
The trial judges in all courts of record in which suits are tried by juries, in both criminal and civil cases, shall be required to poll the jury on application of either the state or the defendant in criminal cases and either the plaintiff or the defendant in civil cases, without exception.
Acts 1955, ch. 239, § 1; T.C.A., § 20-1324.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1997–2024 · leading case: State v. Stephens, 264 S.W.3d 719 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2007).
State v. Stephens, 264 S.W.3d 719 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2007). “2d 327, 337 (1962)); see also Tenn.Code Ann. § 20-9-508 note 9. Irregardless of waiver, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in its polling method.”
State v. Banks, 271 S.W.3d 90 (Tenn. 2008). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 20-9-508 (1994). However, they waive this right if they fail to make a timely request that the jury be polled.”
Jacqueline McKinley v. Samuel Simha (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002). “(No response) THE COURT: Seeing no hands, I want to first poll the jury if there is anything that was said, done, heard or felt or experienced that affected your decision in this case? (Unanimous answer: No, sir.”
Matthew Whitehair v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2020). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 20-9-508 also provides for polling the jury and “requires” a trial judge to “poll the jury on application of either the state or the defendant in criminal cases .”
State of Tennesse v. Antonio M. Starnes (Tenn. Crim. App. 2024). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 20-9-508 provides that trial judges “shall be required to poll the jury on application of either the state or the 5 The trial court bifurcated Defendant’s murder count from his felon in possession count, and Defendant challenges the court’s…”
State of Tennessee v. Robert Hurst & Destiny Hurst (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013). “Smith’s status as an accomplice, we note that a trial court, “in which suits are tried by juries, in both criminal and civil cases, shall be required to poll the jury on application of either the state or the defendant in criminal cases and either the plaintiff or the defendant…”
State v. Brown (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997). “The defendant claims that an individual poll was necessary to insure jury unanimity and the absence of coercion.”
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