Most people know that a felony conviction comes with prison time or probation. However, the consequences extend well beyond the sentence itself, and can affect some of the most basic rights of citizenship.
Criminal defense attorney Cayce Maddox with Dempsey Law Office explained what is at stake when it comes to a felony conviction in Tennessee.
“Generally, when a person pleads guilty to a felony or is convicted of a felony in Tennessee, that person is rendered ‘infamous’ and loses what we consider to be citizenship rights: the right to vote, the right to hold public office, the right to own or possess firearms, the right to serve on a jury,” she said.
That word “infamous” is a legal term used in Tennessee statutes to describe the status of a person convicted of a felony, and it carries specific legal consequences.
Maddox added that “the loss of these rights is often permanent, but some rights may be restored for eligible persons who successfully petition the court or receive a pardon.”
The Right to Vote
A felony conviction automatically strips a Tennessee resident of the right to vote.
As of May 2025, restoring that right requires a court order or gubernatorial pardon.
An earlier administrative pathway, called the Certificate of Restoration of Voting Rights, has been eliminated.
Persons convicted of certain crimes, including murder, rape, treason, voter fraud, and certain sexual offenses, are permanently barred from restoration.
The Right to Hold Public Office
Tennessee law disqualifies anyone convicted of an infamous crime from qualifying for, seeking election to, or holding any public office, from local positions to statewide offices.
Importantly, the right to hold office is treated separately from the right to vote under Tennessee law.
A person must have both rights independently restored before seeking office.
The Right to Own or Possess Firearms
Under both Tennessee and federal law, a felony conviction prohibits a person from owning, possessing, or purchasing firearms. This consequence applies regardless of whether the felony was violent or nonviolent.
Federal law governs firearm rights separately, and a state court restoration does not automatically satisfy the federal prohibition.
Under Tennessee law, possible pathways to restoring firearm rights include a gubernatorial pardon, expungement of the underlying conviction, or a court-ordered restoration of civil rights that does not specifically prohibit firearm possession.
Anyone seeking to restore firearm rights should consult an attorney familiar with both state and federal law.
The Right to Serve on a Jury
A felony conviction eliminates eligibility for jury service in Tennessee.
A person with an unrestored conviction cannot be called for jury duty or serve on a civil or criminal jury. Restoration flows from the same court process that restores other citizenship rights.
Can These Rights Be Restored?
Some can, but restoration is not guaranteed, not automatic, and not available to everyone.
As Maddox noted, eligible persons must successfully petition a court or receive a pardon.
The petition process involves filing in the circuit court of the county of conviction and meeting eligibility requirements, which generally include completing the sentence, being current on restitution and court costs, and having no outstanding child support obligations.
Persons convicted of certain serious crimes are not eligible at all. Federal rights, particularly firearm possession, require independent analysis regardless of what a state court restores.
Anyone with questions about their specific situation should consult a licensed Tennessee attorney.
