This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
Here's a plain English summary of this rule:
If you have the right to a jury trial under Tennessee's Constitution or state laws, the courts must protect that right. Nobody can take it away from you without a very good reason.
This rule sets up a basic promise: when Tennessee law says you can have a jury decide your case, that right stays fully protected throughout the court process. Judges and courts cannot casually strip this right away or make it hard for you to use it. The word "inviolate" simply means this right must stay completely intact and respected.
In real terms, this means if your type of case qualifies for a jury trial under Tennessee law, you can count on getting one. The other rules in this section explain the specific steps you need to follow to actually request and secure your jury trial, but this rule makes clear that the underlying right itself is solid and protected.
