Taylor Swift Wasn't Ducking Kanye at VMAs, Just Doing Her Civic Duty!

10:49 AM PT -- As for case in which Taylor is a potential juror ...it's a criminal case involving aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping and domestic assault.

Taylor Swift had more important things to do than the VMAs -- like jury duty.

Swifty hung back to serve on a possible Tennessee jury ... and in the process avoided a possible awkward run-in with Kanye West.

We're told she's one of 30 potential jurors for a criminal case. Jury selection started Monday morning, and she hasn't been selected. Yet.

Word is most people in the pool were suddenly excited about having to serve.