In June 2021, Knox News launched an investigation into “mediation” practices in the Eighth Judicial District in Tennessee. The investigation turned up some very troubling information regarding one specific judge, who claimed that he was engaging in mediation with defendants to reduce backlog of criminal cases that had built up during the pandemic. Per Knox [...]

On May 4, 2021, the Tennessee Senate passed Senate Bill 1530 with an amendment that expands on the previous definition of “severe child abuse.” The amendment to the bill now includes “knowingly allowing a child to be within a structure where any of the following controlled substances are present and accessible to the child: a [...]

One of the less fortunate effects of police procedurals on television is that people often misconstrue what is legal and what is not. They may not understand exactly when a person’s Miranda rights must be read, or how honest police must be. They may also believe that certain actions are less serious than they are, [...]

There’s good news in Tennessee. A study by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigative Study (TBI) of elementary and secondary schools (not colleges) for 2020 showed that crime in schools is dropping. According to the study, as summarized by WKRN: 24,403 crimes were reported by Tennessee law enforcement agencies – between 2018 and 2020. 8,000 incidents [...]

The primary goal of every criminal defense lawyer is to fight to have the charges against you dismissed outright, or to obtain an acquittal. A secondary goal in criminal defense cases is to keep our clients out of jail, or to at least reduce the amount of time they may have to spend there. Some [...]

Many criminal cases are won or lost based on the testimony of the person who files the complaint. In these cases, the judge or jury often listens to only the victim and the person accused of the crime. The judge then decides the case mainly by deciding which person the judge or jury thinks is [...]

Carjackings perpetrated by juveniles have exploded during the pandemic. According to reports from outlets like NPR, even children as young as 12 or 13 are involved in these violent crimes. This surge in carjackings is being called an epidemic, as experts look for the cause of why so many juveniles are making their way into [...]

On February 12, 16-year-old Austin-East high school student Stanley Freeman, Jr. was shot three times, dying from his wounds after crashing his car. On March 15, two teens were arrested and charged in connection with the fatal shooting. The teens, aged 14 and 16, are now facing charges of first-degree murder. Authorities also allege the [...]

For many of us, our cell phones and smart phones are an extension of ourselves – full of messages, photos, contacts and important information. Allowing someone else access to this information could rightly feel like a violation of privacy. For example, in 2019 a Tampa man spent over 40 days in jail after refusing to [...]

If you are reading this blog, then the likely answer to “when should I hire a criminal defense attorney” is “as soon as possible.” Whether you’re the subject of a criminal investigation or have already been arrested, having an experienced attorney on your side from the start of your case is the best chance for [...]