Criminal Defense

In film and television, when the prosecutor says he has an eyewitness, you always see a look of dismay on the face of the defendant. The truth is, eye witness testimony isn’t always right, and that testimony is often easily debunked. So if a law enforcement officer or the D.A. tries to coerce a confession…

Many new laws took effect on January 1, 2020, which could affect how personal injury and criminal defense cases move forward. We wanted to review a few of those changes today, so you could be informed about what the new laws say. Changes regarding handgun permits A new permit option has been added called a…

The state of Tennessee governs its bail bonds system. Essentially, a bail bond is an insurance policy offered to a defendant that which the bail established by the court to be fulfilled. The bail bond agency provides the security and assurance that the defendant will show up in court at the designated time. The State…

Many courts across the nation have changed the way they operate temporarily in response to COVID-19. Every court or court jurisdiction, including those in Tennessee, are making modifications based on local and regional circumstances. These have included limiting courthouse access, closing courthouses, canceling non-case related operations and activities, allowing videoconferencing of court proceedings and rescheduling…

Possession of drug paraphernalia is a crime in Tennessee. Convictions can result in local jail or prison time, a criminal record which can make it hard to find a job or a place to live, fines and court costs, and the need to work with a probation officer on release from custody. There are often…

Tennessee theft crimes are not limited to the taking of cash, property, or someone’s identity. A common example of theft of services included obtaining food or beverages from a restaurant and then leaving without paying for the meal or drinks. Another example includes staying in a hotel and then leaving without paying for the accommodations.…

DIY rape kits have been developed in response to concerns that many rape victims don’t go to the emergency room of their local hospitals. ER staffs are trained to provide rape testing for victims. The emergency room tests are reliable, the staff understands how to implement them, and the evidence is then kept securely by…

The Washington Examiner reported on May 17, 2019, that the bipartisan crime reform bill passed in December 2018 will face scrutiny this July. The law, called the First Step Act, requires that nearly 4,000 federal inmates be released in July based on their good behavior. Initially, the First Step Act was due to release the…

Some professions require that a resident of a state obtain a license in order to practice. Common examples include lawyers, doctors, nurses, and teachers. Generally, professionals must first pass a state licensing exam in order to obtain their license. The professionals must also complete forms where they acknowledge that they have “clean” records. The professionals…