Charged or Convicted With a Criminal Offense?

I am criminal defense and appellate lawyer Patrick T. McNally. I have been defending the rights of those accused of crimes for more than 35 years. I have built a record of success that I am proud of and that is well-known in the legal community in Nashville and throughout our area. That record of success has helped me earn recognitions such as:

I know the realities that people face when they are charged with a crime. The stress and anxiety can be overwhelming. With more than 35 years of experience, I can create a defense strategy that can help you secure an outcome that will help you move on with your life. My commitment to helping people extends beyond offering a strong defense against criminal charges, it also includes helping those who did not receive positive outcomes when they accepted a plea deal or at trial. I have extensive appellate experience in our state appellate courts, federal appellate courts and the Supreme Court of the United States.

I’ve known Patrick McNally as an excellent criminal defense lawyer for many years. In recent years he has focused more and more on criminal appeals and has been very successful in this field. When I was recently closing my criminal appellate practice after 18 years, I turned to Pat to take over my remaining cases.

—  Jay Martin

A jury convicted Caitlyn Metz, Petitioner, of first-degree felony murder, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated child neglect in the death of her twenty-three-month-old son. 
The trial court sentenced her to an effective life sentence. Petitioner filed a post-conviction petition, asserting ineffective assistance of counsel, a Brady violation, and improper prosecutorial argument, and the post-conviction court denied the petition.

On appeal, Petitioner contends that she was denied the effective assistance of counsel due to trial counsel’s failure to pursue a motion for severance from the Co- Defendant,
and other pretrial motions; failure to investigate Co-Defendant’s military records and Petitioner’s mental health; failure to present witnesses; and cumulative error.

Following a thorough review, we conclude that Petitioner was denied the effective assistance of counsel. We reverse the judgment of the post-conviction court, vacate and set aside the judgments of conviction, and remand for a new trial.

https://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/metz.caitlyn.opn_.pdf

A jury convicted Caitlyn Metz, Petitioner, of first-degree felony murder, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated child neglect in the death of her twenty-three-month-old son. 
The trial court sentenced her to an effective life sentence. Petitioner filed a post-conviction petition, asserting ineffective assistance of counsel, a Brady violation, and improper prosecutorial argument, and the post-conviction court denied the petition.

On appeal, Petitioner contends that she was denied the effective assistance of counsel due to trial counsel’s failure to pursue a motion for severance from the Co- Defendant,
and other pretrial motions; failure to investigate Co-Defendant’s military records and Petitioner’s mental health; failure to present witnesses; and cumulative error.

Following a thorough review, we conclude that Petitioner was denied the effective assistance of counsel. We reverse the judgment of the post-conviction court, vacate and set aside the judgments of conviction, and remand for a new trial.