Although DNA evidence may be characterized as irrefutable proof in television and movie dramatizations, real life applications raise some concerns. Specifically, there are variables that can affect the reliability of DNA evidence. One of the biggest problems with DNA samples is contamination, resulting in tainted evidence. DNA evidence must be properly collected, processed with care […]
A recent article questioned the appropriateness of penalties for drug possession for personal use. The question affects more people than readers might realize: An American is arrested every 25 seconds for possession of personal use drugs. Although officials may claim that their enforcement efforts target those who sell drugs, those who possess drugs are arrested at […]
A former Tennessee sheriff’s post-conviction legal efforts have paid off: The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals recently ordered a new trial. The former sheriff was arrested for allegedly trying to shoot his wife. He was formally charged with attempted voluntary manslaughter, and the jury in his criminal trial found him guilty in February 2013. The […]
For many, the term “forensic evidence” conjures up an association with science, or a process that has been verified by the scientific method. Yet it would be a mistake to characterize all types of forensic evidence as 100 percent accurate. Fingerprint identification, hair or fiber analysis, and DNA samples are all examples of evidence that […]
Evidence — or that lack of access to it — can be detrimental to a criminal defense. In a local example, an appeal filed with the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals challenges the credibility of the witness whose testimony could make or break the case for aggravated rape against a former University of Tennessee linebacker […]
Although a strong work ethic is often considered a virtue, should prosecutors approach their jobs that way? As a law firm that has represented many criminal defendants, we have observed aggressive prosecutorial tactics in the courtroom. True, it is a prosecutor’s job to seek a conviction, but there is a difference between doing one’s job […]
