When you believe that your incarceration is unfair, you need to look at every possible avenue for relief under both state and federal law. One of the options you may have is a writ of habeas corpus. What is a writ of habeas corpus? A writ of habeas corpus (which means...
Aggressive And Experienced Defense Counsel
Tips for your application for clemency or pardon in Tennessee
Getting any kind of executive clemency in Tennessee takes work. As of 2016, it was estimated that roughly 150 people in the state apply each year and only three or four of those people succeed. Most are summarily denied before they even reach the governor’s desk --...
Can you appeal a DUI conviction?
If you get convicted of a DUI, do not assume that you have no options left and you simply must accept that conviction. You may still feel that it was made unfairly. In a case like that, you will be glad to know that you may be able to appeal that conviction. Just...
When could you be eligible for a pardon?
A criminal charge or conviction on someone's record can impact nearly every aspect of their life. Even a minor charge, such as a DUI or a drug charge could inhibit someone's ability to choose where they want to live or work. And it is not easy to escape the stigma of...
When is it possible to appeal after making a guilty plea?
Sometimes, pleading guilty might seem like the easy way out of criminal charges. And there are plenty of attorneys who might encourage their clients to plead guilty, claiming that there will be fewer consequences. However, pleading guilty waives an individual’s right...
What to know about the new criminal justice reforms
Now that the congressional session of the Tennessee General Assembly has ended, the state is facing some new changes. And for those facing criminal charges, or those who have already served time, some of these changes are good news. Criminal justice reform was Gov....
What is a petition for post-conviction relief?
All too often, the result of a criminal case leaves a person facing far more severe consequences than they should. Perhaps the jury instructions pitted the jury against the defendant, or the court denied an appeal in violation of state law. When that happens, you do...
Expungement basics in Tennessee
Most have heard the term "expungement," but few understand how it works beyond the fact that it enables one to clear their name. Here in Tennessee, expungement, expunction or sealing of records are different legal processes where the arrest, charge or conviction is...
The subject of Serial podcast will not get a retrial
The circumstances of Adnan Syed’s conviction in 2000 became the basis of the Serial podcast in 2014. It reexamined without bias the conviction of Adnan Syed, who is serving a life sentence for strangling his ex-girlfriend and then burying her with help from a friend,...
‘Serial’ podcast defendant Adnan Syed granted a new trial
What is ineffective assistance of counsel in a criminal case? Thanks to the Sixth Amendment and associated court rulings, criminal defendants are entitled to the assistance of counsel -- and that counsel is to be effective. However, the standards for determining when...