Nashville Criminal
Defense Blog

After a criminal conviction, you might be wondering where to turn. If you did not get a fair trial or if something else happened that subverted the justice system, there is a possibility that you could find recourse through the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. Unfortunately, you would not be alone if the court system […]

Tennessee’s Sergeant Daniel Baker Act sheds some light on the appeal process for defendants who are convicted of an offense that results in capital punishment. I am attorney Patrick T. McNally, and I understand how this Act, which went into effect on August 1, 2019, may help speed up the appeals process in certain death […]

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 to due process and a trial in front of a jury of their peers. […]

Each year, the National Registry of Exonerations sends out an annual report that reveals how many innocent people were exonerated that year, along with information about what problems brought about their wrongful convictions. Last year, 151 people were found not to have committed the crimes they were convicted of committing. Together, they spent over 1,600 […]

For many Tennessee residents, the process of appealing a court ruling is a bit unclear. In order for an appellate court to consider an appeal, there must be demonstrable evidence indicating that a grievous error was made during the trial, one that had a large effect on the final outcome. Otherwise, even if the aggrieved […]

“We need to be able to look at old cases, especially where someone is claiming that they are wrongfully convicted,” says Assistant District Attorney Robert Jones, who leads the Conviction Review Unit at the Nashville District Attorney’s office. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, 25 Tennessee inmates have been exonerated since 1989. Combined, they […]