Michael M. Taylor v. State of Tennessee

The petitioner, Michael M. Taylor, has filed a petition for post-conviction relief to challenge his 1997 second degree murder conviction imposed after a jury trial in the Davidson County Criminal Court. The petition alleges the ineffective assistance of trial counsel and two trial court errors. After the appointment of counsel and counsel's amendment of the post-conviction petition, the post-conviction court conducted an evidentiary hearing. Subsequently, the post-conviction court made findings of fact and on November 13, 2000 entered an order denying post-conviction relief. The petitioner filed a notice of appeal on February 23, 2001. Because the notice of the appeal was untimely and because the record contains no for basis for excusing the untimely filing of notice of appeal, we dismiss the appeal.