State of Tennessee v. Phillip Howard White, Jr.
Defendant, Phillip Howard White, Jr., was indicted on one count of felony murder and one count of attempted especially aggravated robbery. Following a jury trial, Defendant was found guilty of second degree murder and not guilty of attempted especially aggravated robbery. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced Defendant to serve twenty-five years. In his appeal, Defendant alleges that (1) the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction; (2) the trial court erred in not instructing the jury to refrain from sleeping; (3) the trial court erred in not granting Defendant's request for a continuance because of Defendant's physical appearance at trial; and (4) the trial court erred in sentencing Defendant to twenty-five years. After a careful review of the record in this matter, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Timmy Herndon
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Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Ashley Nesbitt
The Defendant, Ashley Nesbitt, was convicted by a jury of one count of first degree murder, two counts of attempted first degree murder, and one count of aggravated robbery. The Defendant now appeals as of right, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence. Finding the evidence insufficient to support one of the attempted murder convictions, we reverse and dismiss the Defendant's conviction for the attempted first degree murder of Carl Turner. We affirm the remaining convictions. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Darrell Wayne Taylor v. State of Tennessee
This appeal arises pursuant to Tenn. R. App. P. 9. The appellant, Darrell Wayne Taylor, seeks interlocutory review of the question of whether a trial court in a post-conviction proceeding involving a capital case is authorized following an ex parte grant of fees for expert services pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated Section 40-14-207(b), to issue ex parte orders directing the transportation of evidence in state custody to a defense expert for independent forensic tests. After careful consideration of the applicable law, we hold that there is no right on the part of an accused in a criminal case, capital or otherwise, to obtain permission ex parte for independent forensic testing of physical evidence in the custody of the State. However, following an adversarial hearing where both the prosecution and the defense may be heard, the trial judge may grant a defense request for independent testing of such physical evidence under such conditions as the trial court may in its discretion deem appropriate to protect the interests of both parties. Accordingly the judgment of the trial court staying the ex parte order to transport physical evidence for independent testing is affirmed and the case is remanded for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Linda J. Corum v. Holston Health & Rehabilitation Center, et al.
We granted the employer's motion for full court review in this case in order to decide whether the failure to file the statistical data ("SD1") form contemporaneously with the order of final judgment, as required by Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-244(b) (1999), affects the finality of that judgment. After a thorough review of the record and careful consideration of relevant authorities, we have determined that the failure to file the SD1 form contemporaneously with the order of final judgment does not affect the finality of the judgment. Accordingly, we agree with the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel in its dismissal of the appeal as untimely because as it was not filed within the time prescribed by Rule 4 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure.
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Knox | Supreme Court | |
Dee Ann Gallaher v. Curtis J. Elam
In this appeal, the appellant challenges the constitutionality of the Tennessee Department of Human Services Child Support Guidelines ("the Guidelines"). The Court of Appeals upheld the trial court's determination that chapter 1240-2-4-.03(4) of the Guidelines violates the equal protection provisions of the federal and state constitutions. We granted permission to appeal. After careful consideration, we conclude that: (1) chapter 1240-2-4-.03(4) of the Guidelines, which prohibits consideration of non-court-ordered child support in calculating child support, and chapter 1240-2-4-.03(2) of the Guidelines, which requires consideration only of the obligor's income in calculating child support, do not violate the equal protection and due process provisions of either the United States or Tennessee Constitutions; and (2) the promulgation of the Guidelines does not constitute an impermissible delegation of rulemaking authority by the General Assembly to the Department of Human Services. We reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeals and remand the cause for proceedings consistent with this opinion. |
Knox | Supreme Court | |
State of Tennessee v. Charles Nathan Waddle
A Greene County jury convicted the Defendant of aggravated burglary and theft of property. The trial court imposed an effective sentence of six years to be served in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence and the appropriateness of the sentences imposed. He also argues that the trial court should have declared a mistrial when evidence of other crimes by the Defendant was introduced at trial. Because we conclude that the evidence is sufficient, the sentences are appropriate, and a mistrial was not required, we affirm the convictions. |
Greene | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Rodney R. Hardin v. Royal & Sunalliance Insurance
We granted the plaintiff's motion for review as provided by Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-225(e) (1999 & Supp. 2002) to determine whether a trial court may reconsider an award pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-241(a)(2) (1999) when an employee resigns and, if so, under what circumstances may the prior award be increased. After receiving a workers' compensation award and returning to his pre-injury employment, Rodney R. Hardin voluntarily resigned. Thereafter, he filed a motion requesting that the trial court reconsider his award. The trial court granted this motion and increased the plaintiff's award by 15%. The Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel held that, while a trial court may reconsider a previous workers' compensation award when the employee resigns, it may increase the award only if the resignation was reasonably related to the injury. The Panel found that Hardin's resignation was not reasonably related to his injury and, therefore, reversed the trial court's increase of the award. We agree with the Panel's reasoning and its conclusion.
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Knox | Supreme Court | |
Larry White v. Federated Mutual Insurance Company
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White | Workers Compensation Panel | |
State of Tennessee v. Harold L. Green
We granted Harold L. Green's application pursuant to Rule 11 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure to determine the duration of the trial court's authority to entertain a motion to withdraw a guilty plea. On October 8, 1999, Green pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of an intoxicant and was, thereafter, sentenced by the Criminal Court of Anderson County. On November 5, 1999, Green filed a motion to withdraw the previously entered guilty plea; the trial court granted the motion. The State appealed pursuant to Rule 10 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. After granting the State's request for appeal, the Court of Criminal Appeals held that the trial court was without jurisdiction to consider the motion to withdraw the guilty plea. We find that the trial court's jurisdiction to hear and decide the motion to withdraw the guilty plea continued for thirty days after the plea was entered. Accordingly, we reinstate the judgment of the trial court and remand the cause for any further proceedings that may be appropriate. |
Anderson | Supreme Court | |
Jewell Winningham v. Findlay Industries,
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Warren | Workers Compensation Panel | |
William K. Robison v. State of Tennessee
The Appellant, William K. Robison, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief by the Hickman County Circuit Court. Robison is currently serving an effective sentence of fifteen years as a result of his guilty pleas to aggravated assault, setting fire to personal property, escape and theft over $10,000. On appeal, Robinson argues the post-conviction court erred in finding that: (1) he received effective assistance of counsel and (2) his guilty pleas were knowingly and voluntarily entered. Finding no error, the judgment of the post-conviction court is affirmed. |
Hickman | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Manny T. Anderson v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner pled guilty to two counts of aggravated assault and one count of aggravated kidnapping on September 10, 1998, and was sentenced as a Range II, multiple offender to concurrent sentences of eight years at 35% for each count of aggravated assault and as a Range I, standard offender to eight years at 30% for the aggravated kidnapping charge, with the sentence suspended and the petitioner placed on eight-year probation. As a result of a probation violation, the trial court, on September 14, 2001, revoked probation and amended the judgments so that the sentence to be served for aggravated kidnapping was modified to eight years at 100%. Challenging the amendment, a pro se petition for post-conviction relief was filed on January 2, 2002, which was denied as being untimely. On appeal, the petitioner argues that, because the one-year statute of limitations began to run at the time of entry of the amended judgment for the kidnapping conviction, his post-conviction petition was timely. We agree and reverse the order of the post-conviction court dismissing the petition as untimely. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Danyelle Dewain Parker
The petitioner, Danyelle Dewain Parker, appeals the trial court's denial of post-conviction relief. The single issue presented for review is whether the petitioner was denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial. The judgment is affirmed. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
William Williams vs. Marla Barnes-Mason
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Hamblen | Court of Appeals | |
In Re: Adoption of Samuel Downey, et.al. vs. Catherine Downey
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Hamilton | Court of Appeals | |
Jack Parks vs. Chuck Rich
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Washington | Court of Appeals | |
Dept of Children's Srvcs. vs. L.F.
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Sevier | Court of Appeals | |
Randall Eugene Best v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner, Randall Eugene Best, appeals the trial court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. In this appeal, he asserts that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial and on appeal. The judgment is affirmed. |
Monroe | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Susan Green v. Leon Moore
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Williamson | Supreme Court | |
State of Tennessee v. Edward Clay and Timothy B. Clay
The co-defendants pled guilty to conspiracy to sell "ecstasy," a Schedule I controlled substance. After a sentencing hearing, each received a sentence of eight years to be served in split confinement, with all but eight months on probation. The co-defendants contend that the trial court erred in not granting them full probation. We affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Rutherford | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. George Mears
Following a jury trial, Defendant, George Mears, was found guilty of theft of property of not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000, a Class D felony. In his motion for a new trial, Defendant raised one issue, alleging that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial. Defendant contended that his counsel failed to adequately investigate and develop all available defense strategies and failed to adequately prepare for trial. Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied Defendant's motion for a new trial. The trial court concluded that Defendant's counsel should have interviewed two witnesses prior to the day of trial but that Defendant failed to show that he was prejudiced by counsel's delayed interviews. As to all other claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, the trial court found that Defendant failed to show that his counsel's performance was deficient. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Cannon | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Cleophis King
The petitioner appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, arguing that the post-conviction court erred in finding that his guilty pleas were knowing and voluntary and that he received the effective assistance of counsel. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Dwayne A. Williams
The defendant was convicted by a jury of possession of more than 300 grams of cocaine with the intent to deliver. The trial court sentenced the defendant as a Range I standard offender to twenty years incarceration. The defendant contends the evidence is insufficient to sustain his conviction. We conclude the evidence is sufficient to sustain the defendant's conviction and affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Darryl Lee Elkins
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Sullivan | Supreme Court |