APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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03C01-9402-CR-00047

03C01-9402-CR-00047

Originating Judge:Joseph F. Dirisio
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/22/96
03C01-9504-CR-00123

03C01-9504-CR-00123
Anderson County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/19/96
State vs. Michael South

02C01-9701-CR-00029
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/18/96
01C01-9505-CR-00136

01C01-9505-CR-00136

Originating Judge:Thomas Goodall
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/17/96
01C01-9504-CC-00118

01C01-9504-CC-00118
Marshall County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/17/96
01C01-9505-CC-00131

01C01-9505-CC-00131

Originating Judge:John W. Rollins
Putnam County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/17/96
01C01-9502-CC-00037

01C01-9502-CC-00037

Originating Judge:W. Charles Lee
Marshall County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/17/96
01C01-9412-CR-00409

01C01-9412-CR-00409
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/17/96
01C01-9412-CR-00409

01C01-9412-CR-00409
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/17/96
03C01-9503-CR-00071

03C01-9503-CR-00071
Roane County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/16/96
03C01-9503-CR-00071

03C01-9503-CR-00071
Roane County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/16/96
03C01-9406-CR-00242

03C01-9406-CR-00242
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/12/96
03C01-9406-CR-00242

03C01-9406-CR-00242

Originating Judge:Richard R. Baumgartner
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/12/96
03C01-9502-CR-00034

03C01-9502-CR-00034

Originating Judge:Mayo L. Mashburn
Bradley County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/12/96
03C01-9501-CR-00004

03C01-9501-CR-00004

Originating Judge:James E. Beckner
Hancock County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/11/96
03C01-9501-CR-00027

03C01-9501-CR-00027
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/11/96
01C01-9404-CR-00154

01C01-9404-CR-00154

Originating Judge:Seth W. Norman
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/11/96
01C01-9503-CC-00063

01C01-9503-CC-00063

Originating Judge:Lee Russell
Marshall County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/11/96
01C01-9411-CC-00391

01C01-9411-CC-00391

Originating Judge:W. Charles Lee
Marshall County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/11/96
01C01-9408-CC-00286

01C01-9408-CC-00286

Originating Judge:Jim T. Hamilton
Maury County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/11/96
Jack Layne Benson vs. State

M1999-01649-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, Jack Layne Benson, appeals the trial court's dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. Convicted in 1996 of first degree felony murder and especially aggravated robbery, and sentenced to consecutive terms of life and 24 years, the petitioner contended that he was entitled to post-conviction relief on the grounds that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial and on direct appeal. In this appeal, the petitioner argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to adequately communicate, for failing to adequately investigate, and for failing to obtain a transcript of the preliminary hearing. The petitioner argues that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to present additional issues on direct appeal. Because the petitioner has been unable to establish both deficiency in the performance of his counsel and prejudice in consequence thereof, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:W. Charles Lee
Bedford County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/10/96
State of Tennessee v. Arnold V. Porter

01C01-9410-CC-00353

The defendant, Arnold V. Porter, appeals from a jury conviction in the Circuit Court of Coffee County for two counts of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, a Class E felony. The defendant received two two-year sentences as a Range I, standard offender to be served concurrently in addition to a fine of twenty-five hundred dollars in each count. In this appeal as of right, he presents the following issues:


I. whether the evidence is sufficient to support guilty verdicts for felony reckless endangerment,
II. whether he was denied a fair trial because the jury did not represent a fair cross-section of the community,
III. whether the trial court imposed an excessive sentence, and
IV. whether the trial court abused its discretion in raising his bond pending appeal.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Gerald L. Ewell, Sr.
Coffee County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/05/96
State of Tennessee vs. Carla Jo Fitch

01C01-9209-CC-00290

A Lincoln County jury convicted Carla Jo Fitch of murder in the first degree. The trial court approved the verdict and imposed a sentence of life in the Tennessee State Penitentiary for Women. Her motion for a new trial was denied, and she has appealed to this Court. The defense presents four main issues, of which the first three issues have sub-issues.

Authoring Judge: Special Judge Allen R. Cornelius, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge W. Charles Lee
Lincoln County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/05/96
State of Tennessee v. Darryl Gene Farmer

01C01-9409-CC-00328

The appellant, Darryl Gene Farmer, appeals as of right pursuant to Rule 3 (b) of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure from his conviction of murder in the first degree following a jury trial in the Circuit Court for Warren County. The appellant was sentenced to life in prison. In this appeal he presents five (5) issues for our review.


(1) Whether the evidence was sufficient for a rational trier of fact to find the appellant guilty of first degree murder beyond a reasonable doubt;
(2) Whether the indictment against the appellant was invalid because of irregularities in the selection of the venire and/or the presence of an unauthorized individual during grand jury proceedings;
(3) Whether certain statements made by the prosecuting attorneys during closing argument constituted prosecutorial misconduct;

(4) Whether the trial court erroneously admitted into evidence statements made by the appellant on the night of his arrest;
(5) Whether the trial court erroneously admitted into evidence statements made by the decedent.


After a thorough review of the record in this case, the applicable law, and arguments of counsel, we conclude that with regard to issues one (1) through three (3) no reversible error appears in this case. However, because the record is inadequate with regard to whether the appellant’ s right to counsel was violated during police questioning, we remand the case for further factual findings on issue number four (4). We conclude that error exists with regard to issue number five (5).

Authoring Judge: Judge William M. Barker
Originating Judge:Judge Charles D. Haston
Warren County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/05/96
State of Tennessee v Carla Jo Fitch - Concurring

01C01-9209-CC-00290

I concur with Judge Cornelius' reversal of this case, but write separately to address other issues.

Authoring Judge: Judge Penny J. White
Originating Judge:Judge William Charles Lee
Lincoln County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/05/96