Archive for September, 2008
Civil Rights and CCA
Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), the largest private prison operator, and based in Nashville, Tennessee, is used to getting sued. In fact, they should expect it, since their business model largely consists of treating people like slaughterhouse cattle. Among the most recent suits is one on behalf of a mentally ill man, who was denied [...]
Opinions from the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals
Not much came out today. Check below if you would like to look for yourself. STATE OF TENNESSEE v. KENNETH B. NEVELS Court: TCCA Attorneys: Roger Eric Nell, District Public Defender; and Rebecca F. Stevens, Assistant Public Defender, Clarksville, Tennessee, for the appellant Kenneth B. Nevels. Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General [...]
Self-Defense and the No-Retreat Doctrine
A large plurality of states (to include Tennessee), have adopted the no-retreat doctrine, which holds that one has no duty to retreat if threatened with violence, and if threatened within one's home, can use any measure of force necessary. The Kentucky Supreme Court is scheduled to hear argument on whether a man's conviction for murder, and his [...]
The Post-Conviction Process
In Tennessee, even if things have not turned out as hoped at trial, and the appeals have not gone your way, there is still one more procedural remedy remaining - the post-conviction relief statute. Post-conviction relief is meant to remedy constitutional violations at the trial court level. Juror selection issues, violations of due process [...]
