For cases coming before Tennessee courts regarding a drug sniffing dog, one needs to read State v. Ariana Majors, 2021 WL 4347273, 2021 Tenn. Crim. App. Lexis 450, (Tenn. Crim. App 9/24/2021), a case I won on appeal in September 2021. In Majors, the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals upheld a Montgomery County Circuit Court ruling excluding evidence from a drug sniffing dog because police cannot show whether the dog alerted to illegal marijuana or legal hemp. The dog was trained to alert to marijuana and several other illegal substances, but not trained to distinguish marijuana from hemp. This distinction is vital because a drug sniffing dog could be alerting to a crime or a legal act. The police cannot tell which smell caught the dog’s attention, so probably cause for a warrantless search is lacking. If you wish to discuss your Clarksville criminal case, call the Law Office of Gregory D. Smith, 931/647-1299.

Attorneys still have the ability to contact inmates via Skype, Zoom, Face-time, or other video chats during the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, shut-ins at nursing homes can be contacted by attorneys because the legal profession is deemed an “essential service” by state and federal governments. Most of these contacts are actually easier for the attorney than a face-to-face visit because the attorney does not have to leave their office. The attorney instead merely sets up a video visit time with the nursing home, jail or prison and then uses a laptop computer or cell phone for the visit, telling the nursing home, jail or prison how long the visit is expected to take. For the inmates, these visits are confidential, so the attorney/client privilege is not violated. For shut-ins, it depends on the circumstances of the shut-in’s health or understanding. Recently, I’ve had incarcerated clients ask that I check on family members they have not spoken to recently because of COVID-19. I simply call the loved one, then send a note to the client on how the loved one is doing. Most attorneys will offer a similar courtesy, if asked. If you need an attorney, and your case is on appeal anywhere in Tennessee, or your civil or criminal case is in the Montgomery County, Tennessee area, call attorney Gregory D. Smith at 931/647-1299.

The COVID-19 pandemic may temporarily delay a lawsuit, but it does not stop a lawsuit. While courts may be closed for all but extraordinary or emergency circumstances, cases can still be filed, discovery continues, and mediation occurs. Be sure to check with your attorney because time deadlines may be running. Legal representation is one of the listed “essential services” that continue, even though most businesses are closed, so your attorney should be available, either in person, via Skype, or by phone. On April 22, 2020, I have the honor speaking to approximately 800 judges from across the U.S. (and in several other countries) about the judge’s ethical duty to move cases along during a pandemic as part of a National Judicial College country-wide podcast. If you wish to talk with an attorney about your case in the Montgomery County, Tennessee area, and you have not already retained a lawyer, call attorney Gregory D. Smith at 931/647-1299. #covid19 #lawyer #lawyers

Presenting an appeal is different from presenting a trial because an appellate record is a “closed record.” This means the appellate record is similar to a photograph. The trial is real-time and moving. The appellate record is a snapshot of a moment of that flowing concept of real-time. At trial, a party can present live evidence, explain their intent, and answer follow-up questions. On appeal, just like a photograph, time stops and time does not change an answer given. No new evidence is offered. Nobody gets to explain their answer after the trial ends. One must look to the photograph taken, (the appellate record), to determine the contents of the photograph or “record.” While one may wish to add or subtract from the photograph; the photograph (record) is already taken, developed, printed, and remains as taken. Appellate records usually include trial transcripts, pleadings and arguments of counsel. One must show, just reviewing what is in the appellate record, that the trial court committed reversible error.

To show “reversible error,” one must show a mistake was made at trial, and that mistake adversely impacted on the outcome of the case. Error, without impact, is called “harmless error” and will not get a decision overturned. The Appellant, (the person appealing), must show both error and adverse impact for appellate relief. This task is very different from the tactics used by lawyers at trial. One needs an experienced appellate attorney for this function. Greg Smith has presented hundreds of appeals over thirty years. If you wish to discuss your appeal, and you have a Tennessee, federal or military appeals case, you may call The Law Office of Gregory D. Smith at 931/647-1299. Initial consultations are free.

The first, and most important point, before one changes legal counsel, is to carefully consider if that move is actually in your best interest? Is the change being done out of anger, panic, or logic? No attorney can promise an outcome in court. The attorney you currently have knows your case, has been paid, and previously earned your trust. Can your concern be eased by simply sitting down with the attorney and discussing your concern? That may be worth a try before paying another attorney a second retainer to take over your case or proceeding “pro se.” (Latin for “on your own”). Likewise, an appeal is usually considered a separate case, so once a case is completed, you may seek other counsel for an appeal.

If you find that an attorney change is necessary, there are two ways to do it. First, you can personally tell your attorney “You’re Fired.” That option is self-explanatory. Second, you can hire another attorney, and then the newly retained attorney contacts the previous attorney for a “substitution of counsel.” These two procedures are fairly common and won’t be as stressful or offensive to the original attorney as one might expect. Changing counsel does not automatically waive any outstanding attorney fee owed to the original attorney or obligate new counsel to negotiate a return of fee from the original counsel. Most of the time, the new attorney stays out of that discussion.

In the case of appointed counsel, simply hiring an attorney usually ends an appointed attorney’s duty to represent a client. If an indigent criminal court defendant wants to fire their appointed counsel, but can’t afford to hire counsel, the defendant can instruct appointed counsel to file a motion to withdraw or send the court clerk a pro se motion or letter asking for a different attorney and stating why the change in counsel is necessary. The Court is not required to give new counsel for indigents simply because a defendant does not like the appointed attorney. Indigents do not get to pick who a Court appoints as the defendant’s attorney. That being said, courts frequently grant a first request for a different appointed attorney filed by an indigent defendant. Repeated requests for new appointed counsel are less frequently granted.

If you are in Tennessee and have questions about rules regarding changing attorneys, call the Law Office of Gregory D. Smith, 931/647-1299 or visit www.gsmithlawfirm.com. Mr. Smith is listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers and is A-V rated by Martindale-Hubbell. You can read a featured article about Mr. Smith in the November, 2019 ABA Journal,(the national magazine of the American Bar Association), at http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/tennessee-attorney-greg-smith .

For many criminal matters, you have the right to have a trial. During your trial, you present factual evidence to refute your guilt. You may also question favorable witnesses and cross-examine unfavorable ones. If you do not like the outcome of your case and have important legal topics to address, you can probably file an appeal.

 In Tennessee, there are four different types of courts, including two trial courts and two appellate courts. If you need to appeal a criminal conviction, you likely want to ask an appellate court to consider your case. Eventually, you may be able to appeal your matter to the Tennessee Supreme Court. You should know, though, that appeals are vastly different from trials.

Tennessee criminal trials

 If prosecutors bring criminal charges against you, you are likely to have an opportunity to plead guilty. If you choose to assert your innocence, you may proceed to a criminal trial. In Tennessee, you may have either a jury trial or a judge one, called a bench trial. Before the trial starts, you have an opportunity to uncover facts through the discovery process. Then, you present factual evidence that proves you are innocent. The prosecutor, of course, attempts to prove your guilt.

Tennessee appellate trials

 If a judge or jury convicts you of a crime, you may have an opportunity to file an appeal. The appellate process, though, is not a rehashing of your initial trial. That is, you typically may not present new facts, examine witnesses or otherwise retry the case. Instead, you argue that there was some type of legal error during the trial that negatively affected the outcome of the case. Alternatively, you may argue that the trial court violated your rights in some way.

As you can see, criminal trials and appeals have some important differences. As such, the attorney who handled your trial may not have the skill set to appeal your case successfully. By understanding the fundamental differences between criminal trials and appeals, you can better plan for choosing the right legal counsel for your case.

If you are in Tennessee, federal appeals courts or the military appeals courts and have questions about rules regarding appeals, call the Law Office of Gregory D. Smith, 931/647-1299 or visit www.gsmithlawfirm.com. Mr. Smith is listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers and is A-V rated by Martindale-Hubbell. You can read a featured article about Mr. Smith and his work in Federal Indian Law appeals in the November, 2019 ABA Journal, (the national magazine of the American Bar Association), at http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/tennessee-attorney-greg-smith .

It is a common misconception among defendants in criminal cases that they should use the same criminal defense attorney for both the original trial and the appeal. However, the lawyer that represented you during your initial criminal case might not be the best person for the job.

An appeal is not a new trial. It is a completely unique process that requires special legal skills, knowledge and experience. It is important to select your appellate lawyer wisely — and to understand that this might not be the same person who has represented your initial case.

Lack of special skills

An appellate attorney understands the distinctive traits of an appeal versus a criminal trial. He or she should have gone to school specifically for appeals and have experience in this area of law in Tennessee. Your criminal defense attorney, on the other hand, may lack the key skills necessary to excel in the appellate process:

  • In-depth legal research
  • Intricate and dense legal arguments
  • Large amounts of writing
  • Oral arguments in court

There is a reason trials and appeals are two separate areas of law. They require very different skills. If you intend to proceed with the appeals process, find an attorney that specifically handles appeals.

No experience with the unique appeals process

Filing an appeal in Tennessee not only takes certain skills but also has a special process. The case may go to the Court of Criminal Appeals, the state Supreme Court or the U.S. Supreme Court during the different appellate phases. Your criminal defense attorney is unlikely to have the same amount of experience handling this complicated process as an appellate attorney.

No rapport with the Court of Appeals

An appellate attorney can have a history of handling cases with the Court of Appeals in your county. The lawyer most likely has a network of people he or she knows within the Court of Appeals, as well as a history with appellate court judges. These connections could help your appeal case but are not something your defense lawyer may be able to offer.

If you are in Tennessee, a federal court of appeals, or a military court of appeals and have questions about appeals or appellate attorneys, call the Law Office of Gregory D. Smith, 931/647-1299 or visit www.gsmithlawfirm.com. Mr. Smith is listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers and is A-V rated by Martindale-Hubbell. You can read a featured article about Mr. Smith and his work in Federal Indian Law appeals in the November, 2019 ABA Journal, (the national magazine of the American Bar Association), athttp://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/tennessee-attorney-greg-smith.

There are many situations that could lead to your parental rights being terminated in Tennessee. Typically, when you lose your rights, you are made aware of what is happening. You are given the chance to stop the termination by the court. Courts do not often remove rights without giving you a chance to prevent it from happening. However, if your rights were terminated and you now wish to reinstate them, it helps to know where the law stands on this.

The National Conference of State Legislatures explains that the termination of parental rights is often meant to be permanent. When you lose your rights, your child is not able to be adopted. This could be by a family member, a stepparent or a stranger, depending on the situation. If your child is adopted, then it will be very difficult for you to get rights back regardless of any possible loopholes in the law. So, do keep that in mind.

In general, though, in this state, you cannot get your rights back. The state has no specific laws that pertain to the reinstatement of your parental rights. There are other states that do have such laws, which can make things easier. Your best option is to go in front of the court and see if there is any chance to get your rights back, especially if your child has not been adopted. However, keep in mind that there is no guarantee the court will give you your rights back. It all is dependent on the situation. This information is for education and is not legal advice.

If you are in Tennessee and have questions about rules regarding termination of parental rights or appeals, call the Law Office of Gregory D. Smith, 931/647-1299 or visit www.gsmithlawfirm.com. Mr. Smith is listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers and is A-V rated by Martindale-Hubbell. You can read a featured article about Mr. Smith in the November, 2019 ABA Journal, (the national magazine of the American Bar Association), athttp://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/tennessee-attorney-greg-smith.

If you are not familiar with appealing a court judgment, you may wonder who can make an appeal in the first place. Do both sides have an equal opportunity to appeal a Tennessee court decision, and does it work the same way in civil litigation and in criminal prosecutions? The U.S. Courts website provides answers to these important questions. If you are considering an appeal to a court judgment, you should have a reasonable idea of how to proceed.

When it comes to cases involving suing another party in court, either side has a right to appeal a judgment to an appellate court. It does not matter whether the case was decided by a jury or a judge. However, the right to appeal can be waived if the parties decide to settle the case without pursuing a decision from a jury or the bench. If a settlement is agreed to, there can be no appeal.

Appeals work differently in criminal cases. If a person is found guilty of a crime, the defendant has the option to appeal the verdict. This is not the case if the person is acquitted. A prosecutor cannot appeal a not guilty verdict to try to get a new trial because it would violate Fifth Amendment protections against double jeopardy. However, if the defendant pleads guilty, the right to an appeal is typically waived.

However, there is room for both a defendant and a prosecutor to retain the right to appeal a sentence imposed after a verdict of guilty. A defense attorney may argue that the sentence does not comply with the requirements of the law. A prosecutor can appeal on the grounds of a similar argument. Either side might also claim that the sentence violates sentencing guidelines or otherwise deviates from the guidelines.

Anyone inexperienced in matters concerning appealing a judgment can benefit from asking a professional appeals attorney to gain a better understanding of the subject. Remember that this article is only intended to inform you about appeals and not to give you any legal advice.

If you are in Tennessee and have questions about rules regarding appeals, call the Law Office of Gregory D. Smith, 931/647-1299 or visit www.gsmithlawfirm.com. Mr. Smith is listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers and is A-V rated by Martindale-Hubbell. You can read a featured article about Mr. Smith’s work in appellate courts in the November, 2019 ABA Journal, (the national magazine of the American Bar Association), athttp://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/tennessee-attorney-greg-smith.