COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OPINIONS

01C0l-9310-CC-00378
01C0l-9310-CC-00378
Trial Court Judge: W. Charles Lee

Bedford Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Willie Dockins
W1998-00354-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Joseph B. Brown

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

03C01-9402-CR-00047
03C01-9402-CR-00047
Trial Court Judge: Joseph F. Dirisio

Hamilton Court of Criminal Appeals

03C01-9504-CR-00123
03C01-9504-CR-00123

Anderson Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Michael South
02C01-9701-CR-00029

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

01C01-9412-CR-00409
01C01-9412-CR-00409

Sumner Court of Criminal Appeals

01C01-9412-CR-00409
01C01-9412-CR-00409

Sumner Court of Criminal Appeals

01C01-9502-CC-00037
01C01-9502-CC-00037
Trial Court Judge: W. Charles Lee

Marshall Court of Criminal Appeals

01C01-9504-CC-00118
01C01-9504-CC-00118

Marshall Court of Criminal Appeals

01C01-9505-CR-00136
01C01-9505-CR-00136
Trial Court Judge: Thomas Goodall

Sumner Court of Criminal Appeals

01C01-9505-CC-00131
01C01-9505-CC-00131
Trial Court Judge: John W. Rollins

Putnam Court of Criminal Appeals

03C01-9503-CR-00071
03C01-9503-CR-00071

Roane Court of Criminal Appeals

03C01-9503-CR-00071
03C01-9503-CR-00071

Roane Court of Criminal Appeals

03C01-9406-CR-00242
03C01-9406-CR-00242

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

03C01-9406-CR-00242
03C01-9406-CR-00242
Trial Court Judge: Richard R. Baumgartner

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

03C01-9502-CR-00034
03C01-9502-CR-00034
Trial Court Judge: Mayo L. Mashburn

Bradley Court of Criminal Appeals

01C01-9404-CR-00154
01C01-9404-CR-00154
Trial Court Judge: Seth W. Norman

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

01C01-9408-CC-00286
01C01-9408-CC-00286
Trial Court Judge: Jim T. Hamilton

Maury Court of Criminal Appeals

01C01-9411-CC-00391
01C01-9411-CC-00391
Trial Court Judge: W. Charles Lee

Marshall Court of Criminal Appeals

01C01-9503-CC-00063
01C01-9503-CC-00063
Trial Court Judge: Lee Russell

Marshall Court of Criminal Appeals

03C01-9501-CR-00004
03C01-9501-CR-00004
Trial Court Judge: James E. Beckner

Hancock Court of Criminal Appeals

03C01-9501-CR-00027
03C01-9501-CR-00027

Hamilton Court of Criminal Appeals

Jack Layne Benson vs. State
M1999-01649-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: W. Charles Lee
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.

Bedford Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v Carla Jo Fitch - Concurring
01C01-9209-CC-00290
Authoring Judge: Judge Penny J. White
Trial Court Judge: Judge William Charles Lee

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

Lincoln Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Darryl Gene Farmer
01C01-9409-CC-00328
Authoring Judge: Judge William M. Barker
Trial Court Judge: Judge Charles D. Haston

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).

Warren Court of Criminal Appeals