State of Tennessee v. Tony Thomas and LaRonda Turner (Concur in Part, Dissent in Part)

Case Number
W2019-01202-SC-R11-CD

I join in full the majority opinion’s analysis of the Brady issue and its judgment
affirming Tony Thomas’s conviction. I also agree with much of the majority’s analysis
regarding the accomplice-corroboration rule, including its decision to abrogate that rule. I
respectfully disagree, however, with the majority’s conclusion that our holding abrogating
the accomplice-corroboration rule should apply only in future cases and pending cases that
have not yet gone to trial. I would instead apply that holding here—and to other cases
pending in trial courts or in appellate courts on direct review—and affirm Laronda Turner’s
conviction on that basis. I write separately to offer an additional reason why the
accomplice-corroboration rule should be abrogated and to explain why our decision should
apply retroactively.1

Authoring Judge
Justice Sarah K. Campbell
Originating Judge
Judge J. Robert Carter, Jr.
Date Filed
Dissent or Concur
This is a concurring opinion
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