SUPREME COURT OPINIONS

State vs. Brown
02S01-9710-CR-00085

Supreme Court

Morris vs. State
01S01-9804-BC-00076

Supreme Court

Brewer vs. Lincoln Brass Works
01S01-9609-CV-00196

Supreme Court

Matthews vs. Pickett County, Tennessee
01S01-9801-FD-00005
Trial Court Judge: David A. Nelson

Pickett Supreme Court

Tommy L. King v. State of Tennessee - Concurring/Dissenting
01S01-9707-CC-00146
Authoring Judge: Chief Justice E. Riley Anderson

I agree with the majority that the jury’s reliance on the felony murder aggravating circumstance in this case violated article I, § 16 of the Tennessee Constitution and that a harmless error analysis must be applied under our decision in State v. Howell, 868 S.W.2d 238 (Tenn. 1993). I disagree, however, with both the majority’s application of the Howell analysis and its conclusion.

Maury Supreme Court

State of Tennessee v. Ronnie William (Billy) Taylor - Concurring
02SO1-9704-CC-00028
Authoring Judge: Justice William M. Barker
Trial Court Judge: Judge Dick Jerman

We granted this appeal by Ronnie William (Billy) Taylor, the appellant, in  order to address issues pertinent to the sentences he received in the trial  court. In our review, however, we notice as plain error an invalid conviction  that was imposed upon appellant for an offense that was not charged in the indictment.1 Accordingly, for the reasons outlined below, we vacate the invalid burglary conviction and affirm the trial court’s judgment as modified. The cause is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Gibson Supreme Court

Tommy L. King v. State of Tennessee
01S01-9707-CC-00146
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Trial Court Judge: Judge James Weatherford

In this post-conviction capital case, we granted this appeal to determine whether the jury’s reliance on an invalid felony murder aggravating circumstance was harmless error. Upon review, we hold that the jury's consideration of the invalid felony murder aggravating circumstance was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt due to the strength of the remaining valid aggravating circumstances and the relative weakness or absence of any mitigating circumstances. The Court of Criminal Appeals' decision affirming the trial court's dismissal of the post-conviction petition is affirmed.

Maury Supreme Court

Deborah Lorraine Brooks v. Rickey Lemar Brooks
03S01-9804-CV-00034
Authoring Judge: Justice William M. Barker
Trial Court Judge: Judge Earl G. Murphy

We granted this appeal to determine whether the Court of Appeals and the trial court erred in their determinations of the amount of child support to be paid by the child’s father. Although both the trial court and the Court of Appeals determined that the total monthly payment should be increased from four hundred dollars ($400.00) to six hundred fifty dollars ($650.00), each court reached its conclusion upon different reasons. We conclude that both courts erred and that the base amount of child support should have been $1,241.00 per month. In addition, Mr. Brooks shall pay the child's private education expenses per the parties agreement.
 

Polk Supreme Court

State of Tennessee vs. George Langford - Concurring
02S01-9806-CR-00061
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Trial Court Judge: Judge Arthur T. Bennett

We granted this appeal to decide whether: (1) the evidence was sufficient to convict the defendant of aggravated burglary and felony murder committed during the perpetration of an aggravated burglary; and (2) the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury as to criminal trespass. We hold that the evidence was sufficient to convict the defendant and that the trial court did not err in failing to instruct the jury on criminal trespass.  Accordingly, the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals affirming the defendant’s convictions is affirmed.

Shelby Supreme Court

State of Tennessee v. Ray L. Taylor - Concurring
02S01-9809-CR-00089
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Trial Court Judge: Judge James C. Beasley, Jr.

We granted this appeal to decide whether a defendant’s credibility may be impeached by reference to a prior conviction for a “felony involving dishonesty.” We hold that the trial court erred in ruling that the State could impeach the defendant by asking him whether he had been convicted of any “felonies involving dishonesty.” We hold, however, that the error was harmless.1

Shelby Supreme Court

Sanjurjo et al vs. Woods
03S01-9901-CH-00001

Supreme Court

Marcus vs. Marcus
02S01-9804-CH-00036

Shelby Supreme Court

State vs. Rogers
02S01-9804-CR-00035

Supreme Court

Brooks vs. Carter
02S01-9903-CV-00023

Shelby Supreme Court

State of Tennessee v. Leonard Edward Smith
03S01-9710-CC-00129
Authoring Judge: Justice Frank F. Drowota, III
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lynn W. Brown

In this automatic appeal,1 the defendant, Leonard Edward Smith, raises numerous challenges to the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeals which affirmed his sentence of death for the 1984 murder of Novella Webb. After carefully examining the entire record and the law, including the thorough opinion of the Court of Criminal Appeals and the briefs of the defendant and the State, this Court entered an Order limiting review at oral argument to the following three issues:2 (1) Whether the trial court was correct in allowing the defendant to control the presentation of mitigating evidence and to waive closing argument against counsel’s advice; (2) Whether the admittance of victim impact testimony and argument at the sentencing hearing constituted reversible error; (3) Whether the sentence of death is arbitrary or disproportionate in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-206(c)(1)(A)-(D) (1997 Repl.).

Hamblen Supreme Court

State vs. Leonard Smith
03S01-9710-CC-00129
Trial Court Judge: Lynn W. Brown

Hamblen Supreme Court

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

Supreme Court

State vs. Galmore
02S01-9804-CR-00033
Trial Court Judge: Joseph B. Dailey

Shelby Supreme Court

In the matter of: Bianca Arneshe Askew, Dorothy Lewis v. Julie Donoho
02S01-9901-CV-00006
Authoring Judge: Justice Frank F. Drowota, III
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood

In this child custody case involving Bianca Arneshe Askew, now age eight years and nine months, we consider the competing claims between the child’s natural mother, Julie Donoho, and Dorothy Lewis, who presently has physical custody of the child. The lower courts found that a prior court order had granted custody to Ms. Lewis and that Ms. Donoho had failed to satisfy her burden of proving that custody should be restored to her. Because we find that Ms. Donoho’s constitutional right as a parent has been abridged, due to the absence of a showing of unfitness or of substantial harm, we reverse the decisions of the lower courts.

Fayette Supreme Court

State vs. Bryant Dewayne Millen
02S01-9711-CR-00106
Trial Court Judge: L. Terry Lafferty

Supreme Court

State vs. Bryant Dewayne Millen
02S01-9711-CR-00106

Supreme Court

State vs. Bryant Dewayne Millen
02S01-9711-CR-00106
Trial Court Judge: L. Terry Lafferty

Supreme Court

Eyring vs. Fort Sanders Parkwest et al
03S01-9711-CV-00134

Supreme Court

O2-S-01-9710-CR-00085
O2-S-01-9710-CR-00085

Supreme Court

Parent vs. State
01S01-9804-BC-00066

Supreme Court