The Right of Defendants to Confront Witnesses

The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides rights for those accused of a crime. These rights include the right of the accused “to be confronted with the witnesses against him…” This part of the Amendment is known at the “confrontation” clause. It generally means that someone accused of a crime can cross-examine any of…

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Tennessee’s DUI Statistics

DUI statistics are always grim. 2017 was no different. According to a Tennessee Highway Patrol announcement, the THP put extra time, officers and money into ensuring that this holiday travel is safe. One of the goals for the year was to cut down on drunk driving. Between January 1 and December 24, 2017, THP officials…

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Considerations in a Motion to Suppress Hearing

Frequently, when an individual is charged with a crime, he or she files a Motion to Suppress and asks for a suppression hearing. The purpose is to ask the court to rule that particular evidence cannot be used in determining an individual’s guilt or innocence. When evidence is suppressed, the prosecutor may not use the…

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Online Identity Thieves Target Teens and Young Adults

Identity theft is happening far too often. Criminals have taken aim at the vulnerable and inexperienced.  In 2014, 1.3 million identity theft cases involved people under the age of 16, but there are protective steps youth and parents can take to avoid or minimize on-line harm. If you or your child is the victim of…

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Tennessee is Cracking Down on Meth Distribution and Sales

It is no secret that our country is in the grip of an opioid epidemic. Stories about opioid-related overdoses are all over the news. In Tennessee, however, we are facing another battle – one against the use, manufacturing, distribution, and sale of methamphetamines. WKRN discussed this in a recent article, calling it the “madness of…

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Everyone Has the Right to a Competent Defense

Many people do not understand what “criminal defense” means or involves. They see lawyers portrayed in movies or TV and believe that every trial is “all or nothing:” the accused is either guilty or innocent of the charges. However, in this area of law, the outcome often depends upon what facts can be shown, and…

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Assault Conviction May Get You Deported

There are two main categories of assault charges in Tennessee: simple assault and aggravated assault. A person who is convicted of either charge may be subject to time in jail or prison, as well as hundreds or thousands of dollars in fines, depending on the specific charges. For example, you could be charged with: Aggravated…

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Documentation, Deportation, and Social Security Fraud

Immigration laws and policies have been in the news quite a bit over the last few weeks. The new Administration has been very vocal about deportation (removal), so we want to discuss a particular issue that non-citizens may face: using fraudulent documentation in order to get work here in the U.S. Back in 2009, the…

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Criminal Convictions and Student Loans

While many colleges and programs provide assistance for earning college degrees or learning trades, colleges and trade schools are not cheap.  Even with scholarships and grants, students face financial difficulties and challenges.  To finance their education, most students apply for and receive loans or financial assistance from state and federal governments; however, students with certain…

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Immigrants Charged with Drug Crimes Can Face Removal

When a citizen is accused of a drug crime, he or she can seek the help of an attorney to fight the charges. If the person is found not guilty, he or she can move forward. If that person is found guilty, he or she may have to serve time in jail or prison. For…

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