TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Apr 15, 2025

In the first quarter of 2025, the Davidson County Grand Jury declined to indict 47 felony cases — including three first-degree murder cases — an unusually high number compared to the previous average of just three per quarter, according to the Nashville Banner. This increase has raised concerns among legal experts, including Nashville attorney David Raybin who tells the paper that the jury may have applied an unusually high burden of proof. Others argue that the surge in non-indictments could delay justice and reflect potential bias. The grand jury also conducted an independent investigation into whistleblower allegations against the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD). The group says it found a toxic culture marked by favoritism, retaliation, and the mishandling of sexual misconduct and racial discrimination complaints, and called for further investigation by a special prosecutor. The group also raised concerns about what it called a lack of transparency in an investigation being conducted by Memphis lawyer Ed Stanton into MNPD and a recent raid of his firm by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Finally, it urged systemic reforms and more robust support for past victims.