BRITTNEY FAITH SWAFFORD v. STATE OF TENNESSEE - Articles

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BRITTNEY FAITH SWAFFORD v. STATE OF TENNESSEE

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Oct 16, 2025

Court: TN Court of Criminal Appeals

Attorneys 1: Susan H. Harmon, Sevierville, Tennessee, for the appellant, Brittney Faith Swafford.

Attorneys 2: Jonathan Skrmetti, Attorney General and Reporter; Ryan Dugan, Assistant Attorney General; Jimmy Dunn, District Attorney General; and Ronald C. Newcomb, Assistant District Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.

Judge(s): WILSON

Petitioner, Brittany Faith Swafford, appeals the denial of her petition for post-conviction relief, arguing that the post-conviction court erred in concluding that she received the effective assistance of trial counsel. Petitioner argues trial counsel’s failure to retain an expert witness favorable to the defense and to adequately investigate Petitioner’s then undiagnosed mental health condition constituted the ineffective assistance of counsel. She further argues, in the context of her ineffective assistance claim, that trial counsel’s failure to investigate her undiagnosed mental health condition prevented her from entering a knowing and voluntary plea. After review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

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