TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

Court Upholds Reduction, Denial of Some Expert Witness Funds

Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Jul 12, 2023

The Tennessee Supreme Court recently issued an opinion that Supreme Court Rule 13 — which provides the procedure for administering funds for assisting indigent litigants in capital cases — was constitutionally applied in the state’s case against Jessie Dotson. Following conviction for premeditated first-degree murder, Dotson raised claims of ineffective assistance of counsel and requested funds to hire experts to assist him. The post-conviction court authorized the funds, but the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Tennessee Supreme Court chief justice reduced the amount in some instances and denied approval in others. After the Court of Criminal Appeals upheld those changes, Dotson appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing, among other things, that he was denied a full and fair post-conviction hearing. The high court disagreed, ruling that the application of Rule 13 to Dotson’s case was constitutional, that he was not denied due process, and that he was afforded a full and fair post-conviction hearing. Read more about the case.

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