MATHIS, Circuit Judge. Kenneth Evans pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He now challenges the procedural reasonableness of his 57-month sentence, arguing that the district court improperly increased his advisory Sentencing Guidelines range upon finding that his prior conviction for aggravated robbery under Ohio law is a “crime of violence,” as the Guidelines define that term.

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.

A Rutherford County jury convicted the Petitioner, Baleke Kromah, of sexual battery by an authority figure. On direct appeal, this court affirmed the Petitioner’s conviction. See State v. Kromah, No. M2011-01813-CCA-R3-CD, 2013 WL 781600, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App. March 1, 2013), perm. app. denied (Tenn. July 17, 2013). In 2024, the Petitioner filed a petition for a writ of error coram nobis, which the coram nobis court dismissed as untimely. The Petitioner appealed, and after a thorough review of the record and the applicable law, we dismiss this appeal because the Petitioner failed to file a timely notice of appeal.

A Washington County jury convicted the defendant, Joshua M. Hammonds, of first-degree murder in perpetration of a felony, theft of property valued at $10,000 or more but less than $60,000, and evading arrest with risk of death. After a sentencing hearing, the defendant received a sentence of life in confinement. On appeal, the defendant contends the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support his conviction for first-degree murder in perpetration of a felony. Upon our review of the record, the parties’ briefs, and the applicable law, we affirm the defendant’s conviction.

General, Solo & Small Firm Section members have access to quality TBA CLE programming that can be purchased using a section member discount. Join colleagues for any of these upcoming forums this fall: Disability Law Forum, Hot Topics in Real Estate, Health Law Forum, Environmental Law Forum or the Administrative Law Forum. Join colleagues in November for the fourth annual Raising the Bar program, produced by TBA's Women in the Profession Committee. Or, get registered for the TBA Conference on Artificial Intelligence and the Law, coming up in December, where attorneys can dive into technological advancements in the legal field. Looking for something else? Check out the TBA CLE catalog to find more courses focused on the needs of solo and small firm practitioners!

The defendant, Omerrieal Dywane Woods, was convicted by a Hamilton County Criminal Court jury of one count of facilitation of reckless homicide, two counts of facilitation of attempted aggravated assault, and one count of possession of a firearm with the intent to go armed. The defendant was sentenced to an effective six years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, the defendant argues that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his conviction. After reviewing the record and considering the applicable law, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

The State appeals the trial court’s order granting the defendant’s motion to dismiss the five- count indictment against him on denial of speedy trial grounds. Following a thorough review of the record, the briefs, and oral arguments of the parties, we reverse the trial court’s grant of the defendant’s motion to dismiss, reinstate the indictments against the defendant, and remand to the trial court for further proceedings.

Following the denial of a motion to suppress, the defendant, Mark Ketron, pled guilty to driving under the influence (“DUI”), DUI per se, and violation of the light law, for which he was sentenced to an effective term of eleven months and twenty-nine days suspended to probation after service of forty-eight hours in jail. On appeal, the defendant asserts that, as part of his plea, he reserved the right to appeal the denial of his motion to suppress. Following a thorough review of the record, the briefs, and the oral arguments of the parties, we conclude the defendant failed to properly certify a question of law pursuant to Rule 37(b)(2) of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure. Accordingly, this Court is without jurisdiction, and the appeal is dismissed.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared ready to strike down a 2024 congressional map in Louisiana that a group of voters has challenged as the product of unconstitutional racial gerrymandering, Reuters reports. During nearly two-and-a-half hours of oral arguments, the court’s conservative justices signaled they are likely to limit Section 2, which bars voting maps that would result in diluting the clout of minorities, even without direct proof of racist intent.

The TBA Health Law Section will provide lunch for section members at its business meeting during the annual forum on Nov. 14. The section will recognize and celebrate the leadership of Section Chair Imad Abdullah and formally vote on leadership for the 2025–2026 bar year.

This free event is open to ALL section members regardless of forum attendance. A link to RSVP is included below. Space is limited and the form will close once attendance is at max capacity. Please contact Section Coordinator Jarod Word with any additional questions.

When: Friday, Nov. 14, 12:15-1:15 p.m. CST
Where: Music City Center, 201 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Room 214, Nashville 37203

RSVP NOW