SUPREME COURT OPINIONS

State of Tennessee v. William F. Carico
03S01-9610-CR-0009
Authoring Judge: Justice Lyle Reid
Trial Court Judge: Judge James E. Beckner

The application for permission to appeal from the convicition of aggravated rape and a Range I sentence of 25 years was granted in part, to consider two of the several issues decided by the Court of Criminal Appeals, which affirmed the conviction and the sentence.  In those isues, the appellant insists that the delay in initiating the prosecution was a violation of his constitutional rights to a speedy trial and due process and that the sentence imnposed is excellive.  The conviction and the sentence are affirmed.

State vs. David E. Walton, Jr.
02S01-9606-CC-00052

State vs. David E. Walton, Jr.
02S01-9606-CC-00052

Billy Castleman vs. Ross Engineering, Inc.
02S01-9703-CV-00018

Hall vs. TN. Dressed Beef Co., et. al.
01S01-9611-CH-00236

State vs. David Willard Phipps, Jr.
02S01-9607-CC-00068

State vs. David Willard Phipps, Jr.
02S01-9607-CC-00068

Cunningham vs. Shelton Security Service, et. al
01S01-9701-CH-00011

Henley vs. State
01S01-9703-CC-00056
Trial Court Judge: J. O. Bond

Henley vs. State
01S01-9703-CC-00056

Carter vs. State
03S01-9612-CR-00119

State vs. Hall
03S01-9701-CR-00010

State vs. Hall
03S01-9701-CR-00010

State vs. Dixon
03S01-9704-CR-00043

State vs. Dixon
03S01-9704-CR-00043

Tennessee Municipal League vs. Brook Thompson
01S01-9711-CH-00242
The ruling listed above is the Order regarding the "Tiny Towns" legislation. The full opinion will be published at a later date.

Kenneth McDaniel v. CSX Transportation, Inc.
01S01-9605-CV-00095
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam

The defendant has filed a petition for rehearing of this appeal pursuant to Tenn. R. App. P. 39. We have considered all of the arguments raised in the petition and have found them to be without merit. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the petition for rehearing is denied.
 

State of Tennessee vs. Glenn Bernard Mann - Concurring
02-S-01-9609-CC-00077
Authoring Judge: Justice Frank F. Drowota, III
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley

In this capital case, the defendant, Glenn Bernard Mann, was convicted of premeditated first degree murder, aggravated rape and aggravated burglary.¹ In the sentencing hearing, the jury found two aggravating circumstances: (1) “[t]he murder was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel in that it involved torture or serious physical abuse beyond that necessary to produce death;” and (2) “[t]he murder was committed while the defendant was engaged in committing burglary.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-204(i)(5) and (7) (1991). Finding that the two aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt, the jury sentenced the defendant to death by electrocution. 

State of Tennessee v. Andre S. Bland - Concurring/Dissenting
02S01-9603-CR-00032
Authoring Judge: Justice Adolpho A. Birch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Arthur T. Bennett

I concur, in principle, with Justice Reid’s dissent. I would, however, increase the pool of similar cases to include all cases in which a trial judge’s report is required by Supreme Court
Rule 12.1 The majority chose to exclude from the proportionality review pool all cases in which the State did not seek the death penalty and all cases in which no capital sentencing hearing was
held. In my view, this exclusion discourages a more meaningful proportionality analysis.

State of Tennessee v. Andre S. Bland
02S01-9603-CR-00032
Authoring Judge: Justice Frank W. Drowota, III
Trial Court Judge: Judge Arthur T. Bennett

In this capital case, the defendant, Andre S. Bland, was convicted of premeditated first degree murder, attempted aggravated robbery, especially aggravated robbery, and attempted first degree murder.1 In the sentencing hearing, the jury found one aggravating circumstance: “[t]he murder was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel in that it involved torture or serious physical abuse beyond that necessary to produce death.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-204(I)(5) (1991 Repl. & 1996 Supp.). Finding that the aggravating circumstance outweighed mitigating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt, the jury sentenced the defendant to death by electrocution.

State of Tennessee v. Andre S. Bland - Concurring/Dissenting
02S01-9603-CR-00032
Authoring Judge: Justice Lyle Reid
Trial Court Judge: Judge Arthur T. Bennett

The issues before the Court and sufficiency of the evidence and comparative propottionality of the sentence of death. I agree with the majority that the evidence is sufficient to support the jury's finding of premeditation, that the evidence is sufficient to support the jury's finding of torture (i.e. the "infliction of severe physical or mental pain upon the victim while he or she remains conscious"), and the aggravating circumstance outweighs the mitigating circumstances. However, I would find that the sentence of death is disproportionate.

Tennessee Municipal League vs. Brook Thompson
01S01-9711-CH-00242
The ruling listed above is the Order regarding the "Tiny Towns" legislation. The full opinion will be published at a later date.

State vs. Yeargan
01S01-9604-CC-00080

State vs. Yeargan
01S01-9604-CC-00080

Carl Nelson vs. Harold Eugene Martin & Jack W. Gammon
02S01-9604-CV-00036