Justice
Friends of dog fighting? 20 lawmakers vote against harsher penalty for animal fighting
Proposal still passes General Assembly, moves to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk Despite 20 votes in opposition, a proposal to increase the penalty for training animals to fight in illegal gambling rings passed both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly. House Bill 233 passed the lower chamber on March 7 and Senate Bill 222 passed the…
Read MoreDeath row fast track: Conservatives eliminate criminal appeals court in death penalty cases
Bill heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for final approval Conservatives in the Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill to eliminate the court of criminal appeals in death penalty cases. The bill sponsor, Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, said the purpose of the bill was to expedite the death penalty. Opponents said removing the criminal court…
Read MoreHouse approves bill to eliminate subpoena power from police community oversight boards
Debate moves to the full Tennessee Senate A proposal to eliminate subpoena power from police community oversights boards passed the Tennessee House on a 66-26 vote. A police community oversight board has operated — with subpoena power — in Knoxville, Tenn. for two decades with no interference from the state legislature. State lawmakers only seem to…
Read MoreKnoxville, Be Damned: Rep. Daniel Helping GOP Cripple Community Oversight Boards in Tenn.
Despite nearly unified support from Knox County officials, state Rep. Martin Daniel, R-Knoxville, District 18, voted Feb. 27 with the majority party in committee to strip state-based community oversight boards of their subpoena power. The city of Knoxville has successfully operated a police community oversight board for 20 years under both Democratic and Republican mayors.…
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