The Tennessee Death Penalty Assessment Report
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. Defending Liberty Pursuing Justice EVALUATING FAIRNESS AND ACCURACY IN STATE DEATH PENALTY SYSTEMS: The Tennessee Death Penalty Assessment Report An Analysis of Tennessee’s Death Penalty Laws, Procedures, and Practices “A system that takes life must first give justice.” John J. Curtin, Jr., Former ABA President March 2007 AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION Defending Liberty Pursuing Justice EVALUATING FAIRNESS AND ACCURACY IN STATE DEATH PENALTY SYSTEMS: The Tennessee Death Penalty Assessment Report An Analysis of Tennessee’s Death Penalty Laws, Procedures, and Practices “A system that takes life must first give justice.” John J. Curtin, Jr., Former ABA President March 2007 AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION The materials contained herein represent the assessment solely of the ABA Death Penalty Moratorium Implementation Project and the Tennessee Death Penalty Assessment Team and have not been approved by the House of Delegates or the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association and accordingly, should not be construed as representing the policy of the American Bar Association. These materials and any forms or agreements herein are intended for educational and informational purposes only. This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this report are the sole responsibility of the American Bar Association and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union. Significant portions of the research were performed on Westlaw courtesy of West Group. Copyright 2007, American Bar Association ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The American Bar Association Death Penalty Moratorium Implementation Project (the Project) is pleased to present this publication, Evaluating Fairness and Accuracy in State Death Penalty Systems: The Tennessee Death Penalty Assessment Report. The Project expresses its great appreciation to all those who helped to develop, draft, and produce the Tennessee Assessment Report. The efforts of the Project and the Tennessee Death Penalty Assessment Team were aided by many lawyers, academics, judges, and others who presented ideas, shared information, and assisted in the examination of Tennessee’s capital punishment system. Particular thanks must be given to Banafsheh Amirzadeh, Deborah Fleischaker, Lindsay Glauner, Joshua Lipman, Seth Miller, and Sarah Turberville, the Project staff who spent countless hours researching, writing, editing, and compiling this report. In addition, we would like to thank the American Bar Association Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities for their substantive, administrative, and financial contributions. In particular, we would like to thank Brett Pugach and Christine Waring for their assistance in fact-checking and proof-reading sections of the report. We also would like to recognize the research contributions made by Emily Abbott, Nathaniel Evans, Stephen Hatchett, Neal Lawson, Sammi Houston Maifair, Carnita McKeithen, Stacie Odeneal, Anne Passino all of whom were law students at the University of Tennessee College of Law. Additionally, the efforts of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P., in researching and drafting portions of this report, and Raymond Paternoster, Glenn Pierce, and Michael Radelet, in conducting the attached race study, were immensely helpful. Lastly, in this publication, the Project and the Assessment Team have attempted to note as accurately as possible information relevant to the Tennessee death penalty. The Project would appreciate notification of any errors or omissions in this report so that they may be corrected in any future reprints. TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVEH SUMMARY........................................................................................................................... iH INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................H ..................... 1H CHAPTER ONE: ANH OVERVIEW OF TENNESSEE’S DEATH PENALTY SYSTEM .................... 7H I.H DEMOGRAPHICS OF TENNESSEE’S DEATH ROW ........................................................................... 7H II.H THE STATUTORY EVOLUTION OF TENNESSEE’S DEATH PENALTY SCHEME ................................. 8H III.H THE PROGRESSION OF A TENNESSEE DEATH PENALTY CASE FROM ARREST TO EXECUTION .... 19H CHAPTER TWO: COLLECTION,H PRESERVATION, AND TESTING OF DNA AND OTHER TYPES OF EVIDENCE............................................................................................................................. 45H IH NTRODUCTION TO THE ISSUE................................................................................................................... 45H I.H FACTUAL DISCUSSION................................................................................................................ 47H II.H ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................................. 54H CHAPTER THREE: LAWH ENFORCEMENT IDENTIFICATIONS AND INTERROGATIONS .. 63H IH NTRODUCTION TO THE ISSUE................................................................................................................... 63H I.H FACTUAL DISCUSSION................................................................................................................ 65H II.H ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................................. 72H CHAPTER FOUR: CRIMEH LABORATORIES AND MEDICAL EXAMINER OFFICES.............. 81H IH NTRODUCTION TO THE ISSUE................................................................................................................... 81H I.H FACTUAL DISCUSSION................................................................................................................ 82H II.H ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................................. 90H CHAPTER FIVE: PROSECUTORIALH PROFESSIONALISM ........................................................... 97H IH NTRODUCTION TO THE ISSUE................................................................................................................... 97H I.H FACTUAL DISCUSSION................................................................................................................ 99H II.H ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................ 113H CHAPTER SIX: DEFENSEH SERVICES............................................................................................... 125H IH NTRODUCTION TO THE ISSUE................................................................................................................. 125H I.H FACTUAL DISCUSSION.............................................................................................................. 126H II.H ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................ 139H CHAPTER SEVEN: THEH DIRECT APPEAL PROCESS................................................................... 163H IH NTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 163H I.H FACTUAL DISCUSSION.............................................................................................................. 164H II.H ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................ 173H CHAPTER EIGHT: STATEH POST-CONVICTION PROCEEDINGS.............................................. 177H IH NTRODUCTION TO THE ISSUE................................................................................................................. 177H I.H FACTUAL DISCUSSION.............................................................................................................. 179H II.H ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................ 191H CHAPTER NINE: CLEMENCY............................................................................................................H 209H IH NTRODUCTION TO THE ISSUE................................................................................................................. 209H I.H FACTUAL DISCUSSION.............................................................................................................. 211H II.H ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................ 219H CHAPTER TEN: CAPITALH JURY INSTRUCTIONS........................................................................ 231H IH NTRODUCTION TO THE ISSUE................................................................................................................. 231H I.H FACTUAL DISCUSSION.............................................................................................................. 232H II.H ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................ 247H CHAPTER ELEVEN: JUDICIALH INDEPENDENCE ........................................................................ 255H IH NTRODUCTION TO THE ISSUE................................................................................................................. 255H I.H FACTUAL