Post by Logan on Jun 4, 2016 0:08:44 GMT -6
Tennessee Supreme Court weighs inmates' rights to file lawsuits
A Franklin lawyer challenging a state law that says inmates who have past-due court fees cannot file new cases asked the Tennessee Supreme Court Thursday to deem the law unconstitutional.
David Veile of Schell & Davies law firm argued before the state's top court Thursday on behalf of inmate Reginald D. Hughes. Hughes' appeal of a decision that denied him parole in 2011 was dismissed because he owed $258.85 in fees, according to court records.
"The reason we're here today is because my client, Mr. Hughes, has been denied access to justice because of two reasons: He is indigent and he is incarcerated," Veile said.
A lawyer for the state representing the Tennessee Board of Parole argued the law is constitutional. The justices questioned the purpose of the law and whether it unfairly singled out poor inmates.
Read more: www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2016/06/02/tennessee-supreme-court-weighs-inmates-rights-file-lawsuits/85291868/
A Franklin lawyer challenging a state law that says inmates who have past-due court fees cannot file new cases asked the Tennessee Supreme Court Thursday to deem the law unconstitutional.
David Veile of Schell & Davies law firm argued before the state's top court Thursday on behalf of inmate Reginald D. Hughes. Hughes' appeal of a decision that denied him parole in 2011 was dismissed because he owed $258.85 in fees, according to court records.
"The reason we're here today is because my client, Mr. Hughes, has been denied access to justice because of two reasons: He is indigent and he is incarcerated," Veile said.
A lawyer for the state representing the Tennessee Board of Parole argued the law is constitutional. The justices questioned the purpose of the law and whether it unfairly singled out poor inmates.
Read more: www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2016/06/02/tennessee-supreme-court-weighs-inmates-rights-file-lawsuits/85291868/