How Does the Federal Criminal Justice System Operate in Nashville, and What Should I Expect if Facing Federal Charges?
The more serious a federal offense, the stricter the punishment. In our justice system, a federal conviction comes with the harshest penalties, including life in prison and the death penalty. If you are facing federal charges, there are three tiers of courts that may hear your case: the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
Unfortunately, most defendants do not have the opportunity to appeal their case to the Supreme Court since the court only hears 100 to 150 of the more than 7,000 cases they are asked to review each year. In this article, our Nashville federal crime attorneys provide an overview of the federal criminal justice system and the court process itself.
Federal Court Structure in Nashville
The federal court structure is three-tiered, consisting of:
The United States District Court
This is the first court to hear federal cases, both civil and criminal. Nashville’s court is called The United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. To have your case heard in federal court, the crime must have violated federal law or crossed state lines.
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
If you lose your case, you have the option to appeal your case to the criminal court of appeals. You have the right to appeal if you believe the lower court made a legal error, such as an incorrect application of the law or procedural violation. No new evidence will be admitted, and witnesses will not be called to testify. Instead, each side will present an oral argument to a three-judge panel.
United States Supreme Court
If you lose your case once again, then you do have the option to appeal your case to the United States Supreme Court, of which only select cases are heard by a writ of certiorari. The Supreme Court only agrees to hear cases if four of the judges vote to do so, referred to as the Rule of Four.
Preliminary Hearing
In Tennessee, criminal cases are first heard in General Sessions Court. If your case cannot be resolved there, then you may be scheduled for a preliminary hearing. In a preliminary hearing, the prosecution has the burden of showing probable cause that you committed the alleged crime. Unfortunately, this standard is not very demanding, requiring that enough evidence be available to demonstrate that a crime was committed and you likely committed it. During a preliminary hearing, evidence will be presented, and witnesses will be called to testify.
If a judge determines that probable cause is present and you are facing felony charges, your case will be heard in front of a Grand Jury. However, under some circumstances, a defendant may waive their right to a Grand Jury, proceeding directly to trial. If probable cause is not established, your case will be dismissed.
Aggressive Counsel Protecting Your Rights
Facing felony charges threatens your freedom and good name. Understandably, retaining experienced representation is a must to beat such charges and keep your record clean. At Andrew C. Beasley, PLLC, our Nashville federal criminal lawyers have experience handling criminal cases from beginning to end, conducting our own in-depth investigation into your matter, gathering evidence, and crafting a defense that gives you the best chance of obtaining an acquittal. If we cannot get your charges dismissed, then we will do everything within our power to get your charges reduced, which often entails striking a plea deal with the prosecution.
Facing Federal Charges? Contact Our Nashville Federal Criminal Attorneys
The moment you are charged with a federal offense, you should hire the representation of our Nashville federal criminal lawyers. Our defense attorneys have years of experience representing clients charged with drug crimes, cybercrimes, gun crimes, and violent crimes, with a proven success record. To discuss your case, contact us online or by phone to schedule your free consultation.