ÿWPC èPð{s?@ÿhA»’*ÎjŽy…ª;Úd—¼\Ž}µR–]‘`Šª17¡å¦öç ybhfÄSµÔ®/Ïç0BZÖl2¬¾½ ¡µ-ã±@=g >)Yœ˜¹h†Š…ðwÎn÷ÃKg‡4&3ƒr¥²;ßBz•. s½«¤ª˜ºè.q¬ùl¾8M7¾áG\+ß„¡€i°*ŸÑd~àyÁ¯ù©Jqjy ÖL.¶jpOWLFÙ›cÒŒ­M;aë¶¶ŸÆWй–¬¯ü#¸WvàQmGSžAUøÑsšqæ Ü3iÆül Ô´£t#®QzZÂ#²f™Þæ ïáúuº°æ#åë~‰}ÔÙÚÆPßü _Æ=QXßó=Ä̈́ǫÜò+ø/YøLÈßÜ¢/!ØD~þVñ);’é¾o]O›Ù-gFjáìüÊ0™ uz}º=æÞAs³.my÷BÝÝ7¯çË[…Û“îàg™Òö§j+dr+s*6É«žÕmyßÌêhTL>‚ƒá”43¾„÷j–S=–BÁÍ[±ˆ\‰Ò¦.}Ò‹È1÷ÈÈ/S§‡Ð…°#-¾J•þn'33ZN,Sbš;EÅi0 ë˜È”b#Á\ % ‹# 0ˆ® UN6 0D„ ^ È zÔ ÒN w 4$ 8 G ÆI ÆÆÕÆ› maNxzzE‚‚‚‚‚‚‚‚‚‚‚‚‚‚‚‚‚‚‚‚‚‚‚‚b„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ 0댌ŒŒ Bww 0¤” D38 D-k 0K˜˜ ASãÆ6 0¤ü 0D  A«ä˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 6ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0» Ý ƒR„ª$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôîUò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔPetitioner€asserts€on€the€first€page€of€his€petition€that€his€former€slave€name€was€Ô_ÔAlonzoÔ_Ô€Isaac€Stewart,€whichÐ ° Ðname€was€legally€changed€to€ð ðÔ_ÔIshaaqÔ_Ôðð€on€November€2,€1990.(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ”œ+s  ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt8n_+¢Ø+003|xLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ - ù-(|G2„ª$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€X-»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôîUò»»Ô d(|3Ç{$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€X-»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Ç{$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€X-»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€X-»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼X-»»»ÔÑ8€‘XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îG¼î»¼X-ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼X-»îîG¼ #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  Ó€Assigned€on€Briefs€February€2,€2001Ð üL ÐÔ‡X‘X»¼X-ÔÌò òÔ#†¼X-»XX‘#ÔISHAAQ€(aka€ALONZO€STEWART)òòóó€v.€Ð úJ ÐTENNESSEE€DEPARTMENT€OF€CORRECTION,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡X‘X»¼X-Ôó óÐ  ^ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ  ^ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€00„107„II€€€€€€Carol€L.€McCoy,€ChancellorÐ ú J ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½` AßÐ ¾  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2000„01957„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€December€28,€Ô_Ô2001Ô_ÔÐ ¹  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ ‘á  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓIshaaq,׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€a€prisoner€in€the€Department€of€Corrections€serving€a€combined€130€year€sentence€for€ClassÐ ŒÜ ÐX€felonies€committed€prior€to€July€1,€1982,€seeks€to€rescind€a€waiver€by€which€he€chose,€in€1987,Ð xÈ Ðto€gain€the€sentence€reduction€credit€benefits€applicable€to€him€under€Tennessee€Code€AnnotatedÐ d´ Ðsection€41„21„236.€€He€seeks€to€rescind€the€waiver€under€the€belief€that€he€would€thereby€becomeÐ P  Ðeligible€for€mandatory€parole.€€The€trial€judge€dismissed€his€complaint,€and€we€affirm€the€action€ofÐ <Œ Ðthe€trial€court.Ð (x ÐÓúÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Affirmedó óÐ P ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼X-»àX‘±#ÔÔ‡X‘X.¼X-ÔWilliam€B.€Cain,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòóóBòòENóó€H.€CòòANTRELLóó,€P.J.,€M.S.€andÐ Ø( ÐPòòATRICIAóó€J.€CòòOTTRELLóó,€J.òòóó,€joined.Ð Ä ÐÌÔ_ÔIshaaqÔ_Ô€(Ô_ÔfsnÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔAlonzoÔ_Ô€Stewart),€Nashville,€Tennessee,€Pro€Se.Ð œì ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter;€Michael€Moore,€Solicitor€General;€and€PamelaÐ t Ä ÐS.€Ô_ÔLorchÔ_Ô,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellees,€Tennessee€Department€of€Correction,€et€al.€Ð `!°  ÐÌÓKÓò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼X-»XX‘z#ÔÔ‡X‘X»¼X-ÔÐ 8#ˆ" ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼X-»XX‘c #ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X‘X»¼X-Ôà  àPetitioner€filed€a€Petition€for€Declaratory€Judgment€and€Judicial€Review€pursuant€toÐ %` $ ÐTennessee€Code€Annotated€section€4„5„225€and€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€4„5„322€seekingÐ ü%L!% Ðto€rescind€his€waiver,€which€he€executed€in€1987€pursuant€to€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€41„Ð è&8"& Ð21„236.€€Petitioner€was€convicted€of€several€armed€robberies€that€he€committed€prior€to€July€1,€1982,Ð Ô'$#' Ðand€he€was€sentenced€under€the€Class€X€Felony€Law,€then€in€full€force€and€effect€pursuant€toÐ À($( Ðâ âTennessee€Code€Annotated€sections€39„1„702€and€39„1„703.€€By€the€express€terms€of€these€statutes,Ð ¬)ü$)ýà Ðpersons€convicted€of€Class€X€felonies€were€not€permitted€to€earn€any€form€of€sentence€reductionÐ ° Ðcredits.Ð œì Ðâ âÌà  àIn€granting€the€motion€to€dismiss€filed€by€Respondent,€the€trial€judge€held:Ð tÄ ÐÌà8  àà ` àThe€time€of€Petitionerððs€conviction€is€an€essential€date€in€determining€the€lawÐ L œ Ðapplicable€to€this€case.€€Prior€to€July€1,€1982,€Petitioner€committed€armed€robbery€„Ð 8 ˆ Ða€Class€X€felony€and€was€convicted€and€sentenced€subject€to€the€provisions€of€T.C.A.Ð $ t Ððð€39„1„703.€€This€section€provided€that€Class€X€felony€sentences€would€ð ð...not€beÐ  ` Ðsubject€to€reduction€for€good,€honor€or€incentive€or€other€sentence€credit€of€any€sortððÐ ü L  Ðand€that€such€a€sentence€would€ð ð...(3)€terminate€or€expire€only€after€service€of€theÐ è 8  Ðentire€sentence,€day€for€day,€under€the€control€and€supervision€of€the€State€ofÐ Ô$  ÐTennessee.ððÐÀ Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àThe€Class€X€felony€statutes€were€enacted€by€Chapter€318€of€the€Public€ActsÐ ˜è  Ðof€1979.€€Section€20€of€the€Act,€which€was€then€codified€as€T.C.A.€ðð€40„28„301,Ð „Ô  Ðprovided:ÐpÀÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(a)€Notwithstanding€any€provision€of€the€Tennessee€Code€AnnotatedÐ H˜ Ðto€the€contrary,€the€service€of€sentence,€release€eligibility€andÐ 4„ Ðsupervision€while€on€release€of€a€person€convicted€of€a€Class€XÐ  p Ðfelony€ò òshall€be€governed€exclusively€by€the€provisions€of€thisÐ  \ Ðsectionó ó.€ÐüL` x` x ÐÓ  Ó*€*€*Ð ì< ÐÓ  Óà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(d)€Except€for€a€life€sentence,€a€person€convicted€of€a€Class€X€felonyÐ Ø( Ðshall€be€eligible€for€consideration€for€release€classification€status€onlyÐ Ä Ðafter€serving€forty€percent€(40%)€of€the€sentence€actually€imposed€byÐ ° Ðthe€sentencing€court.€€The€term€ððforty€percent€(40%)ðð€as€used€in€thisÐ œì Ðsubsection€shall€be€an€actual€forty€percent€(40%)€of€the€full€sentenceÐ ˆØ Ðimposed€undiminished€by€sentence€credits€for€good,€honor€orÐ tÄ Ðincentive€time€of€any€sort.Ð` °` x` x ÐÌà  àT.C.A.€ðð€40„28„301(1982€Repl.)(emphasis€added).Ð 8"ˆ  ÐÌà8  àà ` àMandatory€parole€was€created€by€Chapter€624€of€the€Public€Acts€of€1974€andÐ $`" Ðcodified€in€pertinent€part€as€T.C.A.€ðð€40„28„117(b)€providing:Ðü$L #Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(b)€Every€prisoner€who€has€never€been€granted€a€parole€by€the€boardÐ Ô&$"% Ðon€a€particular€sentence€of€imprisonment€shall€be€granted€aÐ À'#& Ðmandatory€parole€by€the€board€subject€to€the€following€restrictions:Ь(ü#'` x` x ÐÓ  Ó*€*€*Ð ˜)è$( ÐÓ  Óà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(2)€Prisoners€serving€a€determinate€or€indeterminate€sentence€with€aÐ „*Ô%) Ðmaximum€term€of€over€ten€(10)€years€as€fixed€by€the€court,€shall€beÐ p+À&* Ðparoled€by€the€board€six€(6)€months€prior€to€the€completion€of€theÐ ° Ðmaximum€term€of€sentence€less€credit€for€good€and€honor€time€andÐ œì Ðincentive€time.€ÐˆØ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà ` àIn€1986,€T.C.A.€ðð€41„21„236,€the€sentence€reduction€credits€statute,€came€intoÐ `° Ðeffect.€€It€allowed€inmates€convicted€of€class€X€felonies€to€earn€sentence€credits€andÐ L œ Ðthereby€reduce€their€sentences€by€providing€that:Ð8 ˆÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(c)(3)€Any€person€who€committed€a€felony,€including€any€class€XÐ  ` Ðfelony,€prior€to€December€11,€1985€may€become€eligible€for€theÐ ü L  Ðsentence€reduction€credits€authorized€by€this€section€by€signing€aÐ è 8  Ðwritten€waiver€waiving€his€right€to€serve€his€sentence€under€the€lawÐ Ô$  Ðin€effect€at€the€time€his€crime€was€committed.€€However,€sentenceÐ À  Ðreduction€credits€authorized€by€this€section€may€be€awarded€only€forÐ ¬ü  Ðconduct€and/or€performance€from€and€after€the€date€a€person€becomesÐ ˜è  Ðeligible€under€this€subsection.Ð„Ô ` x` x ÐÌà8  àT.C.A.€ðð€41„21„236€(1997€Repl.)€€Prior€to€the€enactment€of€this€statute,€PetitionerÐ \¬ Ðwas€not€able€to€earn€sentence€reduction€credits€of€any€kind.€€Clearly,€it€benefited€himÐ H˜ Ðto€waive€into€this€program€when€it€was€enacted€in€1986.Ð4„Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àPetitioner€believes€that,€although€he€is€a€Class€X€felony€offender,€he€wouldÐ  \ Ðbe€eligible€for€mandatory€parole€if€he€rescinded€his€waiver.€€However,€parole€forÐ øH ÐClass€X€felony€offenders€is€governed€exclusively€by€T.C.A.€ðð€40„28„301,€cited€above.€Ð ä4 ÐThis€statute€permits€class€X€felons€to€be€eligible€for€parole€after€serving€40%€of€theÐ Ð  Ðsentence€actually€imposed€by€the€sentencing€court,€ð ðundiminished€by€sentence€creditsÐ ¼  Ðor€good,€honor€or€incentive€time€of€any€sort.ðð€€This€statute€makes€no€other€provisionÐ ¨ø Ðfor€Class€X€felons.ДäÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àIn€construing€statutes,€the€Court€must€ascertain€and€give€effect€to€legislativeÐ l¼ Ðintent€without€unduly€restricting€or€expanding€a€statuteððs€coverage€beyond€itsÐ X ¨ Ðintended€scope.€€òòOwens€v.€Stateóó,€908€S.W.2d€923,€926€(Tenn.€1995).€€It€must€examineÐ D!” Ðthe€language€of€a€statute€and€apply€its€ordinary€and€plain€meaning.€€òòId.óó€€It€must€beÐ 0"€  Ðpresumed€that€the€legislature€knows€of€its€prior€enactments€and€knows€of€the€existingÐ #l! Ðstate€of€the€law€at€the€time€it€passes€legislation.€€òòWilson€v.€Johnson€Countyóó,€879Ð $X" ÐS.W.2d€807,€810€(Tenn.€1994);€òòRiggs€v.€Bursonóó,€941€S.W.2d€44,€54€(Tenn.€1997).€Ð ô$D # ÐSince€mandatory€parole€had€been€in€effect€since€1974€when€the€General€AssemblyÐ à%0!$ Ðpassed€the€Class€X€felony€statutes,€the€legislature€is€presumed€to€have€been€aware€ofÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€provisions€of€what€is€now€codified€as€T.C.A.€ðð€40„28„117(b)(2)€when€it€enactedÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€Class€X€felony€statutes€in€1979,€providing€that:€ð ðNotwithstanding€any€provisionÐ ¤(ô#' Ðof€the€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€to€the€contrary,€...ððservice€of€sentence,€releaseÐ )à$( Ðeligibility€and€supervision€of€Class€X€felons€would€be€governed€exclusively€by€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðprovisions€of€the€Class€X€felony€law.€€T.C.A.€ðð€40„28„301€(1982€Repl.).Ðh+¸&*Ð Ð  Їà8  àà ` àThe€Criminal€Sentencing€Reform€Act€of€1989,€codified€at€Title€30,€ChapterÐ ° Ð35€of€the€Tennessee€Code,€provides€in€part:€ð ðFor€all€persons€who€committed€crimesÐ œì Ðprior€to€July€1,€1982,€prior€law€shall€apply€and€remain€in€full€force€and€effect€in€everyÐ ˆØ Ðrespect,€including,€but€not€limited€to,€sentencing,€parole€and€probation.ðð€€T.C.A.€ððÐ tÄ Ð40„35„117(c).Ð`°Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àTherefore,€former€T.C.A.€section€40„28„301(a)€provided€the€exclusive€law€atÐ 8 ˆ Ðthe€time€of€Petitionerððs€offense€and€conviction,€which€was€prior€to€July€1,€1982,Ð $ t Ðrelative€to€calculating€his€sentence€and€release€eligibility.€€For€his€Class€X€felonyÐ  ` Ðsentence,€T.C.A.€ðð€39„1„703€provided€Petitioner€with€no€opportunity€to€accumulateÐ ü L  Ðsentence€credits€but€rather€mandated€that€his€sentence€would€ð ð...(3)€terminate€orÐ è 8  Ðexpire€only€after€service€of€the€entire€sentence,€day€for€day.ðð€€The€CriminalÐ Ô$  ÐSentencing€Reform€Act€of€1989€provided€for€the€continued€viability€and€applicabilityÐ À  Ðof€the€sentencing€laws€in€effect€at€the€time€of€his€conviction.€€Petitioner€has€neverÐ ¬ü  Ðbeen€eligible€for€mandatory€parole€under€the€provisions€of€T.C.A.€ðð€40„28„117(b).Иè Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àThe€order€of€the€Chancellor€from€which€this€appeal€was€perfected€was€entered€July€18,€2000,Ð pÀ Ðless€than€one€month€following€the€release€of€thisà8 @Ð à€Courtððs€opinion€in€òòÔ_ÔEslickÔ_Ô€v.€Campbell,€óóNo.€M1998„Ð \¬ Ð00944„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV,€2000€WL€827964€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€June€27,€2000).€€The€order€of€the€ChancellorÐ H˜ Ðfollows€the€òòEslickóó€opinion€almost€verbatim,€as€it€is€obvious€that€Petitioner€in€this€case€is€in€exactlyÐ 4„ Ðthe€same€position€as€were€petitioners€Ô_ÔEslickÔ_Ô.€€òòóóAll€had€been€convicted€of€Class€X€felonies€committedÐ  p Ðprior€to€July€1,€1982,€and€for€reasons€set€forth€in€òòEslickóó,€Petitioner€Ishaaq€was€never€eligible€forÐ  \ Ðmandatory€parole.€€Rescinding€his€waiver€executed€pursuant€to€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€sectionÐ øH Ð41„21„236€would€not€make€Ishaaq€eligible€for€mandatory€parole.Ð ä4 ÐÌà  àFinally,€the€Chancellor€held:Ð ¼  ÐÌà8  àà ` àPetitioner€claims€that€he€was€not€fully€informed€of€his€rights€and€the€lawÐ ”ä Ðwhen€he€signed€his€waiver€in€August€of€1987€and€claims€that€he€may€thereforeÐ €Ð Ðrescind€it€as€invalid.€€However,€because€Petitioner€never€had€the€right€to€mandatory€Ð l¼ Ðparole,€he€did€not€give€up€a€right€and€exercise€a€ð ðchoiceðð€by€waiving€into€theÐ X ¨ Ðsentence€reduction€credit€statute.€€Respondent€has€not€infringed€on€his€rights€byÐ D!” Ðdenying€his€request€to€rescind€his€waiver,€as€he€never€had€a€right€to€mandatory€parole.€Ð 0"€  ÐTherefore€Petitionerððs€contention€that€his€decision€to€execute€the€waiver€was€notÐ #l! Ðð ðfully€informedðð€is€without€merit.€€As€a€Class€X€felon,€Petitioner€has€never€been€norÐ $X" Ðcan€he€become€eligible€for€mandatory€parole.€€Therefore,€his€petition€fails€to€state€aÐ ô$D # Ðclaim€and€is,€accordingly,€dismissed.Ðà%0!$Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àThe€action€of€the€Chancellor€in€granting€the€motion€to€dismiss€was€clearly€correct.€€òòWilsonÐ ¸'#& Ðv.€Tennessee€Ô_ÔDepððtÔ_Ô€of€Corr.óó,€No.€01A01„9806„CH„00302,€1999€WL€652016€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Aug.Ð ¤(ô#' Ð27,€1999).Ð )à$( Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ðà  àThe€judgment€of€the€Chancellor€is€in€all€respects€affirmed,€and€costs€on€appeal€are€assessedÐ ° Ðâ âagainst€Appellant.€€Ð œì ÐÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð `° Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGE