WPC\ 0]ʷatά"һjHhT]}.H22lgj-$ZFU ĘzK O[i5)"$$$nH2\urϤ324П4촺#~#R(&Fs>uDrU2I -%Wk p}LݓFF&vW{cmmO#xY'p}Ѽb8SlK/6VZT4MRZaɱL/R wj|.k_U.h~(,XJ&k~6^%tUa [MNs罼1])bۈEh?Vk3otNx%0 \'=`OȵsbR~9\Lu,X*0`v ~bSA#wĭIы8Vin GPlZpًXb+z#UBm % 0 UN= 0 0 z % 0 0x 0 03KN E 0U 0 C-p^ w 04  ms5 0% 0m& 0,' 0'*( 0* 0o+ 0, 0, 0|- 0M.b/ 0/ 0/ 0\0 00 01 0-2 02 0|3 0J4 04 05 0H6 06 0~7 08 B-8U>888g9 0l;l; 0< 0< 0>= 0= 0>> 0? 0@ 0vA 0XB 0:C 0C 02D 0 D 0E 0:F 0YG BrG 0_G 0G D3H D-H 0KH 0 =I ASGJJ 0`K 0DL AHL 0L 0uN B*{P D/P 0P D/R 0 S 06S 0 T 0:U 0^OU 0<U 0NUU67VU*mVmVmVmVVVVVVqG[HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 5e,,,,0\  `*Times New RomanTT(`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman RegularL! 6Block TextBlock Text            P! 8Body Text 2Body Text 2             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.wpt`:footnote reffootnote reference        V :footnote texfootnote text  W\  `*Times New RomanTTW        XXXW\  `*Times New RomanTTW  H! 4Body TextBody Text            H0% 4heading 1heading 1&            '    ӁLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5  R !$      5    _StateagenciesmaydeclinetorespondtoarequestforadeclaratoryorderunderTenn.CodeAnn.45223;  however,theycannot,bytheirsilence,preventthepersonseekingthedeclaratoryorderfromseekingjudicialreliefunder  Tenn.CodeAnn.45225.InaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.45223(c),ifastateagencyrefusestorespondto H arequestforadeclaratoryorderwithinsixtydaysafteritisreceived,itssilenceisdeemedadenialoftherequest. R !$      8    _ActofApr.8,1982,ch.868,1982Tenn.Pub.Acts556.  R !$      1    _TheTennesseeCourtofCriminalAppealslateraffirmedthefourconvictionsstemmingfromMr.Hickmans  guiltypleas.Statev.Hickman,No.03C019710CR00483,1999WL39504(Tenn.Ct.App.Jan.21,1999),perm.app.  denied(Tenn.June14,1999).WefindnoindicationthatMr.Hickmaneverappealedfromhisinitialconviction H involvingthetheftfromthePeterestate.TheTennesseeCourtofCriminalAppealshasalsoaffirmedthedismissalof  L Mr.Hickmanspetitionforpostconvictionreliefandhasdismissedhisappealfromthedenialofhismotiontocorrect  thejudgmentforms.Hickmanv.State,Nos.E199902756CCAR3PC&E200000626CCAR3PC,2000WL  33157229(Tenn.Ct.App.Sept.27,2000)(NoTenn.R.App.P.11applicationfiled).*+ (_2623  ..  R !$      9    _ActofMay24,1989,ch,591,1989Tenn.Pub.Acts1169(codifiedasamendedinscatteredtitlesofthe  TennesseeCodeAnnotated).($     HickmanPendletoncolorableSizemoreThandiwe A'laDep't\xP+s *G+G (_25   /%` ` hp x /23  ../%` ` hp x /   j5+am Files3|xU i R !$      4    _Inothercontexts,Mr.HickmanslettertotheBoardschairmancouldreasonablybeconstruedasapetition  fordeclaratoryorderinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.45223(1998)whichcouldprovidethenecessarypredicate  forapetitionfordeclaratoryjudgmentunderTenn.CodeAnn.45225(1998).However,Tenn.CodeAnn.45 H 106(c)(2000)explicitlyexcludestheBoardfromtheprovisionsofTenn.CodeAnn.45223,225.Hamiltonv.  L Traughber,No.01A019409CH00441,1995WL217187,at*1(Tenn.Ct.App.Apr.13,1995),perm.app.denied  (Tenn.July3,1995).Accordingly,despitecontrarydictainotherdecisions,e.g.,Hodgesv.Lewis,No.M200002309  COAR3CV,2001WL799748,at*2(Tenn.Ct.App.July17,2001)(NoTenn.R.App.P.11applicationfiled),it X wouldbeinappropriatetoconstrueMr.HickmanspetitionasapetitionforadeclaratoryjudgmenttowhichTenn.Code  \ Ann.279102ssixtydaydeadlinewouldnotapply.Theonlyprocedureforaprisonertoobtainjudicialreviewof   anactionordecisionoftheBoardisbyapetitionforcommonlawwritofcertiorari.Parteev.State,No.02C019311    CC00267,1995WL381649,at*1(Tenn.Crim.App.June28,1995)(NoTenn.R.App.P.11applicationfiled).*8+8 (_24  ," hp x ,23  ..," hp x ,  *5+5 (_23 ` ) hp x )23  ..) hp x ) ` *2+2 (_22  &hhp x &23  ..&hhp x &  */+/ (_21  #p x #23  ..#p x #    R !$      6    _ThefactsofthiscasedifferentiateitfromDebordv.TennesseeBd.ofParoles,No.01A019702!CH00052,  1997WL203600(Tenn.Ct.App.Apr.25,1997)(Tenn.R.App.P.11applicationdismissedJune6,1997)inwhich  theprisonerwassimultaneouslyseekingdeclaratoryreliefandacommonlawwritofcertiorarifromthesamedecision H bytheBoard.*,+, (_20 h  p x 23  .. p x h *)+) (_19  pp x 23  ..pp x   *&+& (_18   x 23  .. x   *AA (_17  5+ ` hp x 523  Ԁ5+ ` hp x 5  *GG (_16   /%` ` hp x /23  Ԁ/%` ` hp x /   *88 (_15  ," hp x ,23  Ԁ," hp x ,  - -*55 (_14 ` ) hp x )23  Ԁ) hp x ) ` *22 (_13  &hhp x &23  Ԁ&hhp x &  *// (_12  #p x #23  Ԁ#p x #  *,, (_11 h  p x 23  Ԁ p x h *)) (_10  pp x 23  Ԁpp x   (&& &_9   x 23  Ԁ x   (AA &_8  5+ ` hp x 523  5+ ` hp x 5  (GG &_7   /%` ` hp x /23  /%` ` hp x /   (88 &_6  ," hp x ,23  ," hp x ,  (55 &_5 ` ) hp x )23  ) hp x ) ` (22 &_4  &hhp x &23  &hhp x &  (// &_3  #p x #23  #p x #  (,, &_2 h  p x 23   p x h ()) &_1  pp x 23  pp x   &&& $_   x 23   x   )Hairline d\  `&Times New Roman ] R !$      3    _Tenn.R.Civ.P.6.02provides,inpertinentpart: Whenby...theserules...anactisrequiredorallowed  tobedoneatorwithinaspecifiedtime,thecourtforcauseshownmay,atanytimeinitsdiscretion...uponmotion  madeaftertheexpirationofthespecifiedperiodpermittheacttobedone,wherethefailuretoactwastheresultof H excusableneglect.._.._Ԁ0AA.Normal  5+ ` hp x 55+ ` hp x 5  <AA:Definition T  5+ ` hp x 55+ ` hp x 5  <AA:Definition L , 5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 586Definition(hh&H1  5+ ` hp x 5      5+ ` hp x 5  (]]&H2  5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 5  (]]&H3  5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 5  (]]&H4  5+ ` hp x 5 XXX 5+ ` hp x 5  (]]&H5  5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 5  (]]&H6  5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 5  2DD0Address  5+ ` hp x 55+ ` hp x 5  8MM6Blockquote , , 5+ ` hp x 5   5+ ` hp x 5,*CITE(|G2 !$ !.8^ dXXd8         0  ,dl*CODEKo<6X9`(Courier NewKS?\  `&Times New RomanS42Emphasis64Hyperlink     d<:FollowedHype    (|3R$ !.8^ dXXd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  4go2Keyboard Ko<6X9`(Courier NewKS?\  `&Times New RomanS ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3R$ !.8^ dXXd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK<:Preformatted  /%  ,Kk %#/Ko<6X9`(Courier NewKS?\  `&Times New RomanS/%  ,Kk %#/  <:zBottom of 7e(X7    5+ ` hp x 5?p%2A`Arial?  S?\  `&Times New RomanS7Z(X75+ ` hp x 5  &0 d dd)1dxd<:zTop of For7g(X7    5+ ` hp x 5?p%2A`Arial?  S?\  `&Times New RomanS7Z(X75+ ` hp x 5  d)2dxd0KS.SampleKo<6X9`(Courier NewKS?\  `&Times New RomanS0.Strong 8dl6TypewriterKo<6X9`(Courier NewKS?\  `&Times New RomanS42Variable: 8HTML MarkupB      2 0CommentB  (O$<6X9`(Courier New%2A`Arial  R !$      2    _?Tenn.R.Civ.P.7.02(1)requiresthatmotionsmust statewithparticularitythegroundstherefor.Wesurmise  thattheOfficeoftheAttorneyGeneralmayhavearticulatedaspecificreasonorreasonswhyMr.Hickmanspetition  failedtostateaclaimuponwhichreliefmaybegrantedinamemorandumoflawaccompanyingitsmotion.However, H thismemorandum,byoperationofTenn.R.App.P.24(a),isnotapartoftheappellaterecord.Sufficeittosaythat  L articulatingadefenseinamemorandumaccompanyingamotiondoesnotamounttocompliancewithTenn.R.Civ.P.  7.02(1).Pendletonv.Mills,No.M200003097COAR3CV,2000WL1089503,at*2,n.7(Tenn.Ct.App.Sept.18,  2001);Robinsonv.Clement,No.M200100365COAR3CV,2001WL965092,at*2(Tenn.Ct.App.Aug.27,2001) X (Tenn.R.App.P.11applicationfiled).#?~# g R !$      7    _ActofMar.20,1974,ch.624,5,1974Tenn.Pub.Acts612,614,asamendedbyActofApr.28,1975,ch.  99,1975Tenn.Pub.Acts177andActofApr.24,1989,ch.227,32,1989Tenn.Pub.Acts326,330. !.8^ dd8     _TRY,3'LetterX3' Letter 3' Letter3'TH  ^ 8AXXdd8  @ C^ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @kk$ATNASHVILLE#^ C|#Ԉ &   AssignedonBriefsAugust2,2001  L XAX^  #^ XXAn#J.D.HICKMANv.TENNESSEEBOARDOFPAROLES   J XAX^ @@ AppealfromtheChanceryCourtforDavidsonCounty 0 p @@No.001367IIrvinH.Kilcrease,Jr.,Chancellor  \ @@*AV) ` dE< ` A  4  @@TTNo.M200002846_COA_ԄR3CVFiledOctober16,_2001_  /  AV) ` dE<` A      Thisappealinvolvesaprisonerseffortstoobtainamandatoryparoledate.Afterthegeneralcounsel   fortheTennesseeBoardofParolesinformedhimthathewasineligibleformandatoryparole,the   prisonerfiledacommonlawwritofcertiorariintheChanceryCourtforDavidsonCountyseeking  adeclarationeitherthatheisentitledtoamandatoryparoledateorthattheBoardhadbeen  employingthewronglegalstandardswithregardtohisparoledateandtheparoledatesofallother r prisonerssentencedafter1989.InresponsetotheBoardsTenn.R.Civ.P.12.02(6)motion,thetrial ^ courtdismissedtheprisonerspetitionbecauseitwasnottimelyfiledandbecausetheTennessee J CriminalSentencingReformActof1982hadprospectivelyrepealedmandatoryparoleby 6v implication.Onthisappeal,theprisonerassertsthathissuitwastimelyfiledandthatthetrialcourt "b erredbyconcludingthathewasnotentitledtoamandatoryparoledate.Wehavedeterminedthat N theprisonerscomplaintwastimely;however,wehavealsodeterminedthatheisnotentitledtoa : mandatoryparoledate. & . Tenn.R.App.P.3AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheChanceryCourtAffirmed     WilliamC.Koch,Jr.,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichWilliamB.Cainand  PatriciaJ.Cottrell,JJ.,joined.  J.D.Hickman,MountainCity,Tennessee,ProSe. Z!! PaulG.Summers,AttorneyGeneralandReporter;MichaelE.Moore,SolicitorGeneral;and 2#r# StephanieR.Reevers,SeniorCounsel(onappeal),fortheappellee,TennesseeBoardofParoles. $^ $   OPINION  %6"&   @) I.  '$(   ShortlyafterJ.D.HickmanwasadmittedtothepracticeoflawinTennessee,hebeganto )%* stealmoneyentrustedtohimbyhisclients.Aftercommittingthiscrimerepeatedlyoverafouryear *&+ period,Mr.Hickmanwasarrestedandchargedwithmultiplecountsoftheft.Hewastriedfirstin ~+', WashingtonCountyonthechargeofstealingmorethan$60,000fromtheestateofClariceMoore j,(- Peter,andonFebruary25,1997,ajuryfoundhimguilty.Afterhismotiontodismisstheremaining V-).  chargeswasdenied,Mr.Hickmanpleadedguiltytofourremainingcharges,oneinWashington B.*/: CountyandthreeinSullivanCounty.   1      ׀Mr.Hickmanwasdisbarredfromthepracticeoflawandis   currentlyservinganeffectiveelevenyearsentenceattheNortheastCorrectionalCenterinMountain  City.    InDecember1998,theTennesseeBoardofParolesdeclinedtoparoleMr.Hickmanandset p itsnextconsiderationofhiscaseforDecember2003.Mr.HickmanthereafterfiledsuitintheUnited \ StatesDistrictCourtfortheMiddleDistrictofTennesseechallengingtheBoardsrefusaltoparole H  him.Thereafter,inJanuary2000,Mr.HickmanwrotealettertotheBoardsgeneralcounselseeking 4 t adeclarationthathewasentitledtomandatoryparoleunderTenn.CodeAnn.4028117(b)(1997).  ` OnFebruary8,2000,theBoardsgeneralcounselrespondedthatthe criminalsentencereformact  L  of1982abolishedmandatoryparoleforanyonesentencedafter7/1982.Nottobedeterredbythis  8  response,Mr.HickmanwrotealetterdatedMarch20,2000totheBoardschairmanrequestinga  $  mandatoryparoledateor,inthealternative,aparolehearingbeforetheBoard.     TheBoardschairmanneverrespondedtoMr.HickmansMarch20,2000letter.   Accordingly,onMay2,2000,Mr.HickmanfiledapetitionforwritofcertiorariintheChancery   CourtforDavidsonCountyseekingadeclarationthathewasentitledtoamandatoryparoledateor  thattheBoardhadbeenemployingthewronglegalstandardswithregardtohisparoledateandthe l paroledatesofallotherprisonerssentencedafter1989.Afterobtainingacontinuancetofilea X responseonbehalfoftheBoardanditschairman,theOfficeoftheAttorneyGeneralfiledamotion D todismissstatinginthemostgeneraltermsthatMr.Hickmanspetitionfailedtostateaclaimupon 0p whichreliefmaybegranted.Regrettably,themotionfailedtostatepreciselyhowMr.Hickmans \ complaintfailedtostateaclaimuponwhichreliefmaybegranted,asrequiredbyTenn.R.Civ.P. H 7.02.t   2      ׀WepresumefromMr.Hickmansresponseandthetrialcourtsmemorandumandorderthat 4 theAttorneyGeneralmusthaveassertedthatthepetitionwasnottimelyfiledandthatMr.Hickman   wasnotentitledtomandatoryparoleasamatteroflaw.     ThetrialcourtfiledamemorandumandorderonOctober25,2000,dismissingMr.  HickmanspetitionbecauseitwasuntimelyandbecauseMr.Hickmanwasnotentitledtomandatory  parolebecausehewassentencedafterJuly1,1982.Onthisappeal,Mr.Hickmancomplainsthat | thetrialcourterredbygrantingtheOfficeoftheAttorneyGeneraladditionaltimetofileits h responsivepleadings.Healsoinsiststhathiscomplaintwastimelyandthatthetrialcourterredby  concludingthathewasnoteligibleforamandatoryparoledate.  @) II.   @ TheExtensionofTimeFortheAttorneyGeneralsResponsivePleadings  p   Mr.HickmanassertsthatthetrialcourterredbygrantingtheAttorneyGeneralanextension H  oftimetorespondtohispetition.BecausetheAttorneyGeneralsmotionwasfiledafterthe 4 t expirationofthetimeforfilingaresponsivepleadingprovidedbyTenn.R.Civ.P.12.01,Mr.  ` HickmanarguesthattheAttorneyGeneralwasrequiredtodemonstratethathisfailuretorequesta  L  timelyextensionoftimewasbroughtaboutbyexcusableneglect.B   3      ׀HealsoarguesthattheAttorney  8  Generalsexcusethatherequired additionaltime...toconductaninvestigationandprepare  $  responsivepleadingsforsubmissiondoesnotconstituteexcusableneglect.     WeareconstrainedtoagreewithonepointmadebyMr.Hickman.TheAttorneyGenerals   motiondoeslittletoexplainwhyheoroneofhisassistantsneededfortysevendays,ratherthan   thirtydays,toseekadditionaltimetorespondtoMr.Hickmanspetition.Indeed,wesuspectthat  nosuchplausibleexplanationwasofferedbecausenonewasavailable.Excusableneglectmustbe l proved,notmerelyalleged.Accordingly,amotionseekinganenlargementoftimefiledafterthe X applicabledeadlinehasexpiredshouldbeaccompaniedbyanaffidavitstatingthecircumstancesthat D preventedthemovingpartyfromactingwithintherequiredtime. 0p   Theconceptofexcusableneglectisnotinflexible.ForthepurposeofTenn.R.Civ.P.6.02, H determiningwhetherafailuretoactwithinarequiredtimeshouldbeexcusedisafunctionofthe 4 lengthoftimethathaspassedsincethedeadlineandthepossibleharmtotheopposingpartybrought   aboutbythefailuretoactwithinthedeadline.Wagnerv.Frazier,712S.W.2d109,113(Tenn.Ct.   App.1986).Inthiscase,theAttorneyGeneralsmotionwasseventeendayslate,andMr.Hickman  hasnotdemonstratedthathehasbeenprejudicedinanywaybytheAttorneyGeneralsfailureto  seekanextensionoftimetoanswerhispetitionwithinthirtydaysafterhefiledit.    TheAttorneyGeneralsmotionforanextensionoftimewaslateandwasnotsupportedby h evenacolorableexplanationfortheinabilitytofilethemotiononorbeforeJune1,2000.Despite T  thisseemingnonchalanceregardingtherequirementsoftherules,wedeclinetoholdthatthetrial @!  courtabuseditsdiscretionbygrantingtheAttorneyGeneralthirtyadditionaldaystofilearesponsive ,"l! pleading.InaccordancewithTenn.R.App.P.36(b),wedeclinetograntreliefonappealunless, #X" consideringtherecordasawhole,theallegederror(1)involvedasubstantialright,(2)more $D # probablythannotaffectedthejudgment,or(3)resultedinprejudicetothejudicialprocess.Inthe $0!$ absenceofanysubstantiveorproceduralprejudicetoMr.Hickman,noneofthesecircumstances %"% exist. &#&  ($( @^^( III.   @q q  TheTimelinessofMr.HickmansComplaint     BoththeAttorneyGeneralandthetrialcourtappeartohaveconstruedMr.Hickmans  petitionasachallengetotheBoardsDecember2,1998decisionnottoreleasehimonparole. p WhileMr.Hickmanspetitionissurprisinglyunclearforapaperpreparedbyalawschoolgraduate, \ itcanbefairlyreadtobeaimedattheBoardsrefusaltorespondtohisdemandforamandatory H  paroledate.Mr.Hickmanmadehislastrequestforamandatoryparoledateinhislettertothe 4 t BoardschairmandatedMarch20,2000.Mr.HickmanassertsthattheBoardschairmannever  ` respondedtohisletterandthattheBoardschairmancustomarilydeclinestorespondtosimilar  L  letterssolelyforthepurposeofevadingjudicialreviewoftheBoardsdecisions.  8  Ѐ  $    Tenn.CodeAnn.279102(2000)requiresthatpetitionsforbothcommonlawand   statutorywritsofcertioraribefiledwithinsixty(60)daysfromtheentryoftheorderorjudgment   forwhichreviewissought.Thepurposeofthisprovisionistopromotethetimelyresolutionof   disputesbyestablishingfilingdeadlinesthatwillkeepcasesmovingthroughthesystem.Levyv.   BoardofZoningAppeals,No.M199900126COAR3CV,2001WL1141351,at*45(Tenn.Ct.  App.Sept.27,2001);Stateexrel.Sizemorev.UnitedPhysiciansRiskRetentionGroup,___S.W.3d l ___,___,2001WL360698,at*6(Tenn.Ct.App.2001)(discussingthepurposeofdeadlines X generally).Tenn.CodeAnn.279102sdeadlinehasbeenanalogizedtothedeadlineforfiling D anoticeofappealunderTenn.R.App.P.4(a).Thandiwev.Traughber,909S.W.2d802,804(Tenn. 0p Ct.App.1994).Accordingly,likeanoticeofappeal,failuretofileapetitionforcommonlawwrit \ ofcertiorariwithinthetimerequiredbyTenn.CodeAnn.279102causesthepartyfilingthe H petitiontoforfeititsrighttoseekjudicialreviewandrequiresthecourtstodeclinetoexercisetheir 4 jurisdictiontograntthewritbecausethepetitionistimebarred.Alav.TennesseeDeptofCorr.,   914S.W.2d914,916(Tenn.Ct.App.1995)(holdingthatapetitionfiledlongerthansixtydaysafter   afinalorderisnottimelyfiled);Brannonv.CountyofShelby,900S.W.2d30,34(Tenn.Ct.App.  1994)(holdingthatapetitionnotfiledwithinsixtydaysistimebarred).    Thecourtsshouldbehesitanttopermitstateagenciesandofficialstousesilenceasameans | toshieldtheiractionsfromjudicialreview.Inothercontextsnotapplicablehere,"   4      ׀theTennessee h  GeneralAssemblyhasrecognizedthatadministrativeagenciesshouldnotbepermittedtohide T  behindawallofsilence.   5      ׀Accordingly,wewilltreatthechairmansrefusaltorespondtoMr.   HickmansMarch20,2000letterasadenialofhisrequestforamandatoryparoledate.'   6      ׀It  necessarilyfollowsthattheBoardcouldonlyhavedeniedMr.Hickmansrequestformandatory  paroleafteritreceivedhisletter.    Mr.HickmansMay2,2000petitionwasfiledwithinsixtydaysfollowinghisMarch20, \ 2000letter.EnoughtimehadelapsedtoappropriatelypresumethattheBoardhaddecidednotto H  respondtoMr.Hickmansletter.Ratherthanbeingcharacterizedas noaction,thechairmans 4 t failuretorespondtoMr.Hickmansletterismoreproperlyreviewedastantamounttoadenialof  ` hisrequest.BecausethechairmansdecisionmusthavebeenmadeatsomepointafterMarch20,  L  2000,wefindthatMr.HickmanspetitionwasfiledwithinthetimepermittedbyTenn.CodeAnn.  8  279102.Accordingly,thetrialcourterredbyconcludingthatMr.Hickmanspetitionwas  $  untimely.   @dd) IV.    @  Mr.HickmansEntitlementtoMandatoryParole      Mr.HickmanisnotthefirstprisonercommittingacrimeafterJuly1,1982whohasasserted l thatheiseligibleformandatoryparoleunderTenn.CodeAnn.4028117(b).Wehaveaddressed X thisissueonatleastthreeoccasions.Becauseourdispositionstooktheformofmemorandum D opinionspursuanttoTenn.Ct.App.R.10(b),neitherthepartiesnorthiscourtmayciteorrelyon 0p themunlesstheyrelatetotheclaimsinvolvedinthiscase.Becausenoneoftheearlierdecisions \ involvedMr.Hickman,wedeclinetorelyonthemasauthority,eventhoughtheirreasoningis H sound. 4   Theconceptof mandatoryparolenowfoundinTenn.CodeAnn.4028117(b)entered   ourlawin1974.yx   7      ׀MandatoryparoleanddiscretionaryparolecoexisteduntiltheTennesseeGeneral  AssemblyenactedtheTennesseeCriminalSentencingReformActof1982whichsubstantially  rewroteourstatessentencingandparolelaws.    8      ׀Toavoidexpostfactochallenges,the1982Act  explicitlystatedthatitappliedto allpersonswhocommitcrimesonorafterJuly1,1982.Tenn. | CodeAnn.4035112(a)(1986)(repealed).TheTennesseeGeneralAssemblypurposelydidnot h repealthemandatoryparolestatutebecauseitcontinuedtogovernthesentenceandreleaseof T  personswhocommittedcrimespriortoJuly1,1982.However,inlightofthefactthatthe @!  sentencingandreleaseofpersonscommittingcrimesafterJuly1,1982wasgovernedbythe  TennesseeCriminalSentencingReformActof1982,personswhocommittedcrimesafterJuly1,  1982werenotentitledtomandatoryparolesimplybecausetheTennesseeCriminalSentencing  ReformActof1982didnotcontainaprovisionformandatoryparole.    In1989,theTennesseeGeneralAssemblyagainrewrotethestatutesdealingwithcriminal \ offensesandsentencing.   9      ׀Likeits1982counterpart,the1989ActagainalteredTennesseesstatutes H  governingparole.Thesechanges,byvirtueofTenn.CodeAnn.4035117(a)(1997),applyto all 4 t personswhocommitcrimesonorafterNovember1,1989.Prisonerswithfelonysentencesto  ` whomthesechangesapplymustservetheirsentencesandareeligibletobeconsideredforparolein  L  accordancewiththe1989Actasamended.Tenn.CodeAnn.4035501(a)(1)(Supp.2000).For  8  theseprisoners,releaseonparoleis aprivilegeandnotaright.Tenn.CodeAnn.4035503(b)  $  (1997),andaprisonersreleaseeligibilitydatecalculatedinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofthe   1989Actasamendedis theearliestdateaninmateconvictedofafelonyiseligibleforparole.   Tenn.CodeAnn.435501(k).Nowhereinthe1989Actasamendedisthereaprovisionfor   mandatoryparole.     Mr.HickmancommittedallthecrimesforwhichheiscurrentlyincarceratedafterNovember l 1,1989.Accordingly,hissentenceandhisopportunityforparolearegovernedbythe1989Actas X amended.HeisnoteligibleformandatoryparolebecauseTenn.CodeAnn.4028117(b)does D notapplytopersonswhocommittedcrimesafterJuly1,1982andbecausethestatutesapplicable 0p topersonswhocommittedcrimesafterNovember1,1989donotprovideformandatoryparole. \ Therefore,thetrialcourtcorrectlydeterminedthatMr.Hickmanspetition,totheextentthatit H soughtjudicialreliefbasedonTenn.CodeAnn.4028117(b),failedtostateaclaimuponwhich 4 reliefmaybegranted.   @) V.     WeaffirmtheOctober25,2000memorandumandorderdenyingMr.Hickmanspetitionand  remandthecasetothetrialcourtforwhateverfurtherproceedingsconsistentwiththisopinionmay | berequired.WetaxthecostsofthisappealtoJ.D.Hickmanforwhichexecution,ifnecessary,may h issue.Onourownmotion,andinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.271122(2000),Tenn.Code T  Ann.4121807(1997),asamendedbyActofApr.2,2001,ch.76,2,2001Tenn.Pub.Acts___, @!  andTenn.CodeAnn.4121816(a)(1)(1997),wefindthisappealfrivolous. ,"l!    `     h     ______________________________ %"%    `     h     WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGE