ÿWPC— ¯RÊÉ3³šõƒŠ2ØÄ3yÉi¹º:ã,ÍôãÄiK>Õá¨|‚)/¥ jÄ3ÊÙ¼óvàE±SÛÐ뇾XØþîb¶P—³¥‡)ÿß{™l¹g}WðšÂî0…C4¥øí†M¹%¯Ùù3Õõšjî¾(eÉÿÿ[ä°—LEq)/? =\Dì†=›Á°ÑìÛceRM;Ç\'h £^tžíåV'=ßd—öK†èWЀqþTG ´nÄ3 c®ÆAs©|!Øz¯P¡Ý‡\%2#¿×#²{B\7ý • ßíGB¦ÈÀCD'2| ¦XŸh†®*9\uÕ>e©G±¦H"Å•Ób™Ð+-J7º×ú8Ü ¹ 1º!´òüæÌYö2†¶  ßǤ½hk ©º‚(œº„ÂlÂzòØKOÇøÝ^%¸ è•iµKXÕ¹½ÜE@½h¾u%ÊvUÃ@ RŠÝAXØÇÃÚÊE·‘aqáRÙ—íÌßGgú–Õ7ÖO¯ùE>Ð?aþPÈ¿&ºáêÛ»¿n^¦N‘Îü®žBáFÑ¥‹÷äD“¸<-z¯T‡ïs(}åÚ Nob#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ UN· w 4 z Ò— i x mz 0D‘ ÆÕ Æ› Æa Æ'UNíN;^=Ú›Eu9wÔ°°°„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„bŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒ 0ë”””” B 0¤œ D3@ D-s 0K   ASëÆ> 0¤ 0D¨ A«ì˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 5eÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»rlT) (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularsM)8£8/¡ ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular TÝ ƒRå$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôàEò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€sole€named€respondent€is€the€Parole€Eligibility€Review€Board.€€In€1998,€the€ð ðBoard€of€Probation€andÐ ° ÐParoleðð€was€substituted€for€the€ð ðBoard€of€Paroles.ðð€1998€Tenn.€Pub.€Acts€1049. ÐÝ ƒRå$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôàEò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€Board€is€statutorily€authorized€to€deny€parole€if€release€would€depreciate€the€serousness€of€the€offense.€Ð ° ÐT.C.A.€ðð€40„35„503(b)(2)(1997).€€We€have€determined€that€there€was€no€illegality€in€the€determination€that€grantingÐ tÄ Ðparole€in€this€case€would€depreciate€the€seriousness€of€the€offense. /Ý ƒRå$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôàEò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€powers€and€duties€of€the€Board€are€set€forth€in€T.C.A.€ðð€40„28„101€òòò òet€seqóóó ó.€€Section€40„28„115(c)€providesÐ ° Ðthat€ð ðthe€action€of€the€Board€in€releasing€prisoners€shall€be€deemed€a€judicial€function€and€shall€not€be€reviewable€if€doneÐ vÆ Ðaccording€to€law.ðð€€Notwithstanding€the€forgoing,€the€Boardððs€conduct€may€still€be€scrutinized€under€a€Writ€of€CertiorariÐ :Š Ðto€determine€if€it€has€succeeded€its€jurisdiction,€or€has€acted€illegally,€fraudulently€or€arbitrarily€in€discharging€itsÐ þN Ðfunctions.€€òòò òSee€Powell€v.€Parole€Eligibility€Review€Bd.óóó ó,€879€S.W.2d€871€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1994). ÊÝ ƒRå$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôàEò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔAt€the€time€of€Mr.€Hortonððs€parole€hearing€on€May€15,€1998€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„28„116(a)(1)(1997)€stated:€Ð ° ЀÌà8  àThe€board€has€the€power€to€cause€to€be€released€on€parole€any€person€who€has€been€declared€eligibleÐ 8ˆ Ðfor€parole€consideration€by€the€department€of€correction.€€ÐüLÐ Ð  ÐÌThe€1998€amendment€substituted€ð ðBoardðð€(Board€of€Probation€and€Parole)€for€ð ðDepartment€of€Correction.ðð€€1998€Tenn.Ð „Ô ÐPub.€Acts€68.€€However,€the€implementation€of€the€act€took€effect€on€July€1,€1999. - ù-(|G2å$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Jm»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôàEò»»Ô d(|3G€$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Jm»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3G€$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Jm»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Jm»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼Jm»»»ÔÑ8€ÁXXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îGLJmÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@LL$ìàAT€NASHVILLE€Ô#†¼Jm»îîGL #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓAssigned€on€Briefs€May€12,€2000Ð üL ÐÔ‡XÁX»¼JmÔÌò òÔ#†¼Jm»XXÁý#ÔWILLIAM€H.€HORTONòòóó€v.€PAROLE€ELIGIBILITY€REVIEW€BOARDòòóóÔ‡XÁX»¼JmÔó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€98„3064„III€€€€€€Ellen€Hobbs€Lyle,€ChancellorÐ æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M1999„02617„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€October€20,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ÔÐ ¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓAn€inmate€in€custody€of€the€Department€of€Correction€filed€a€petition€for€a€common€law€Writ€ofÐ xÈ  ÐCertiorari€alleging€that€the€Board€of€Paroles€acted€arbitrarily€and€illegally€in€denying€him€parole.€Ð d´ ÐThe€trial€court€entered€a€motion€to€dismiss€for€failure€to€state€a€claim€upon€which€relief€can€beÐ P  Ðgranted.€€This€appeal€followed€and€we€affirm€the€trial€court.Ð <Œ ÐÓÕÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Affirmed;€andÐ d ÐRemandedó óÐ P ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼Jm»àXÁƒ#ÔÔ‡XÁX.¼JmÔDavid€R.€Farmer,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòW.€Frank€Crawford,€P.J.,€W.S.óóÐ Ø( Ðand€òòHolly€K.€Lillard,€J.óó,€joined.Ð Ä ÐÌWilliam€H.€Horton,€òòò òPro€seóóó ó.Ð œì ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter;€Michael€Moore,€Solicitor€General;€Pamela€S.Ð tÄ ÐLorch,€Assistant€Attorney€General,€for€the€appellee,€Parole€Eligibility€Review€Board.Ð `° ÐÓ6ÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼Jm»XXÁe#ÔÔ‡XÁX»¼JmÔÐ 8!ˆ  ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼Jm»XXÁ• #ÔÓ  ÓÔ€XÁX»¼JmÔÔ‡XÁXXXÁÔWilliam€H.€Horton,€an€inmate€in€the€custody€of€the€Department€of€Correction,€€filed€a€pleading€styled€Ð #`" Ðð ðPetition€for€Common€Law€Writ€Certiorariðð€in€the€Chancery€Court€for€Davidson€County€allegingÐ ü#L# Ðthat€the€Board׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€acted€arbitrarily€and€illegally€at€his€parole€hearing€on€May€15,€1998.€€He€alleged€thatÐ è$8 $ Ðthe€Board€illegally€extended€his€release€eligibility€date;€that€he€was€denied€access€to€his€ð ðBlue€File;ððÐ Ô%$!% Ðthat€he€was€misinformed€as€to€the€hearing€time€and€therefore€his€witnesses€did€not€arrive€in€time.€Ð À&"& ÐAdditionally,€Mr.€Horton€prayed€that€he€be€granted€any€sentence€credits€that€were€forfeited€throughÐ ¬'ü"' Ðthe€Boardððs€actions.€€Mr.€Horton€also€alleged€that€the€Board€acted€illegally€in€denying€parole€basedÐ ˜(è#( Ðon€the€seriousness€of€the€offense€due€to€the€fact€that€he€had€previously€been€denied€parole€on€theÐ „)Ô$) Ðsame€basis€and€thus€the€Board€was€barred€from€doing€so€again€under€the€doctrine€of€òòò òres€judicataóóó ó.€Ð p*À%*ý ÐA€motion€to€dismiss€was€filed€pursuant€to€Rule€12.02(1)(6)€asking€the€court€to€dismiss€the€petitionÐ ° Ðfor€failure€to€state€a€claim€upon€which€relief€can€be€granted€and€for€lack€of€subject€matterÐ œì Ðjurisdiction.€€This€motion€was€filed€in€behalf€of€ð ðthe€respondents,€Colis€Newble€and€the€TennesseeÐ ˆØ ÐBoard€of€Paroles,€by€and€through€the€office€of€the€Tennessee€Attorney€General.ðð€€Colis€Newble€isÐ tÄ Ðidentified€in€the€record€as€Parole€Hearings€Director€of€the€State€of€Tennessee€Board€of€Paroles.€€InÐ `° Ða€footnote€to€the€motion€to€dismiss,€it€is€stated€that€respondent€Colis€Newble€was€sued€and€serviceÐ L œ Ðwas€accepted€in€his€official€capacity€only.€€A€motion€for€extension€of€time€was€also€filed€in€behalfÐ 8 ˆ Ðof€ð ðthe€respondent,€Colis€Newble.ðð€€Ð $ t ÐÌà  àThe€Parole€Eligibility€Review€Board€was€created€by€the€General€Assembly€in€1992€toÐ ü L  Ðreconsider€the€parole€eligibility€dates€of€prisoners€convicted€of€nonviolent€crimes€under€the€habitualÐ è 8  Ðcriminal€statute€and,€where€appropriate,€to€grant€an€eligibility€date€comparable€to€that€which€theÐ Ô$  Ðoffender€would€have€if€he€were€convicted€and€sentenced€under€the€sentencing€reform€act€of€1989.€Ð À  Ðòòò òSee€Powell€v.€Parole€Eligibility€Review€Bd.óóó ó,€879€S.W.2d€871,€872€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1994).€€The€actÐ ¬ü  Ðwhich€created€the€Parole€Eligibility€Review€Board€further€provided€that€ð ðthe€Board€and€its€authorityÐ ˜è  Ðterminate€on€July€1,€1993.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„35„605€[Obsolete]€(Compilerððs€Notes).€Ð „Ô  ÐTherefore,€at€the€time€Mr.€Horton€filed€his€petition€in€this€matter€on€October€13,€1998,€the€ParoleÐ pÀ ÐEligibility€Review€Board€did€not€exist.€€However,€it€appears€that€service€was€had€upon€the€Board€ofÐ \¬ ÐParoles€and€all€parties€have€treated€it€as€the€respondent.€€In€the€chancellorððs€order€granting€the€motionÐ H˜ Ðto€dismiss,€it€is€stated€that€the€court€determined€that€the€Tennessee€Board€of€Paroles€is€the€onlyÐ 4„ Ðproper€respondent€and€all€other€respondents€are€dismissed€as€improper€parties.Ð  p ÐÌà  àAs€best€we€can€determine,€the€issues€presented€by€Appellant€are€as€follows:Ð øH ÐÌà8  àI.à0` Ð Ð àDid€the€trial€court€err€in€granting€a€motion€to€dismiss?ÐÐ ` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌà8  àII.à0` Ð Ð àDid€the€trial€court€err€in€denying€petitionerððs€motion€for€recusal?Шø` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌà  àIn€his€petition,€Mr.€Horton€alleges€that€the€Board€of€Paroles€illegally€extended€his€releaseÐ €Ð Ðeligibility€date,€and€that€he€was€denied€access€to€the€ð ðBlue€File.ðð€€Additionally,€Mr.€Horton€protestsÐ l¼ Ðthe€absence€of€his€witnesses€from€the€hearing€because€he€misinformed€them€of€the€hearing€start€time.€Ð X ¨ ÐHe€further€alleges€that€certain€board€members€have€a€pattern€of€abusing€the€parole€procedures€byÐ D!” Ðextending€his€release€eligibility€date€and€requests€that€he€be€granted€any€sentence€credits€that€wereÐ 0"€  Ðforfeited€by€the€Boardððs€actions.Ð #l! ÐÌà  àThe€failure€to€state€a€claim€for€which€relief€can€be€granted€is€determined€from€an€examinationÐ ô$D # Ðof€the€complaint€alone.€€òòò òWolcotts€Fin.€Servs.,€Inc.€v.€McReynoldsóóó ó,€807€S.W.2d€708€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð à%0!$ Ð1990).€€It€is€warranted€only€when€no€set€of€facts€will€entitle€the€plaintiff€to€relief,€or€when€theÐ Ì&"% Ðcomplaint€is€totally€lacking€in€clarity€and€specificity.€€òòò òDobbs€v.€Guentheróóó ó,€846€S.W.2d€270€(Tenn.Ð ¸'#& ÐCt.€App.€1992).€€The€scope€of€review€under€the€common€law€writ€is€very€narrow.€€It€covers€only€anÐ ¤(ô#' Ðinquiry€into€whether€the€Board€has€exceeded€its€jurisdiction€or€is€acting€illegally,€or€fraudulently€orÐ )à$( Ðâ âarbitrarily.€€Conclusory€terms€such€as€ð ðarbitrary€and€capriciousðð€will€not€entitle€a€petitioner€to€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðwrit.€€òòò òPowell€v.€Parole€Eligibility€Review€Bd.óóó ó,€879€S.W.2d€871,€873€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1994)€(citingÐ ° Ðòòò òYokley€v.€Stateóóó ó,€632€S.W.2d€123€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1981)).€€Ð œì Ðâ âÌà  àIt€appears€to€be€Mr.€Hortonððs€contention€that,€by€denying€him€parole,€the€Board€ð ðillegallyððÐ tÄ Ðextended€his€release€eligibility€date.€€An€inmate€shall€not€be€eligible€for€parole€until€reaching€hisÐ `° Ðrelease€eligibility€date.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„35„501(a)(1)€(1997€&€Supp.€1999).€€The€releaseÐ L œ Ðeligibility€date€is€the€earliest€date€an€inmate€convicted€of€a€felony€is€eligible€for€parole;€such€date€isÐ 8 ˆ Ðconditioned€on€the€inmateððs€good€behavior€while€in€prison.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„35„501(k)€(1997Ð $ t Ð&€Supp.€1999).€€Prisoners€do€not€have€a€right€to€be€released€on€parole.׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€òòò òSee€Graham€v.€Stateóóó ó,€202Ð  ` ÐTenn.€423,€426,€304€S.W.2d€622,€623€(1957);€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„28„117(a)€(1997).€€The€decisionÐ ü L  Ðto€release€a€prisoner€on€parole€is€within€the€Board€of€Parolesðð€discretion.׃Ü×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€òòò òState€ex€rel.€Ivey€v.Ð è 8  ÐMeadowsóóó ó,€216€Tenn.€€678,€685,€393€S.W.2d€744,€747€(1965);€òòò òDoyle€v.€Hamptonóóó ó,€207€Tenn.€399,Ð Ô$  Ð403,€340€S.W.2d€891,€893€(1960).€At€the€time€of€Mr.€Hortonððs€parole€hearing,€alleged€in€his€petitionÐ À  Ðto€be€May€15,€1998,€the€Department€of€Correction€was€responsible€for€determining€when€a€prisonerÐ ¬ü  Ðbecame€eligible€for€parole€consideration.€€òòò òSeeóóó ó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðððð€40„28„116€&€40„28„129€(1997).€Ð ˜è  ÐThis€decision€was€based€primarily€on€the€portion€of€the€sentence€the€prisoner€has€served€and€on€theÐ „Ô  Ðsentence€credits€the€prisoner€has€earned.€€òòò òSeeóóó ó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„28„115€(1997);€Tenn.€Comp.Ð pÀ ÐR.€&€Regs.€r.€1100„1„1„.07(1)(a)€(1995).׃|×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Ð \¬ ÐÌà  àWith€respect€to€Mr.€Hortonððs€claim€of€a€violation€of€due€process,€Mr.€Horton€failed€toÐ 4„ Ðprovide€this€court€with€any€information€on€the€contents€of€a€ð ðBlue€Fileðð€and€why€any€addition€orÐ  p Ðdeletion€of€information€from€this€file€would€constitute€a€due€process€violation.€€As€such,€this€courtÐ  \ Ðcan€find€no€proper€basis€to€support€his€claim€of€a€due€process€violation.Ð øH ÐÌà  àThe€petition€also€asserts€that€Mr.€Hortonððs€witnesses€were€not€present€at€his€hearing.€€Mr.Ð Ð  ÐHorton€had€informed€his€witnesses€to€be€present€at€9:00€a.m.€while€the€actual€parole€hearing€beganÐ ¼  Ðat€8:30€a.m.€€He€does€not€state€why€he€told€his€witnesses€to€be€present€at€9:00€a.m.€€The€petition€doesÐ ¨ø Ðnot€state€that€petitioner€was€misinformed€of€the€time€or€that€respondent€was€in€any€way€at€fault.€€TheÐ ”ä Ðallegations€in€the€petition€that€the€Board€acted€illegally€and€arbitrarily€are€conclusionary€statements.€Ð ° ÐNo€facts,€other€than€those€we€have€heretofore€addressed,€are€set€forth€to€substantiate€theseÐ œì Ðallegations.Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àMr.€Horton€further€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€failing€to€grant€his€motion€for€recusal.€Ð `° ÐWe€note€that€the€motion€for€recusal€was€not€filed€until€after€the€trial€court€had€entered€its€orderÐ L œ Ðgranting€the€motion€to€dismiss.€€The€basis€for€the€motion€is€that€the€trial€court€stated€an€erroneousÐ 8 ˆ Ðdate€in€the€order.€€In€denying€the€motion€for€recusal,€the€trial€court€acknowledged€that€the€previousÐ $ t Ðorder€had€erroneously€stated€that€the€date€of€the€filing€of€the€writ€of€certiorari€was€October€21,€1998Ð  ` Ðinstead€of€October€13,€1998.€€The€court€then€amended€its€previous€order€to€correct€that€mistake.€€TheÐ ü L  Ðmotion€further€contends€that€the€chancellor€denied€petitioner€an€opportunity€to€submit€proof.€€WeÐ è 8  Ðfind€that€there€is€no€merit€to€this€contention€as€a€motion€to€dismiss€goes€to€the€allegation€of€theÐ Ô$  Ðpleadings€and€does€not€require€evidence.€€The€motion€further€alleges€that€the€chancellor€misappliedÐ À  Ðthe€law,€acted€as€an€advocate€for€the€Tennessee€Board€of€Paroles,€€and€purposely€misinterpreted€theÐ ¬ü  Ðissue€of€the€forfeiture€of€sentence€credits.€€Upon€our€review,€we€find€no€merit€to€this€motion€andÐ ˜è  Ðdetermine€that€the€chancellor€did€not€abuse€her€discretion€in€denying€the€motion€for€recusal.Ð „Ô  ÐÌà  àThe€order€of€the€trial€court€granting€the€motion€to€dismiss€is€affirmed€and€the€costs€of€thisÐ \¬ Ðcause€are€taxed€to€William€H.€Horton,€and€his€surety,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ô#†XÁXXXÁ #ÔÐ H˜ ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð øH Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGE