Appellant, Heather Renee McCollum, stands convicted of first degree premeditated murder and arson, for which she received consecutive sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole and five years, respectively. Challenging her convictions and sentence alignment, she raises the following issues in this appeal: (1) whether the evidence was sufficient to support her convictions; (2) whether her arson conviction should be set aside based upon the “physical facts” rule; and (3) whether the trial court erred in aligning her sentences consecutively.

Petitioner, Eric O?Neil Turner, pled guilty to three counts of aggravated statutory rape, a Class D felony, with an agreed sentence of nine years for each count with one conviction to be served consecutively to the others for an effective eighteen-year sentence as a persistent offender. The sentence was suspended with time served, and Petitioner was immediately released on probation. Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief alleging that his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance and that Petitioner?s guilty plea was unknowingly and involuntarily entered.

Cory Batey, former Vanderbilt football player accused of rape, today decided to waive his court appearance after abruptly leaving the courtroom of Judge Monte Watkins. WSMV reports Batey's attorney, Worrick Robinson, said Batey contracted food poisoning. At the hearing, Judge Watkins said he will decide later on whether to grant the state’s motion hat asks for witnesses to be able to call the woman involved in the case a "victim" instead of "alleged victim.” Batey's retrial is set to begin Monday.

The Tennessean reports it is unclear if Attorney General Herbert Slatery’s investigation into Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, will be concluded by the end of the legislative session in April. Several lawmakers said they have not received updates from Slatery on the investigation. The probe was launched following allegations of inappropriate behavior and misconduct against Durham.

An appeals court this week ruled a law student mistakenly admitted to a master’s program for foreign law students cannot compel the Touro College Jacob B. Fuchsberg Law Center to award him an LLM degree. The student argued he was not informed until a few days before his graduation at Touro that he was ineligible because he received his law degree online. The court said the student contributed to the issue by failing to supply transcripts until months after admission. Read more from the ABA Journal.

The ABA Journal reports the mean scaled score on the February administration of the Multistate Bar Examination dropped to its lowest average score on a February administration since 1983. The average score was 135, down 1.2 points from the previous year. Erica Moeser, president of the National Conference of Bar Examiners, said the drop was “not surprising,” and noted February scores are typically lower than July scores.

The state House yesterday approved a measure (HB 1478) that would lower the legal penalties for repeated drug possession, WPLN reports. Under the bill, sponsored by Rep. William Lambert, R-Cottontown, drug possession would become a misdemeanor. The legislation also heightens the penalties for driving drunk in an effort to make people with numerous DUIs serve more time behind bars. The state Senate could vote on the proposal next week.

Williamson County attorney and former judge Robert E. Lee Davies has been appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court to the position of senior judge. Davies practices family law, personal injury and business litigation and also teaches family law at Nashville School of Law. He previously served from 2000 to 2008 as a circuit court judge in the 21st Judicial District. Davies replaces Judge Ben Cantrell, who has served as a senior judge for the past four years. Senior judges are employed by the Supreme Court to hear cases in which other judges cannot serve because of a conflict, or in courts where there is a vacancy.

New Court Offers Hope to Victims of Sex Trafficking

She wants help.
    She’s a heroin addict.
        She’s motivated.
            She’s expecting a grandbaby.

These phrases are tossed around a Nashville judicial library as a carefully crafted group decides if a woman picked up for prostitution is eligible for the innovative program instead of going to prison.

Bone McAllester Norton will host a fundraiser on April 21 for Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors to support humanitarian immigration legal services for undocumented immigrants in Middle Tennessee. Funds will help protect victims of war, trafficking and abuse. The event, sponsored by Sherrard and Roe PLC, is scheduled for 5:30-7 p.m. at Bone McAllester Norton, located at Nashville City Center, 511 Union St., Suite #1600. A $50 contribution is suggested.