Legislature passes act removing appellate review in death-penalty cases
The state Senate passed legislation Thursday removing an appellate court review from death penalty cases, despite efforts by Shelby County Democrats who opposed it.
There are 134 article(s) tagged Raumesh Akbari:
The state Senate passed legislation Thursday removing an appellate court review from death penalty cases, despite efforts by Shelby County Democrats who opposed it.
Memphis Democratic senators oppose bill even though it would allow oversight boards to have a private investigator seek subpoenas from a judge.
Saying he wants to blot out “one of the worst parts of our history,” state Rep. Joe Towns is renewing legislation to eliminate slavery and involuntary servitude from the Tennessee Constitution.
Gov. Bill Lee calls for eliminating the $180 state expungement fee to make it easier for people to wipe their records clean, advocates say. The move drew wide praise from those in Memphis.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Raumesh Akbari and Rep. Karen Camper, both Memphis Democrats, would end the practice of chaining pregnant women and require prenatal, postpartum care.
Open records advocates want to make sure records custodians can't take court action against people simply to keep them from getting information in Memphis and elsewhere around the state.
The potential for fraud has some Tennessee legislators, including Memphis Rep. Mark White and Memphis Sen. Raumesh Akbari, cautious about broader school choice options.
An ex-convict invited by President Trump to the State of the Union address is helping lead efforts to streamline the voter restoration process for people who "pay their debt to society."
House Minority Leader calls for governor to retain authority to negotiate waiver with federal government without legislative approval.
House Minority Leader Karen Camper and Senate Minority Chairman Raumesh Akbari say local governments need financial help housing undocumented immigrants following the enactment of the state's sanctuary cities law.
Hoping to keep gambling dollars from slipping out of Shelby County, state Rep. Joe Towns is sponsoring legislation to revive the Tennessee Horse Racing Commission and bring races to Memphis.
State Rep. Joe Towns' bills could affect thousands of dollars in penalties levied against the Memphis Democrat by the Registry of Election Finance.
Bill Lee is sworn in as Tennessee's 50th governor during a Saturday inauguration ceremony in Nashville's War Memorial Auditorium.
State Senate Democratic Caucus chair Raumesh Akbari hopes to delve into juvenile justice, changing the law on status offenses such as truancy and allowing "blended sentencing" that could keep juveniles from graduating to adult offenses.
The 111th General Assembly takes the oath of office Tuesday to prepare for a session in which it will attack numerous issues ranging from health care to sports betting and education vouchers.
Gov. Bill Haslam commutes the life prison sentence for a woman convicted of killing man when he picked her up for prostitution at age 16.
Legislation sponsored by Senate Minority Chairwoman Raumesh Akbari would authorize sports betting in Tennessee and set up a gaming commission to oversee the industry, with 10 percent of the revenue going to state and local governments and community colleges and technical schools.
The Shelby County legislative delegation will have five new faces and one member moving to the Senate from the House as the 111th General Assembly convenes Jan. 8.
Criminal justice reform promises to be a recurring theme in the 111th General Assembly in 2019, along with medical marijuana and possibly an immigration issue affecting in-state tuition.