corpus delicti rule (Tennessee) · Go Syfert
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corpus delicti rule in Tennessee

9 Tennessee opinions name it 3 courts 2012–2024 1 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Tennessee courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (15)

CaseFollowedCited
State of Tennessee v. Courtney Bishopgreen
tenn · 2014 · cited in 6 Tennessee opinions naming this issue, 2014–2024
2 sentences

2024Defendant, however, relies upon the traditional corpus delicti rule that our supreme court abandoned in favor of the “modified trustworthiness standard” more than ten years ago in State v. Bishop, 431 S.W.3d 22, 58 (Tenn. 2014).

2020Although counsel did not remember how often he met 4 See State v. Bishop, 431 S.W.3d 22, 61 (Tenn. 2014) (abandoning the traditional corpus delicti rule). -10- with the Petitioner, in general, he was able to meet and talk with criminal defendants in Shelby County once every thirty days.

36
United States v. Browngreen
ca6 · 2010 · cited in 3 Tennessee opinions naming this issue, 2012–2014
2 sentences

2014Under the modified trustworthiness standard, a defendant’s extrajudicial confession is sufficient to support a conviction only if the State introduces “independent proof of facts and circumstances which strengthen or bolster the confession and tend to generate a belief in its trustworthiness, plus independent proof of loss or injury.” State v. Lucas, 152 A.2d at 60 . 26 When the crime is of a type that does not result in a tangible injury, “the corroborative evidence must implicate the accused in order to show that a crime has been committed.” Smith v. United States, 348 U.S. at 154, 75 S.Ct.

2013In Wagner, the court explained that “th[e] rule requiring corroboration of a confession is known as the corpus delicti rule.” Id. at fn 9 (citing United States v. Brown, 617 F.3d 857, 860 (6th Cir. 2010)).

23
Miller v. Stategreen
md · 2004 · cited in 1 Tennessee opinions naming this issue, 2020–2020
2 sentences

2020The traditional corpus delicti rule dictated that the State “need only corroborate the existence of the core injury associated with the crime, plus the fact that the injury did not occur accidentally or innocently.” Id. (citing Miller v. State, 380 Md. 1 , 843 A.2d 803, 830 (2004); 1 McCormick on Evidence § 146, at 810-11.).

2020The traditional corpus delicti rule dictated that the State “need only corroborate the existence of the core injury associated with the crime, plus the fact that the injury did not occur accidentally or innocently.” Id. (citing Miller v. State, 380 Md. 1 , 843 A.2d 803, 830 (2004); 1 McCormick on Evidence § 146, at 810-11.).

11
State v. Dowgreen
wash · 2010 · cited in 1 Tennessee opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
1 sentence

2014See People v. LaRosa, 293 P.3d at 575 ("[T]he corroboration requirement is not constitutionally mandated but requires the prosecution to present corroborating evidence of a defendant’s confession to assuage our long-standing concern about false confessions.”); State v. Suriner, 294 P.3d at 1099 ("The corpus delicti rule does not protect any statutory or constitutional rights.”); State v. Dow, 168 Wash.2d 243 , 227 P.3d 1278, 1280 (2010) ("[The corpus delicti rule] is judicially created and not constitutionally mandated.... [It] does not have a constitutional source.”) (quoting City of Bremerto

11
State v. Todd James Surinergreen
idaho · 2013 · cited in 1 Tennessee opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
2 sentences

2014See State v. Suriner, 154 Idaho 81 , 294 P.3d 1093, 1098-1100 (2013). 18 .

2014See People v. LaRosa, 293 P.3d at 575 ("[T]he corroboration requirement is not constitutionally mandated but requires the prosecution to present corroborating evidence of a defendant’s confession to assuage our long-standing concern about false confessions.”); State v. Suriner, 294 P.3d at 1099 ("The corpus delicti rule does not protect any statutory or constitutional rights.”); State v. Dow, 168 Wash.2d 243 , 227 P.3d 1278, 1280 (2010) ("[The corpus delicti rule] is judicially created and not constitutionally mandated.... [It] does not have a constitutional source.”) (quoting City of Bremerto

11
People v. LaRosagreen
colo · 2013 · cited in 1 Tennessee opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
2 sentences

2014See United States v. Trombley, 733 F.2d 35, 37 (6th Cir.1984); People v. LaRosa, 2013 CO 2 ¶¶ 34-35 , 293 P.3d 567, 575-76 (Colo.2013), reh’g denied (Feb. 11, 2013).

2014See People v. LaRosa, 293 P.3d at 575 ("[T]he corroboration requirement is not constitutionally mandated but requires the prosecution to present corroborating evidence of a defendant’s confession to assuage our long-standing concern about false confessions.”); State v. Suriner, 294 P.3d at 1099 ("The corpus delicti rule does not protect any statutory or constitutional rights.”); State v. Dow, 168 Wash.2d 243 , 227 P.3d 1278, 1280 (2010) ("[The corpus delicti rule] is judicially created and not constitutionally mandated.... [It] does not have a constitutional source.”) (quoting City of Bremerto

11
Ashby v. Stategreen
ca10 · 1911 · cited in 1 Tennessee opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
2 sentences

2014In the felony-murder case of State v. Shepherd, 902 S.W.2d 895, 901 (Tenn.1995), this Court established that “[t]he corpus delicti in a homicide case.... consists of two (2) elements: (1) the death of a human being and (2) criminal agency in producing that death.” See also Hall v. State, 361 Ark. 379 , 206 S.W.3d 830, 835 (2005) (“[S]o long as the corpus delicti of the homicide (i.e., death caused by a criminal agency) is established by independent evidence, the predicate felony may be shown by confession alone.”); Ashby v. State, 124 Tenn. 684, 698-99 , 139 S.W. 872 , 875 (1911) (“[T]he corpu

2014In later cases, this Court observed that some independent evidence of the corpus delicti should be introduced before admitting the defendant’s confession into evidence, “[b]ut if the wrong order be followed ... it is not reversible error.” Ashby v. State, 124 Tenn. 684, 698-99 , 139 S.W. 872 , 875 (1911); 21 see also Kyle v. State, 208 Tenn. 170, 173 , 344 S.W.2d 537, 538 (1961) (“[We held in Ashby v. State that] it was not necessary that this evidence of a corpus delicti precede the introduction of the confession though it was best to do so; but if it came in the wrong order the Court would n

11
State v. Shepherdgreen
tenn · 1995 · cited in 1 Tennessee opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
1 sentence

2014In the felony-murder case of State v. Shepherd, 902 S.W.2d 895, 901 (Tenn.1995), this Court established that “[t]he corpus delicti in a homicide case.... consists of two (2) elements: (1) the death of a human being and (2) criminal agency in producing that death.” See also Hall v. State, 361 Ark. 379 , 206 S.W.3d 830, 835 (2005) (“[S]o long as the corpus delicti of the homicide (i.e., death caused by a criminal agency) is established by independent evidence, the predicate felony may be shown by confession alone.”); Ashby v. State, 124 Tenn. 684, 698-99 , 139 S.W. 872 , 875 (1911) (“[T]he corpu

11
United States v. Laura Trombleygreen
ca6 · 1984 · cited in 1 Tennessee opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
1 sentence

2014See United States v. Trombley, 733 F.2d 35, 37 (6th Cir.1984); People v. LaRosa, 2013 CO 2 ¶¶ 34-35 , 293 P.3d 567, 575-76 (Colo.2013), reh’g denied (Feb. 11, 2013).

11
Kyle v. Stategreen
· 1961 · cited in 1 Tennessee opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
2 sentences

2014In later cases, this Court observed that some independent evidence of the corpus delicti should be introduced before admitting the defendant’s confession into evidence, “[b]ut if the wrong order be followed ... it is not reversible error.” Ashby v. State, 124 Tenn. 684, 698-99 , 139 S.W. 872 , 875 (1911); 21 see also Kyle v. State, 208 Tenn. 170, 173 , 344 S.W.2d 537, 538 (1961) (“[We held in Ashby v. State that] it was not necessary that this evidence of a corpus delicti precede the introduction of the confession though it was best to do so; but if it came in the wrong order the Court would n

2014In later cases, this Court observed that some independent evidence of the corpus delicti should be introduced before admitting the defendant’s confession into evidence, “[b]ut if the wrong order be followed ... it is not reversible error.” Ashby v. State, 124 Tenn. 684, 698-99 , 139 S.W. 872 , 875 (1911); 21 see also Kyle v. State, 208 Tenn. 170, 173 , 344 S.W.2d 537, 538 (1961) (“[We held in Ashby v. State that] it was not necessary that this evidence of a corpus delicti precede the introduction of the confession though it was best to do so; but if it came in the wrong order the Court would n

11
Hall v. Stategreen
ark · 2005 · cited in 1 Tennessee opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
2 sentences

2014In the felony-murder case of State v. Shepherd, 902 S.W.2d 895, 901 (Tenn.1995), this Court established that “[t]he corpus delicti in a homicide case.... consists of two (2) elements: (1) the death of a human being and (2) criminal agency in producing that death.” See also Hall v. State, 361 Ark. 379 , 206 S.W.3d 830, 835 (2005) (“[S]o long as the corpus delicti of the homicide (i.e., death caused by a criminal agency) is established by independent evidence, the predicate felony may be shown by confession alone.”); Ashby v. State, 124 Tenn. 684, 698-99 , 139 S.W. 872 , 875 (1911) (“[T]he corpu

2014In the felony-murder case of State v. Shepherd, 902 S.W.2d 895, 901 (Tenn.1995), this Court established that “[t]he corpus delicti in a homicide case.... consists of two (2) elements: (1) the death of a human being and (2) criminal agency in producing that death.” See also Hall v. State, 361 Ark. 379 , 206 S.W.3d 830, 835 (2005) (“[S]o long as the corpus delicti of the homicide (i.e., death caused by a criminal agency) is established by independent evidence, the predicate felony may be shown by confession alone.”); Ashby v. State, 124 Tenn. 684, 698-99 , 139 S.W. 872 , 875 (1911) (“[T]he corpu

11
State v. Mauchleygreen
utah · 2003 · cited in 1 Tennessee opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
2 sentences

2014See State v. Mauchley, 2003 UT 10 ¶ 16 , 67 P.3d 477, 482 (Utah 2003); State v. Parker, 315 N.C. 222 , 337 S.E.2d 487, 492-93 (1985); Kenneth S. Broun, 1 McCormick on Evidence § 146, at 810 (7th ed.2013).

2014See State v. Mauchley, 2003 UT 10 ¶ 16 , 67 P.3d 477, 482 (Utah 2003); State v. Parker, 315 N.C. 222 , 337 S.E.2d 487, 492-93 (1985); Kenneth S. Broun, 1 McCormick on Evidence § 146, at 810 (7th ed.2013).

11
State v. Parkergreen
nc · 1985 · cited in 1 Tennessee opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
2 sentences

2014See State v. Mauchley, 2003 UT 10 ¶ 16 , 67 P.3d 477, 482 (Utah 2003); State v. Parker, 315 N.C. 222 , 337 S.E.2d 487, 492-93 (1985); Kenneth S. Broun, 1 McCormick on Evidence § 146, at 810 (7th ed.2013).

2014See State v. Mauchley, 2003 UT 10 ¶ 16 , 67 P.3d 477, 482 (Utah 2003); State v. Parker, 315 N.C. 222 , 337 S.E.2d 487, 492-93 (1985); Kenneth S. Broun, 1 McCormick on Evidence § 146, at 810 (7th ed.2013).

11
State v. Houslergreen
tenn · 2006 · cited in 1 Tennessee opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
1 sentence

2014State v. Housler, 193 S.W.3d at 490 ("Due Process is violated when the jury convicts on the basis of the defendant's confession absent corroborating evidence of the corpus delicti.”).

11
City of Bremerton v. Corbettgreen
wash · 1986 · cited in 1 Tennessee opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
2 sentences

2014See People v. LaRosa, 293 P.3d at 575 ("[T]he corroboration requirement is not constitutionally mandated but requires the prosecution to present corroborating evidence of a defendant’s confession to assuage our long-standing concern about false confessions.”); State v. Suriner, 294 P.3d at 1099 ("The corpus delicti rule does not protect any statutory or constitutional rights.”); State v. Dow, 168 Wash.2d 243 , 227 P.3d 1278, 1280 (2010) ("[The corpus delicti rule] is judicially created and not constitutionally mandated.... [It] does not have a constitutional source.”) (quoting City of Bremerto

2014See People v. LaRosa, 293 P.3d at 575 ("[T]he corroboration requirement is not constitutionally mandated but requires the prosecution to present corroborating evidence of a defendant’s confession to assuage our long-standing concern about false confessions.”); State v. Suriner, 294 P.3d at 1099 ("The corpus delicti rule does not protect any statutory or constitutional rights.”); State v. Dow, 168 Wash.2d 243 , 227 P.3d 1278, 1280 (2010) ("[The corpus delicti rule] is judicially created and not constitutionally mandated.... [It] does not have a constitutional source.”) (quoting City of Bremerto

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Tennessee. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (5)

CaseCitedYears
Smith v. United States green
scotus · 1954
2 sentences

2014Although the rule was based on “the experience of the courts, the police[,] and the medical profession” that people sometimes make voluntary false confessions, the Court reasoned that the application of the corpus delicti rule “should be scrutinized lest the restrictions it imposes surpass the dangers which gave rise to them.” Smith v. United States, 348 U.S. at 153, 75 S.Ct. 194 .

2014The Court noted that tax evasion involves “no tangible injury which can be isolated as a corpus delicti.” Smith v. United States, 348 U.S. at 154, 75 S.Ct. 194 .

12014–2014
Opper v. United States green
scotus · 1954
2 sentences

2014Although this Court long ago adopted the traditional corpus delicti rule, some Tennessee courts, including this one, have at times relied on the “trustworthiness” standard adopted by the United States Supreme Court in Opper v. United States, 348 U.S. 84 , 75 S.Ct. 158 , 99 L.Ed. 101 (1954).

2014Although this Court long ago adopted the traditional corpus delicti rule, some Tennessee courts, including this one, have at times relied on the “trustworthiness” standard adopted by the United States Supreme Court in Opper v. United States, 348 U.S. 84 , 75 S.Ct. 158 , 99 L.Ed. 101 (1954).

12014–2014
State v. Lucas green
nj · 1959
1 sentence

2014Under the modified trustworthiness standard, a defendant’s extrajudicial confession is sufficient to support a conviction only if the State introduces “independent proof of facts and circumstances which strengthen or bolster the confession and tend to generate a belief in its trustworthiness, plus independent proof of loss or injury.” State v. Lucas, 152 A.2d at 60 . 26 When the crime is of a type that does not result in a tangible injury, “the corroborative evidence must implicate the accused in order to show that a crime has been committed.” Smith v. United States, 348 U.S. at 154, 75 S.Ct.

12014–2014
State v. Dow green
wash · 2010
1 sentence

2014See People v. LaRosa, 293 P.3d at 575 ("[T]he corroboration requirement is not constitutionally mandated but requires the prosecution to present corroborating evidence of a defendant’s confession to assuage our long-standing concern about false confessions.”); State v. Suriner, 294 P.3d at 1099 ("The corpus delicti rule does not protect any statutory or constitutional rights.”); State v. Dow, 168 Wash.2d 243 , 227 P.3d 1278, 1280 (2010) ("[The corpus delicti rule] is judicially created and not constitutionally mandated.... [It] does not have a constitutional source.”) (quoting City of Bremerto

12014–2014
Williams v. State green
tenn · 1883
1 sentence

2013In Wagner, the court explained that “th[e] rule requiring corroboration of a confession is known as the corpus delicti rule.” Id. at fn 9 (citing United States v. Brown, 617 F.3d 857, 860 (6th Cir. 2010)).

12013–2013

Statutes the citing opinions construe

TN § Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-106 (3) TN § Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-202 (3)

Counted by distinct opinions that both name this issue and are annotated to the section; sections every opinion cites regardless of issue are not filtered here, so read the counts against the total above.

Where else courts name it

CA 200 (1930–2026) TX 145 (1927–2025) PA 132 (1973–2026) WA 128 (1977–2026) OH 66 (1978–2026) MI 61 (1975–2026) IL 61 (1990–2024) FL 53 (1961–2025) IN 45 (1975–2023) NC 43 (1983–2025) AZ 29 (1992–2025) ME 29 (1973–2019) CT 29 (1964–2020) NM 28 (1990–2024) MO 22 (1987–2025) AR 17 (1995–2023) ID 11 (2003–2014) OR 11 (1921–2023) LA 10 (1971–2017) TN 9 (2012–2024) AK 8 (1980–2014) DE 8 (1985–2026) NV 7 (1990–2016) UT 7 (1991–2005) OK 6 (1994–2026) VT 5 (1996–2025) KS 5 (2014–2024) VA 5 (2011–2025) SC 4 (1997–2015) MD 4 (1975–2010) ND 4 (2021–2026) SD 3 (2002–2015) MN 3 (2010–2025) WV 3 (2012–2023) MT 3 (1984–2006) CO 3 (2013–2019) WY 3 (2010–2023) VI 2 (2010–2016) AL 2 (1986–2025)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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