Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-14-201 (2026)
Part definitions
✓ current as of May 2026
As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:
- (1) "Indigent person" means any person who does not possess sufficient means to pay reasonable compensation for the services of a competent attorney; and
- (2) "Public defender" means any attorney appointed or elected under any act of the general assembly or any provision of a metropolitan charter to represent indigent persons accused of crime.
Acts 1965, ch. 217, § 1; T.C.A., § 40-2014.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13
cases, 1986–2018 · leading case: Owens v. State, 908 S.W.2d 923 (Tenn. 1995).
Owens v. State, 908 S.W.2d 923 (Tenn. 1995). “§§ 40-30-101 through XX-XX-XXX (1981) and the statutes relating to compensation of counsel were recodified as Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 40-14-201 through XX-XX-XXX (1981).”
State v. David H., 247 S.W.3d 651 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 40-14-201. Whether an income in excess of $40,000 a year obviated the need for the trial court to make additional inquiries may be subject to disagreement by reasonable people.”
Allen v. McWilliams, 715 S.W.2d 28 (Tenn. 1986). “Where such finding has been made and the accused has not competently waived his right to counsel, T.C.A. § 40-14-202(a) provides that the court shall appoint either the Public Defender, if there is one in the county, or a qualified licensed attorney to represent the accused.”
Huskey v. State, 743 S.W.2d 609 (Tenn. 1988). “T.C.A. §§ 40-14-201 to 210. 2 . E.g., Allen v.”
Oudon Panyananouvong v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001). “" Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-14-201 (1); State v.”
Melanie Gayle King (Lyon) v. James David King (Tenn. Ct. App. 2008). “”4 Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-14-201 . Section One of Tenn.”
State of Tennessee, Dep't of Child.'s Servs. v. D.H. - Dissenting (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-14-201 . Whether an income in excess of $40,000 a year obviated the need for the trial court to make additional inquiries may be subject to disagreement by reasonable people.”
State of Tennessee, Dep't of Child.'s Servs. v. RDV (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). “Tenn. Code Ann. §40-14-202 . Further, Tenn.”
David Stovall v. Christopher Dunn (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002). “§ 8-14-209 (1993) because he was acting as a “public defender” as defined in Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-14-201 (1997). II. MR.”
State of Tennessee v. William Ramsey (Tenn. Crim. App. 2003). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-14-201 defines an “indigent person,” for the purposes of determining whether counsel should be appointed, as one “who does not possess sufficient means to pay reasonable compensation for the services of a competent attorney[.”
State of Tennessee v. Robert Miller (Tenn. Crim. App. 2003). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-14-202, which governs court appointment of counsel for indigent defendants, provides in pertinent part as follows: (a) In all felony cases, if the accused is not represented by counsel, and the court determines by the manner provided in…”
Jackie William Crowe v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2002). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-14-201 (1997). In other words, when the record on appeal showed that the court below found the criminal defendant or petitioner-appellant to be indigent, as a dispensation we have often excused the appellant from paying appellate court costs, even if this…”
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