Tennessee appellate panel hears Armstrong’s challenge to warrant, argues ineffective assistance claim

Bridal Armstrong asked a Tennessee appellate panel on Monday to reverse a post-conviction denial and grant a new trial, arguing his trial lawyer was ineffective for failing to move to suppress a weapon seized after execution of a search warrant the appellant—9s team says was deficient.

Jessica Butler of the Appellate Division of the Public Defender—9s Conference, arguing for Armstrong, told the court the case "is a post conviction appeal stemming from Mr. Armstrong's conviction on 2 counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and 1 count of possession of a prohibited weapon." Butler said the evidence at the post-conviction hearing shows a discrepancy between the multi-page warrant in the record and the single-page copy—or photograph of a copy—that was left with Armstrong, and that the copy he received does not show the time the warrant was issued.

The timing on the warrant, Butler said, is material under Tennessee procedure and controlling state decisions: without…