Judge denies immunity for Tiffany Cowart; case to proceed to trial after conflicting testimony

Judge Tammy Long Hayward denied a motion for immunity in the case of State v. Tiffany Cree Cowart (2023CR03364), sending the matter to trial after hearing testimony from the defendant and an independent witness.

Cowart testified that she acted in self‑defense during an incident on Sept. 22, 2021, saying she was grabbed by the hair and raised her hands to protect herself. Defense counsel (Mister Bugg) argued that the defendant was the victim in the confrontation and that any force she used was reasonable to protect herself. An independent witness, Clifford Alexander Cowart, who said he had been present at the residence, described arriving to find the two women fighting and said he intervened.

Assistant Solicitor General Monique Adams told the court the state's evidence contained several inconsistencies and that the defense had not met its burden to show immunity by a preponderance of the evidence. After hearing argument, Judge Hayward said the record was unclear and denied the immunity motion: "Everything was clear as mud," she said, and ordered the case to proceed to trial.

The denial preserves the state’s ability to prosecute the charges listed at arraignment; the judge instructed the parties that the contested factual disputes would be resolved at trial and reminded them of other avenues (custody, paternity) that are not decided in this proceeding.