Federal Defender Services of Eastern Tennessee, Inc. (FDSET), is a non-profit corporation that was begun in 1992 with a renewable grant from the Administrative Office of the Courts of the United States. FDSET provides representation of indigent defendants in the Eastern District of Tennessee by appointment from the federal courts pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act (CJA), 18 U.S.C. §3006A. (FDSET is solely funded by an annual grant from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts in the approximate amount of $9,000,000.)
DIVERSITY FELLOWSHIP
FDSET is pleased to announce that Christopher Meadows is a member of the inaugural class of Diversity Fellows. FDSET will host Christopher for two years. A native of Chattanooga, he is a graduate of the Duke School of Law and spent a year as a fellow in the Federal Defender's office for the Southern District of Florida.
FDSET MISSION STATEMENT
Federal Defender Services of Eastern Tennessee, Inc. zealously advocates in federal courts for those who have been accused or convicted of federal or capital crimes. We provide client-centered, vigorous, and compassionate representation to all. We believe in the worth, dignity, and humanity of every client.
Values: Compassion, Client-Centered Representation, Zealous Advocacy, Competency, Integrity, and Diversity and Inclusion
Federal Defender Services of Eastern Tennessee, Inc. zealously advocates in federal courts for those who have been accused or convicted of federal or capital crimes. We provide client-centered, vigorous, and compassionate representation to all. We believe in the worth, dignity, and humanity of every client.
Values: Compassion, Client-Centered Representation, Zealous Advocacy, Competency, Integrity, and Diversity and Inclusion
Response to the Murder of Tyre Nichols and Call to Action
“We can never be satisfied as long as [African-Americans are] the victim[s] of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
It is easy to dismiss Tyre’s death as merely the result of the actions of five officers of the Memphis Police Department. We urge the public to reject this oversimplification and to examine deeper.
Tyre’s murder was not just the result of the actions of individual officers. Tyre was the victim of inhumane, corrupt, and racist policies of aggressive community surveillance. Our elected leaders tout aggressive policing practices (such as Memphis’s “Scorpion” Unit) as necessary to stifle crime when, in reality, it encourages officers to act on unlawful pretexts and prejudice, and widens the rift that already exists between law enforcement and so many of our communities. Instead of preventing crime, these aggressive policies only deepen mistrust of law enforcement and make our communities less safe.
We urge our community to not only stand in solidarity with Tyre’s family and those of us protesting state-sanctioned violence. We also urge our community to hold accountable our leaders that advocate for and implement policies that result in tragedies like Tyre’s murder.
Please click the text below for the full statement.
Knoxville Office800 South Gay Street
Suite 2400 Knoxville, TN 37929-9714 Phone: (865) 637-7979 Fax: (865) 637-7999 |
Chattanooga Office
835 Georgia Avenue
Suite 600 Chattanooga, TN 37402-2261 Phone: (423) 756-4349 Fax: (423) 756-4345 |
Greeneville Office219 W. Depot St.
Suite 200 Greeneville, TN 37743-4909 Phone: (423) 636-1301 Fax: (423) 636-1385 |