We Fight Criminal Charges Like Your Future is on the Line.
At Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys, we know this is a stressful, confusing time, and we’re committed to responding to all texts and phone calls the same business day. Our No. 1 goal is to get your charges dismissed.
If you’re facing a criminal charge in Tennessee, your future is at stake. You deserve the best possible legal representation. Michael & Associates delivers personalized, client-focused criminal defense services throughout Tennessee. We know this is a challenging time, so we prioritize responding to all texts and phone calls the same business day.
We know what it takes to get the best possible case outcome.
Our top priority is dismissal. Let us work to protect your rights and your freedom.
Arrested in Tennessee? You Need an Experienced Defense Attorney
Tennessee courts can be unpredictable, and each courtroom has its own procedures, prosecutors, and pressure points. You need a defense team that knows how to navigate these systems and achieve a favorable outcome.
A criminal conviction can carry serious, life-changing consequences such as:
- Jail or prison time
- Expensive fines
- Probation
- Loss of gun rights
- Trouble renting an apartment or securing loans
- Revocation of professional licenses
- Difficulty finding a job
What Are the Collateral Consequences of a Criminal Conviction in Tennessee?
Pleading guilty or no contest might seem like the quickest way to avoid jail, but any criminal conviction can harm you in ways you might not expect. A conviction could:
- Cost you child custody or visitation rights
- Lead to job loss or professional license revocation
- Damage your reputation in the community (especially if sex offender registration is involved)
- Prevent you from renting an apartment or buying a home
When we build a defense strategy, we consider every possible consequence.
Our Process: What to Expect When You Call
We know picking up the phone can feel overwhelming. We’ve made our process simple and stress-free.
- Free consultation: Speak with an intake specialist who gathers your case facts and starts the paperwork. No commitment is required.
- Talk to an attorney quickly: One of our experienced criminal defense attorneys will reach out to discuss your legal options.
- We get to work immediately: From day one, we can help with bond, jail release (even after hours), and pretrial negotiations.
- Your defense strategy begins: We’ll build a customized plan to identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.
Cases We Handle in Tennessee
DUI Defense
We’ve helped hundreds of clients beat DUI charges. Our ACS-CHAL Forensic DWI Lawyer-Scientists have advanced training in breath and blood testing and understand the science better than most prosecutors.
We defend all types of DUI cases, including:
- First-time offenses
- Repeat offenses
- Boating under the influence
- Underage DUI
Drug Charges
Whether you’re facing charges for marijuana, prescription drugs, cocaine, meth, or fentanyl, we fight all drug cases, including:
- Possession
- Manufacturing
- Trafficking
Felony Charges
Tennessee law covers thousands of felony offenses. We fight for dismissal, reduction, or acquittal — whatever it takes.
Misdemeanors
Misdemeanors can still result in jail time, probation, and fines. We handle all classes of misdemeanors.
Assault and Domestic Violence
Assault charges (particularly if you're facing allegations of domestic assault or aggravated assault) can be devastating. If charges stem from a misunderstanding, we’ll work aggressively to get them dropped.
Probation Violations
Facing probation revocation? We’ve helped many clients maintain their freedom and avoid incarceration.
Homicide
From criminally negligent homicide to first-degree murder, we handle the most serious charges with total dedication. Don’t put your life in the hands of an overworked public defender.
Theft and Shoplifting Crimes
We defend against theft, shoplifting, bad checks, and other theft-related offenses, constantly challenging the prosecution’s evidence.
Other Charges We Handle:
- Trespassing
- Burglary
- Vehicular homicide
- Evading arrest
- Harassment
- Weapons charges
- Traffic violations
Public Defender vs. Private Criminal Defense Attorney: Why It Matters
Public defenders in Tennessee are often overworked and lack the necessary resources to investigate every case thoroughly. Many have limited trial experience and heavy caseloads.
When you hire Michael & Associates, you’re hiring our entire criminal defense team. We will:
- Take the time to hear your story
- Thoroughly investigate every angle of your case
- Build a strategic, aggressive defense
- Keep you fully involved in every decision
We won’t pressure you to accept a plea deal just to expedite your case. If you want to take your case to trial, we’re ready and willing to fight for you. You deserve an attorney you can trust and feel comfortable confiding in — and that relationship can make all the difference in your defense.
Our Goal: Get You Back to Your Life
Facing criminal charges is incredibly stressful. We understand that your life, your family, and your future are at stake.
At Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys, our Tennessee defense team brings decades of experience from nearly every side of the criminal justice system.
- Danny J. Baxter brings more than 40 years of combined law enforcement and legal experience, including more than 25 years defending people accused of crimes. Before becoming a defense attorney, he served with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department as a violent-crime investigator, undercover narcotics officer, and legal liaison to the Davidson County District Attorney's Office. He has also served as a Special Judge in General Sessions Court, giving him experience from multiple sides of Tennessee's criminal justice system.
- Thomas Ross is an experienced felony trial attorney and former chief felony public defender who has handled serious cases involving DUI, drug charges, sex crimes, homicide, and other felony offenses. His extensive courtroom experience helps him identify weaknesses in the prosecution's evidence and prepare cases for trial when necessary.
- Ethan Smartt has more than a decade of criminal defense experience and has represented clients in more than 60 Tennessee counties. His statewide experience gives him extensive familiarity with Tennessee courts, prosecutors, and local practices.
Together, Baxter, Ross, and Smartt give our clients a Tennessee defense team with extensive experience investigating cases, challenging prosecution evidence, negotiating with prosecutors, and defending people facing serious criminal charges.
Additionally, our Tennessee team is backed by the resources and experience of our entire criminal defense team. Michael & Associates' attorneys have handled more than 1,000 jury trials, and our team includes ACS-CHAL Forensic DWI Lawyer-Scientists with advanced training in the science behind alcohol and drug testing. We prepare cases for trial from the beginning, and our results reflect that approach: according to our internal 2025 case data, Michael & Associates achieved favorable or partially favorable outcomes in approximately 65% of jury trials, including a 50% outright win rate and a 63.6% win rate in DUI jury trials. That combination of courtroom experience and forensic training gives our Tennessee attorneys additional resources to scrutinize field sobriety testing, blood and breath evidence, laboratory procedures, and other evidence prosecutors may rely on to prove a DUI.
Let us fight for your freedom and your future. You are innocent unless proven guilty — and we’ll work relentlessly to protect that.
Last updated in September 2026.
