Robert D. Massey.

ATTORNEY

About Bob

Legal Experience

  • Admitted to practice in 1983, focusing on litigation in the areas of criminal defense, personal injury, domestic relations, business litigation and probate matters. 

  • Representing clients in complex legal matters including trials and appeals. 

  • Admitted to practice in Tennessee, United States District Courts (All 3 grand divisions of Tennessee), 6th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court

  • Admitted to practice pro hac vice in Alabama in numerous cases

  • Tried over 100 jury trials to verdict including not guilty verdicts in criminal death penalty 

  • Tried civil cases with  verdicts in excess of million dollars

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with major in Public Administration from University of Tennessee (1979) 

  • Doctor of Jurisprudence from Memphis University (1983); 

  • Elected Governor of Student Bar Association 1981-82

  • Member Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity 

Notable Achievements

  • Recipient of Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers prestigious Robert W. Ritchie Award in 1992 and 1993 

  • Rated AV by Martindale Hubbell

  • Named as Super Lawyer each year since 2006

  • Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in the area of criminal defense each year since 1993

  • Certified as a specialist pursuant to Tennessee's certification law in the area of criminal defense each year since 1993

  • Lectured at multiple seminars in the area of criminal defense since 1995 

  • Instructor at Tennessee Criminal Defence College from 2004-2006 

  • Testified and/or appeared as an expert witness in the area of criminal defense in state and federal courts

Memberships

  • Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers 

    • Life Member 

      • Recipient of Robert W. Ritchie Award, 1992 & 1993 

      • Secretary, 1990 

      • Vice-President, 1991 – 1992 

      • President-Elect, 1992 – 1993 

      • President, 1993 – 1994 

      • Board Member, 1990 – 1994; 1998 - 2003 

      • Death Penalty Committee, 1993 - 1994

  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers 

  • National Board of Trial Advocacy 

    • Certified Specialist, Criminal Law. 1993 to date 

  • Tennessee Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers 

    • Founding Member, 1993 to date 

  • Tennessee Public Defender's Conference 

    • Former Member 

    • 22nd Judicial District Public Defender, 1987 – 1992 

    • President, 1990 

    • Vice-President, 1987 - 1989 

    • Executive Committee, 1987-1990 

    • Served on all Standing Committees 

  • Criminal Justice Funding Crisis Group, 1991 – 1993 

    • Founding Member 

    • One of Four Counsel Appearing Before Tennessee Supreme Court on Indigent Defense Crisis 

  • Capital Case Resource Center 

    • Board member from 1992 until 1995 when center ceased to exist 

    • Executive Committee Member from 1993 - 1995 

  • American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) 

    • Member, 2004-2015 

  • American Trial Lawyers Association, 2009 - 2015 

    • Named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Tennessee by American Trial Lawyers Association 

  • Tennessee Bar Association 

    • Member since 1983 to date 

    • Sections: Litigation and Criminal Justice 

  • Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association 

    • Life Member 

    • Board Member, 2000-2005 

    • Member since 1983 

  • Giles County Bar Association 

    • Member, 1985 to date 

    • President, 1985-1991 

  • Appellate Court Study Commission for the State of Tennessee 

    • Served two (2) years

  • Tennessee Bench-Bar Relations Committee

    • Committee Member, 1992 - 1993 

  • Tennessee District 6 Supreme Court Investigative Committee

    • Member, 1998 - 2013 

  • South Central Tennessee Correctional Advisory Board 

    • Board Member, 1983 - 1993 

  • Tennessee Justice Project 

    • Board Member, 2007-2009

Civic Involvement 

  • Giles County Democratic Party, Chair 1991-1993 

  • Pulaski Exchange Club

    • President 1982-1988

    • Received National Merit Award

    • Elected Exchangite of Year 1988

    • Board Member 1988-1990 

  • Giles County Chapter of American Red Cross

    • Board Member 1985-1987 

  • Giles County Mental Health Department 

    • Board Member 1989-1994 

  • Boy Scouts of America Middle Tennessee Council

    • District Executive Board Member 1985-2022

    • 1989 Recipient of District Long Rifle Award

    • 1991 Recipient of Middle Tennessee Council Silver Beaver Award

    • Order of the Arrow Award Recipient

    • Chaired Sustaining Membership Drive for Davy Crockett District (Giles, Lincoln, Marshall) 1987, 1988, 1989, 2004, 2016, 2017 

    • Tennessee Representative to 13th World Jamboree 

    • National Eagle Scout Association 

      • Eagle Scout in 1971

  • Member of First United Methodist Church 

Personal 

  • A lover of attending athletic events, cheering on the Vols, boating, hunting birds, blues music, cooking, traveling, eating, dogs & cats, and spending time with his wife (Elizabeth) and friends.