Equal Justice University 2024

This session will provide attorneys with a how-to guide for helping individuals restore their full citizenship rights, in particular the right to vote. Part 1 will cover the necessary Tennessee statutes governing how a person can restore their citizenship rights by breaking down which rights are forfeited because of a felony conviction, and the process for restoring them. The recent changes to voter restoration outlined by the Coordinator of Elections following the Tennessee Supreme Court’s decision in Falls v. Goins (2023) will be discussed in depth. Part 2 of the session will present examples of how to apply these statutes and overcome potential barriers to restoration. The session will conclude by presenting a clear outline for preparing and filing petitions to restore a person’s full citizenship rights in Circuit Court.