In my words
My appointed appeals lawyer withdrew in July 2025. I asked the court for a lawyer and was denied, so I have written every filing since then myself. Every order and every filing I have is below, in date order.
Donyell Dewayne Holland
Where the appeal stands
- July 23, 2025Appointed appellate counsel permitted to withdraw.CCA order
- August 29, 2025Donyell’s appellant’s brief filed.CCA docket
- September 24, 2025State moves to dismiss the appeal. Denied January 6, 2026.CCA docket
- November 17, 2025Donyell asks for appointed counsel. Denied January 7, 2026.CCA docket
- November 19, 2025Donyell asks for more time. Denied November 21, 2025.CCA docket
- February 2026The State asks for more time. Granted.CCA docket
- April 6, 2026State’s brief filed.CCA docket
- August 11, 2026Case submitted on the briefs, without oral argument.CCA docket
- August 11, 2026Donyell hands his motion to supplement the record to prison legal mail. The clerk receives it August 17.Mail log; CCA docket
- October 8, 2026The court denies that motion as late, counting from the day the clerk received it.CCA order
The live appeals docket: Tennessee Appellate Courts, case E2024-01809-CCA-R3-CD.
The appeal, on the record
What Happened in the Court of Criminal Appeals
Dates taken from the appellate docket in No. E2024-01809-CCA-R3-CD. Tap any card to open it full size.
Every appeals court paper, in date order
- July 21, 2025Motion by appointed appellate counsel to withdraw
- July 23, 2025Order: counsel permitted to withdraw
- August 29, 2025Donyell’s appellant’s brief filed (see Chapter 12)
- September 24, 2025State’s motion to dismiss the appeal
- October 15, 2025Order
- October 15, 2025Order
- October 21, 2025Donyell’s filing
- October 21, 2025Donyell’s filing
- October 22, 2025Order on extension of time
- October 22, 2025Order on appointment of counsel
- October 22, 2025Order
- November 17, 2025Donyell’s motion for appointment of counsel
- November 19, 2025Donyell’s motion for more time
- November 21, 2025Order
- January 6, 2026Order on the State’s motion to dismiss
- January 7, 2026Order on appointment of counsel
- February 2026Donyell’s filing
- February 2026Donyell’s filing
- April 6, 2026State’s brief
- April 6, 2026State’s filing
- April 7, 2026Order
- May 6, 2026State’s filing
- May 7, 2026Order
- May 2026Donyell’s motion
- May 20, 2026Donyell’s motions to strike
- June 4, 2026Order
- June 17, 2026Donyell’s filing
- July 1, 2026Donyell’s filing, with the original indictment, judgments and dockets as exhibits
- July 14, 2026Order
In pictures