"That in all criminal prosecutions, the accused has the right to be heard by himself and his counsel." - Article 1, Section 9 of the Tennessee Constitution

Founded in 1973, the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (TACDL) is a non-profit, statewide organization that provides professional support and service to criminal defense attorneys and citizens of Tennessee. The purposes are:

To protect and insure by rule of law those individual rights guaranteed by the United States and Tennessee Constitutions in criminal cases;

To resist any efforts to curtail the rights guaranteed to citizens;

To provide for the constant exchange of information among its members on all matters pertaining to the defense of criminal cases, educational programs, membership meetings, special committees, publications, articles and otherwise;

To apprise its members or propose changes in legislation pertaining to the defense of all criminal cases on the State and Federal level;

To lend assistance to members of the TACDL and to others who are in need of assistance on issues relating to the representation of the accused, by all legal means;

To promote justice and to promote the common good.

The Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is an Affiliate Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL).