Brooks Law Firm
Every criminal case starts the same way: a stop, a knock, a phone call from a jail. What happens next depends heavily on the charge, the court, and how early a defense lawyer gets involved. This post walks through the main categories of charges Brooks Law Firm defends — from DUI and drug offenses to domestic assault and general felony and misdemeanor defense — and where those cases are heard across Memphis, Cordova, Germantown, Bartlett, Collierville, and the surrounding counties of Fayette, Tipton, and Lauderdale.
If you or a family member has been charged, call (901) 324-5000 or call/text the criminal defense line at (901) 412-2973.
General Criminal Defense — Misdemeanors and Felonies
Tennessee divides offenses into misdemeanors (Classes A–C, up to 11 months and 29 days in jail) and felonies (Classes A–E, one year to life). Our criminal defense practice covers the full range in General Sessions and Criminal Court — preliminary hearings, grand jury matters, motion practice, negotiation, and trial. That includes theft and property offenses, weapons charges, probation violation hearings, and expungement of eligible records under Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-101.
Two things matter in nearly every case: the strength of the stop or search that produced the evidence, and whether the client qualifies for an outcome that keeps the conviction off their record — judicial diversion, pretrial diversion, or a negotiated reduction. First-time offenders often have options they never hear about until a lawyer explains them.
DUI — Driving Under the Influence
DUI is one of the most technical charges in Tennessee criminal law, and one of the least forgiving. A first offense carries a mandatory minimum of 48 hours in jail, a one-year license revocation, and — importantly — a DUI conviction can never be expunged in Tennessee. Penalties escalate sharply for second and third offenses, and a fourth becomes a Class E felony.
That is exactly why these cases get fought. A DUI defense examines the legality of the traffic stop, the administration of field sobriety tests, breath and blood testing procedures, and implied consent issues. Related charges we handle in the same cluster include reckless driving, driving on a suspended or revoked license, and license reinstatement after revocation.
Drug Charges
Tennessee’s Drug Control Act grades drug offenses by substance schedule and quantity — the difference between simple possession (a misdemeanor) and possession with intent to sell or deliver (a felony) can turn on packaging, scales, cash, or the amount involved. We defend charges involving marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and other opioids, and prescription medications possessed without a valid prescription.
Drug cases are search-and-seizure cases. Whether the stop was lawful, whether the search exceeded its scope, whether a dog sniff or a consent search holds up — these questions decide outcomes. Interstate corridors like I-40 through Fayette County and Highway 51 through Tipton County generate a steady stream of interdiction stops, and forfeiture of cash or vehicles often rides along with the criminal charge.
Domestic Assault
Domestic assault is charged under Tennessee’s assault statute when the alleged victim is a family or household member, and it carries consequences ordinary assault does not: a 12-hour mandatory hold after arrest, potential loss of firearm rights on conviction, and — like DUI — a domestic assault conviction can never be expunged. Cases frequently involve a companion order of protection, which is a separate civil proceeding with its own hearing and its own risks.
These cases are also among the most defensible. They often come down to one witness’s account, made in a moment of crisis, and complaining witnesses frequently do not want the prosecution to continue — though in Tennessee the decision belongs to the State, not the alleged victim. Early defense involvement shapes how that plays out. We also defend the related charges of simple and aggravated assault.
Traffic Offenses
Not every case is a crisis, but even traffic charges — speeding, reckless driving, driving on a revoked license, CDL matters — can carry license points, insurance consequences, and jail exposure that make handling them properly worthwhile, especially for commercial drivers.
Where These Cases Are Heard
Where you were charged determines which courthouse — and which prosecutors and judges — will handle your case. Brooks Law Firm appears regularly throughout the region:
- Memphis, Cordova, and Shelby County — General Sessions Criminal Court at 201 Poplar and the Shelby County Criminal Courts. Cordova sits inside Memphis city limits, so a Cordova arrest is a Shelby County case.
- Germantown, Bartlett, and Collierville — each suburb’s municipal court handles its own docket before serious matters move to Shelby County.
- Fayette County — General Sessions and Circuit Court in Somerville, including I-40 and Highway 64 corridor stops.
- Tipton County — the Justice Center in Covington, serving Highway 51 commuters and the county’s recovery court.
- Lauderdale County — General Sessions and Circuit Court at the Justice Complex in Ripley.
See the full list on our Courts We Serve page. Jurisdiction follows where the offense allegedly occurred — not where you live — so a stop twenty minutes from home can put your case in a courthouse you have never seen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a criminal charge be kept off my record?
Often, yes. Depending on the charge and your history, options may include dismissal, diversion followed by expungement, or reduction to an offense that qualifies for expungement. Two notable exceptions: DUI and domestic assault convictions can never be expunged in Tennessee, which is a major reason to fight those charges rather than plead early.
What should I do first after an arrest?
Do not give a statement. Be polite, provide identification, and say you want a lawyer. Then call one — evidence issues, witness memories, and diversion eligibility are all easier to address early.
Do you handle cases outside Memphis?
Yes. The firm regularly defends cases in the Germantown, Bartlett, and Collierville municipal courts and in the General Sessions and Circuit Courts of Fayette, Tipton, and Lauderdale counties, along with other West Tennessee counties. Cordova and Millington cases are handled through the Shelby County courts.
Brooks Law Firm defends criminal charges throughout Memphis, Shelby County, and West Tennessee. Call (901) 324-5000 or call/text (901) 412-2973. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.