Nashville School of Law

Patrick Frogge

Professor
(615) 741-4505
patrick.frogge@tn.gov

618 Church Street
Suite 300
Nashville, TN 37219

Patrick Frogge was elected as the Executive Director of the Tennessee District Public Defenders Conference in June 2016 and re-elected in 2020.

Mr. Frogge previously worked in private practice from 2005 – 2016 as the principal and founding member of Bell, Tennent & Frogge law firm. Prior to his private practice work, Mr. Frogge served as an Assistant Public Defender in the Nashville Davidson County Public Defenders Office from 2001 – 2005; and as a Law Clerk to Honorable Jerry L. Smith, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals from 1999 – 2001.

Executive Director, Tennessee District Public Defenders Conference

Education
B.S. Tennessee State, 1995

Juris Doctor
Fordham University, 1999

Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 2000

Court Admissions
Tennessee Supreme Court, 2000
Middle District of Tennessee, 2007

Professional Memberships & Activities
Tennessee Bar Association
Nashville Bar Association
Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Civic Memberships & Activities
Board Member, Dismas House Volunteer
Past Pro Bono Counsel, Room in the Inn

Accolades & Distinctions
2009, TACDL Bob Ritchie Service Award
2012, Named Fellow of Nashville Bar Association
2013, CJA Panel Lawyer of the Year

Significant Cases
• Lead counsel in post-conviction proceeding in which both trial and appellate counsel were found ineffective, resulting in a new trial (and jail release) for a Defendant convicted of multiple counts of child rape. (Julio Ramirez v. State, Davidson County, February, 2016)
• Lead counsel in a two-week Medicare fraud trial in United States District Court in which the defendant was acquitted on all forty-one (41) counts of indictment. (United States v. Medlock, 3:10-CR-0004, trial June, 2013)
• Served as ACLU Cooperating Attorney in Occupy Nashville vs. Haslam, et. al, successfully suing Tennessee governor for attempting to outlaw political protests in Legislative Plaza. Also represented those arrested in criminal proceedings where all charges were dismissed. (October, 2011)
• Lead counsel in sex-trafficking trial in federal court in which government seized hundreds of recorded calls between inmates and attorneys’ offices. Prevailed in protecting attorney-client privilege, resulting in court-ordered destruction of calls. All charges ultimately dismissed after protracted five-year litigation. United States v. Adan, 2010-CR-00260, April, 2011)
• Appellate counsel for defendant convicted of aggravated sexual battery. Appeal resulted in new trial and jail release for defendant. (State v. Jeff Carter, M2009-02399-CCA-R3-CD, Tenn. Crim. App. at Nashville, Dec. 16, 2010)
• Appellate counsel for Defendant convicted of first-degree murder. Appeal resulted in a new trial and, following apprehension of the previously unknown true assailant, ultimate jail release, for Defendant (State. V. Jimmy Dale Hogan, M2007-02104-CCA-RM-CD, Tenn. Crim. App. at Nashville, August 12, 2008)
• Appellate counsel for a defendant convicted of attempting to extort a General Sessions Judge. Appeal resulted in a new trial for the Defendant and ultimate dismissal of all charges. (State v. Jerral Parris, 236 S.W.3d 173 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2007)

Publications
• Tennessee Attorney General’s Office Human Trafficking in Tennessee
• TACDL CLE Expert Assistance in Criminal Litigation
• Federal CJA Panel CLE Money Laundering, Forfeiture, and Attorney Fees
• TACDL Legislative CLE Legislative Developments in Criminal Law