Mr. Raybin is an angel sent from above. He responded to an email inquiry I had late at night and gave me helpful information that I hadn't come across in 8 years of looking. I appreciate him and was able to resolve the matter. If you're considering Raybin & Weissman, give them a chance. I believe you're in excellent hands.

— Tyler D.

Dave was extremely professional but more importantly I was treated as a person not a case. He always returned calls and emails in a very timely manner.

— Jennifer S.

I am overwhelmed with the professionalism and the zealousness with which you [David and Ben Raybin] helped my son. An amazing job all around! My family is forever indebted.

— M.V.

Mr Raybin is the very best attorney one could hope for. He was attentive, responsive, knowledgeable, thoughtful and effective. We could not have been in better hands and have enormous respect for him.

— K.K.

I simply cannot thank you enough for what you have done for the D. family. Your expertise was beyond more than any of us could have hoped for, but more than that your patience, effort and friendship helped take us all over a very dark period in our lives.

— J.D.

Mr. Raybin interviewed me and immediately gave me a reliable opinion of the situation. He outlined a program to determine confidence in his initial judgmental opinion. Impressive!!

— M.B.

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Criminal Defense Lawyer

About David Raybin, Partner

Named one of Nashville's best criminal defense lawyers

With more than 40 years of experience, David Raybin heads the criminal defense section of our firm, which includes criminal trials, criminal appeals, parole hearings, and civil rights litigation.

David has been named the Best Criminal Lawyer in Nashville in criminal general practice and white collar defense by Best Lawyers in America, and listed among the Best Criminal Lawyers in TN by Tennessee Business magazine.

A regular commentator on local legal subjects, David often deals with prominent cases you may have read about in the news. In addition to cases in the trial courts, David has successfully handled significant criminal appeals throughout Tennessee.

A prolific writer, David has authored numerous articles and publications. He wrote the book Tennessee Criminal Law, which has been cited hundreds of times by Tennessee courts and relied on by judges and attorneys throughout the state.

David's criminal defense representation includes cases concerning murder and other homicides, sexual assault, drugs, domestic violence, white-collar fraud, and computer sexual image cases. David also handles cases involving students arrested at local universities—such as Vanderbilt, MTSU, Fisk, Lipscomb, Belmont and TSU.

Raybin and Weissman attorney David Raybin

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Education

J.D., University of Tennessee, College of Law, 1973
B.A., Virginia Commonwealth University, 1971

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

United States Supreme Court
All Tennessee Courts
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
United States District Courts in Tennessee

Professional Listing

Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers in Tennessee
Martindale-Hubbell (Highest Rating: AV)

Prior Legal Experience

Office of the Attorney General, Nashville, Tennessee, 1974-1977
Office of the District Attorney, Nashville, Tennessee, 1977-1984

Awards

Tennessee Bar Association Justice Henry Award for Outstanding Legal Writing, 1983
Tennessee Bar Association Justice Henry Award for Outstanding Legal Writing, 2005
Tennessee Bar Association Justice Henry Award for Outstanding Legal Writing, 2005

Publications, Articles & Selected Briefs

“Preserving Appellate Issues at Trial – First Steps” – TBA Appellate Practice Section March 2018
Lawyer for the Condemned: I Witnessed What Should be the Last Electric Chair Execution
Blackwell v Haslam, Brief (Pardon and Second Amendment)
Improving Attorney-Client Communications: Fifty Tips
Search and Seizure; “Knock and Talk” Doctrine (brief)
Criminally Negligent Homicide (Brief)
Expungement of Arrest Records Tennessee Bar Journal – February, 2008
State v. Gomez: Tennessee Sentencing Law Violates Sixth Amendment, Tenn. Bar Journal – December, 2007
View more publications, articles and briefs

Counsel in Significant Appeals

State v Wilson, Tenn. Crim. App. 2011 (suppression of blood test in DUI case)
Bernard v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville/Davidson County, Tennessee, Tenn. App. 2010 (police officer retirement benefits).
State v. Mims, Tenn. Crim. App.2010 (pretrial diversion for attorney)
Atkinson v. State, Tenn. App. 2010 (prisoner suicide)
Brown v. State, Tenn. Crim. App. 2010 (ineffective assistance of counsel)
State v. Headley, Tenn.Crim. App. 2009 (pretrial diversion for sheriff)
View more appeals

Legal Boards and Commissions

Chair, Tennessee Supreme Court Advisory Commission on Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure, 1982–1988
Member, Tennessee Sentencing Commission (Chaired Criminal Code Revision Subcommittee), 1986–1995
Member, Tennessee Supreme Court Advisory Commission on Tennessee Rules of Post Conviction Procedures, 1991–1995
Adjunct Member, Tennessee Supreme Court Advisory Commission on Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure, 1996–2000
Member, Tennessee Supreme Court Advisory Commission on Tennessee Rules of Practice and Procedure, 2001–2010
Member, Governor's Task Force on the Use of Enhancement Factors in Criminal Sentencing, 2004–2006

Membership in Legal Associations