Overturning a Death Sentence and Winning Freedom in a Nationally Reported Murder Case
In a case that captured national attention and shook the criminal justice system, attorney Mike Richardson, alongside co-counsel Max Bahner, accomplished what many thought impossible—overturning a capital murder conviction and securing a full acquittal for a man once sentenced to die in the electric chair. The case of State of Tennessee v. Michael McCormick stands as a testament to the power of relentless advocacy, the importance of due process, and the courage to challenge the status quo in the face of overwhelming odds.
Background: A Man on Death Row
Michael McCormick had been convicted of first-degree murder in Hamilton County and sentenced to death by electrocution. The conviction had followed a controversial trial, and McCormick had already served years on death row by the time a Chattanooga Criminal Court Judge asked Mike Richardson and Max Bahner to step in during the post-conviction phase of the case.
Their charge: to review and evaluate the effectiveness of McCormick’s prior legal representation. What they uncovered would alter the course of their client’s life—and make headlines across the country.
Uncovering Injustice
Through meticulous investigation and legal analysis, Richardson and Bahner demonstrated that McCormick had received ineffective assistance of counsel during his original trial—a critical violation of his constitutional rights. The defense at the time had failed to properly investigate key elements of the case and had not presented compelling evidence that could have shifted the jury’s perspective. The flaws in the original defense were so severe that they undermined the fundamental fairness of the trial.
Richardson and Bahner successfully argued for a new trial, and the court granted it—overturning a conviction that had sent a man to death row. It was a dramatic and rare victory, but the battle was far from over.
Taking the Case to Trial—Again
While many defense attorneys might have stepped back after securing a new trial, Mike Richardson chose to stay on. He took on the extraordinary responsibility of retrying a case in which the stakes had once been life or death—and this time, he did it to win his client’s freedom.
In a courtroom charged with tension and public scrutiny, Richardson rebuilt the defense from the ground up. He presented a thoroughly prepared case that dismantled the prosecution’s narrative and introduced powerful new evidence that raised serious doubts about McCormick’s guilt. The jury, now seeing the case in a dramatically different light, returned a stunning verdict:
Not Guilty.
From Death Row to Freedom
With that verdict, Michael McCormick was exonerated—a free man after serving years on death row for a crime he did not commit. The case was reported widely in legal circles and national media as a triumph of justice, a cautionary tale of wrongful convictions, and a powerful example of what dedicated post-conviction representation can achieve.
Impact and Legacy
This case stands as one of Mike Richardson’s most extraordinary victories—not because of the headlines it made, but because of what it represented: the idea that every person deserves a fair trial, no matter the accusations, the odds, or the public opinion.
It also underscored a vital truth within the justice system: the cost of inadequate representation can be life itself. Thanks to the work of Mike Richardson and Max Bahner, a man condemned to die was given a second chance—and ultimately, his freedom.
“When someone’s life is on the line, the system has to work—and if it breaks, we have to fix it. That’s our responsibility as lawyers, and that’s what we did,” said Mike Richardson.