William D. Massey

William D. Massey has been practicing law for over thirty eight years. He is Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Criminal Trial Specialist and handles cases involving White Collar Crime, Murder, Drugs, and Sex Offenses in the State and Federal Courts. Bill has represented clients in Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Kentucky and his firm’s practice is devoted 100% to Criminal Defense. A believer in teaching advocacy skills to lawyers, he founded The Tennessee Criminal Defense College and served as its senior instructor for 19 years. He has spoken at countless seminars throughout Tennessee, and as far away as New York City, Key West, San Antonio, and Guam. He has been elected as a Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers and the American Bar Foundation. Recognized yearly by Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers, Bill believes in the adversarial system and brings the heart for the fight to the court room. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees William D. Massey included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Best Lawyers in America, 2008 - 2009 Mid-South Super Lawyers, 2007 - 2008 Recognized as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers, American Association for Justice Robert W. Ritchie Award for Outstanding Service to the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2004 NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund's 22nd Annual Capital Punishment Training Conference, 2003 Lionel Barrett, Jr., Award for Outstanding Work of Death Penalty Arena, 2001 Special Congressional Recognition, United States House of Representatives for Invaluable and Outstanding Service to Community, 2001 Who's Who, Executives and Businesses, Honored Professionals, 1999 - 2000 Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America Other Sources of Feedback About William D. Massey Included on the 2025Mid-South Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2024 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2023 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2022 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2021 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2019 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2018 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2016 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2015 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2014 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2013 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2012 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2011 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2010 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2009 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2008 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2007 Mid-South Super Lawyers list

• Attorney

• "Suppression of Evidence After Berrios", National Bar Association, Ben F. Jones Chapter, 2007
• "The Gentle Wind of Words, Moving Jurors from Abstract to Experiential", National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Key West, FL, 2007
• "Qualifying and Defending Our Expert Witness", Bench Bar Seminar, Memphis Bar Association, San Destin, FL, 2007
• "The Team Approach to Death Penalty Defense", Loosening the Death Belt, Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Birmingham, AL, 2007
• "Opening Statement as Story Telling", Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2006
• "Themes Theory and Theater from Daringly Dangerous Minds", Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2006
• "Embracing Confessions: To Hug or To Squeeze", Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2005
• "Closing Argument: Taking the State's Case to the Dump in High Profile Cases", Betting on Justice V, Arkansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Little Rock, AR, 2004
• "Friends Don't Let Friends Waive Opening", Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2004
• "A Diner Menu Approach to Preparing for a Death Penalty Trial: How To Serve Desert with the Main Course and Cook a Little Hash", National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, San Antonio, TX, 2004
• "Cross My Heart, Hope to Die: The Pain of False Confessions", National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, New York City, NY, 2003
• Faculty and Senior Instructor, Tennessee Criminal Defense College, 1998 - Present

• Tennessee
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee, 1982
• U.S. District Court Western District of Tennessee, 1989
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Arkansas, 1989
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Mississippi, 1992
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Tennessee, 1998
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1991
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1994
• Specialties and Certifications
• Board Certified Criminal Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1996

• Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2005 - 2006 (President)
• Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2001 - 2007 (Executive Committee)
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2002 - 2008 (Board of Directors)
• Tennessee Bar Association (Parliamentarian, 2003)
• Tennessee Bar Association, 2003 - 2004 (Executive Committee)
• Tennessee Bar Association, 2006 - 2007 (Executive Committee)
• Memphis Bar Association, Criminal Law Section (President)
• Trial Law Institute (Member)
• Diversity Law Institute (Member)
• Order of Centurions (Barrister)