Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-13-408

Upon a showing by the defendant to the attorney general and reporter or the court in which the defendant's case on appeal is pending, that legal representation would not be otherwise affordable, the defendant shall be entitled to use funds from the escrow account to obtain legal representation at any stage of the criminal proceedings, including the appeals process. The defendant's use of such funds shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the total amount of the funds paid into the escrow account.