Stay current with legal news in Tennessee. This page features the latest news for and about the Tennessee legal community, either produced by the Tennessee Bar Association or collected from news sources.
Volunteer at one of three legal clinics -- "The Puck Stops Here" -- to help stop bullying in schools. The events are sponsored by the Nashville Predators and the Disability Law Advocacy Center (DLAC) to help students and their families identify, prevent, and legally respond to bullying in schools. Volunteer attorneys are needed at the clinics for brief client consultations and to assist clients in drafting key points in notification letters to schools and/or an OCR complaints. Learn more here. DLAC will provide training for all volunteer attorneys on bullying legal issues on Aug. 24. The clinics will be in Clarksville, Sept. 15; Nashville, Oct. 6; and Lebanon, Nov. 10. For more information, contact Sherry Wilds at DLAC at (615) 298-‐1080, ext. 141 or at sherryw@dlactn.org
Federal District Court Judge Kevin Sharp has refused to void the Tennessee Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, which was won by a candidate the party has disavowed. Sharp ruled today that the lawsuit filed by losing candidate Larry Crim was improper because it was not filed against an individual. Crim had sued the state Division of Elections and the Tennessee Democratic Party trying to keep Mark Clayton, the winner of the Aug. 2 primary, off the November ballot. News Channel 5 has this AP story
If former Hawkins County prosecutor Doug Godbee persists with a motion to dismiss his felony official misconduct charge, he may find himself facing nine felony charges instead of one, reports the Kingsport Times News. Godbee has been accused by nine women of requesting, and in some cases receiving, sex in exchange for leniency in drug cases he was prosecuting. He is challenging the indictment on grounds that it violates a 1993 Tennessee Supreme Court ruling that multiple accusations should not be included in one indictment. The prosecutor in the case is a bit baffled by that argument though. “He’s asking us to split them up and charge them individually... If the judge dismisses…we’ll just re-indict on all potential charges.”
The Chattanooga Times Free Press yesterday laid out its case against 10th Judicial District Attorney General Steve Bebb for misusing funds and property acquired through the district’s Drug Task Force. The paper says Bebb has been driving a car seized by the task force though state law that does not allow such use; that he has collected nearly $3,000 in reimbursements for gas, maintenance, and wear and tear on the car; and has used drug task force funds for office parties and meetings.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy says the Senate confirmation process for new federal judges is too political and is keeping qualified candidates who don't want to go through such a difficult process from agreeing to serve. "This is bad for the legal system," Kennedy said. "It makes the judiciary look politicized when it is not, and it has to stop." Kennedy made the remarks at the opening session of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judicial Conference in Hawaii. He also defended the conference, which has come under attack for its costs. WRCB TV has the news.
With a visit from the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education slated for later this month, the Robertson County School system hopes to show progress on the planned construction of an elementary school in south Springfield. The efforts come as federal attorneys continue to investigate allegations of segregation within the school system. Robertson County Mayor Howard Bradley is lobbying commissioners to pass a resolution showing support for construction of the new school. The Tennessean has the story.
The Knoxville News Sentinel reports today that several state Republican leaders – upset over reports that Democrats voted in their party primary earlier this month – are reviving a previously shelved effort to require party registration and closed primaries for future elections. State Rep. Tony Shipley, R-Kingsport, and Mark Winslow, a member of the Republican State Executive Committee, confirmed that they met Tuesday with House Speaker Beth Harwell to advocate the idea. Harwell, a former state party chairwoman who has opposed closed primaries, said she is looking into the issue.
The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) is accepting nominations for two access to justice awards now through Sept. 7. The first, the Riney Green Award, recognizes those who promote inter-program cooperation and statewide collaboration to strengthen access to justice in Tennessee. The second, the New Advocate of the Year, recognizes attorneys or paralegals that have been employed by their local legal aid program less than five years and have a track record of affirmative, creative and effective advocacy on behalf of clients. Nominations for both awards should be submitted to TALS Executive Director Erik Cole by e-mail to ecole@tals.org or by fax to (615) 627-0964. Learn more online
The Knoxville Bar Association will host its annual Supreme Court Dinner Sept. 5 at the Knoxville Convention Center. The event, which honors the justices of the Tennessee Supreme Court as well as local judges, will feature a keynote address by Gov. Bill Haslam. Also during the dinner, the governor wil administer the ceremonial oath to new Chief Justice Gary R. Wade. Tickets are $50 each. Tables of 10 may be reserved in advance. A cash bar reception begins at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Learn more or buy tickets from the KBA
Nashville lawyer John Jay Hooker filed a motion this week in Davidson County Circuit Court asking Gov. Bill Haslam to disqualify three individuals appointed to a special Supreme Court. The special court was called to hear Hooker’s challenge to the way appellate judges are chosen. Haslam appointed the panel after all of the current justices recused themselves. Hooker asked Haslam to reverse his appointment of former Supreme Court justices William M. Barker and George H. Brown Jr., and former federal judge Robert L. Echols. Hooker contends that as former judges “their impartiality might be reasonably questioned.” The Tennessean reports
Immigration attorneys across the country and in Nashville say their offices are overflowing with young undocumented residents, who, starting today can apply for a two year work permit. According to WPLN, immigrants who were brought across the border by their parents can apply for temporary legal status if they can show they have stayed out of legal trouble, lived in the U.S. continuously and earned a high school diploma or GED.
TRAINING FOR LAWYERS: Attorneys in Tennessee who would like to help these individuals apply for relief can take advantage of two upcoming training sessions. Tennessee Justice for our Neighbors (JFON), in cooperation with Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, will offer training on Aug. 22 and 23. At the urging of its Immigration Law Section, the TBA is hosting the Aug. 23 session and will videotape the program for JFON to use in future training. For more information about the training or subsequent clinics contact Adrienne Kittos at adrienne-tnjfon@gmail.com or (615) 788-0774. Download a brochure to learn more
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Larry Crim filed suit in federal court today asking that the recent primary win by Mark Clayton be voided and a new primary ordered. Crim claims the Tennessee Democratic Party and its chairman Chip Forrester – who have disavowed Clayton -- failed to weed out the candidate before the race. According to Crim, under the party bylaws, Clayton is not eligible to run as a Democrat because he has not voted in enough Democratic races. The suit asked for an emergency hearing on the motion tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. in federal Judge Kevin Sharp’s courtroom. The Nashville Scene has more
U.S. District Court Judge John Fowlkes took the oath of office last week from fellow Memphis federal Judge Hardy Mays and began hearing matters on Aug. 6. Fowlkes has named Phyllis Buchanan, who served as his judicial assistant for the last two years on the criminal court, to his staff. Lorri Fentress is his case manager. The Memphis Daily News reported the activity.
The Rutherford/Cannon County Bar Association (RC/CBA) today released the results of a member poll of candidates for the 16th Judicial District Circuit Court vacancy. The seat, which serves Rutherford and Cannon counties, became vacant when Judge Don R. Ash took senior status. The purpose of the poll is to provide “input from attorneys who are likely to know these candidates, both personally and professionally, and are able to express an opinion on their qualifications to be a judge,” said Diana Burns, president of the RC/CBA.
Belmont University's College of Law will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening for the Randall and Sadie Baskin Center Tuesday at 10 a.m. The center will serve as the permanent home of the law school. A reception and tours of the building will follow the ceremony, and studens will present a moot court from noon to 1 p.m.
Tennessee Justice for our Neighbors (JFON), in cooperation with Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, will offer training for volunteers who would like to help young immigrants apply for relief under the so-called “deferred action” program implemented by the Obama Administration. The program offers two years of protection for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children, and who meet specific requirements. Training will be held Aug. 22 and 23. At the urging of its Immigration Law Section, the TBA is hosting the Aug. 23 session and will videotape the program for JFON to use in future training. For more information about the training or subsequent clinics contact Adrienne Kittos at adrienne-tnjfon@gmail.com or (615) 788-0774. Download a brochure
The Tennessee Supreme Court on Aug. 13 suspended Lake County lawyer Guy Steven Davis for a definite period of one year (retroactive to a temporary suspension imposed on Oct. 10, 2011) and indefinitely until he complies with his Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) monitoring agreement for at least six months. The court allowed Davis to return to the practice of law in August 2010, but conditioned reinstatement on TLAP compliance. The court recently found that Davis failed to comply with that condition. Download the BPR notice
Greeneville attorney N.R. "Nat" Coleman Jr. died Monday (Aug. 13) at his home. He was 89. His death came after years of declining health, including a period of recent hospitalization. Coleman played a key role for more than 50 years with Milligan & Coleman, Greeneville's oldest and largest law firm. Read more in the Greeneville Sun
The Second Annual Law Firm Trivia Challenge in Nashville raised $6,300 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Hosted last Monday by YLD members Mary Beth Haltom and Jenney Keaty, the event involved more than 100 lawyers competing on 19 law firm teams. First place went to "Guilty as Charged" from the Davidson County District Attorney General’s office. Team members were Rob McGuire, Bret Gunn, Elizabeth Foy, Brian Ewald and Lauren Turner. Second place went to "Trivial Per Se" from the Law Office of John Day (Laura Baker, Brandon Bass, Burke Keaty, Casey Truelove and Kurt Hippel) and third place went to the Neal & Harwell team of Jeff Gibson, Drew Warth, Ron Harris, David Bridgers and Megan Deardorff.
A Pennsylvania judge today rejected a preliminary injunction request over a state voter-identification law, saying opponents would likely fail to show that the measure violates the state constitution. His ruling sets the stage for an expected appeal to the state Supreme Court, according to the Wall Street Journal. The law in question requires Pennsylvania voters to present a state-approved photo ID, such as a driver's license, at the polls on Nov. 6. Opponents of the law say it would disproportionately impact poor urban voters. Supporters say it is necessary to combat voter fraud.
