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.
In response to the Supreme Court’s recent decision on Arizona’s “show me your papers” law, the ACLU of Tennessee has launched an initiative designed to help immigrants understand their rights in the justice system. The centerpiece of the effort is an online “Immigrant Rights Resource Center,” with bilingual information on how to prepare for interactions with law enforcement. ACLU-TN is publicizing the center with the distribution of posters in Spanish and English to social service agencies, businesses and churches across the state. Read more from the group
Republican congressional candidate Lou Ann Zelenik -– who is seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Diane Black -– is facing a contempt charge after not showing up for a deposition. Earlier this month, Zelenik was subpoenaed to give a deposition in a case involving State Rep. Mae Beavers and the Macon County Chronicle. The lawyer who issued the subpoena says Zelenik cancelled at the last minute, saying she was too busy campaigning. Zelenik’s lawyer, however, says the postponement was agreed upon. A hearing on the charges was set for September. WSMV reports
State prison officials awarded a $250,000 grant today to the Big Brothers Big Sisters Amachi initiative, which provides mentors for the children of incarcerated parents. According to a news release from the Tennessee Department of Correction, the initiative is designed to break the intergenerational cycle of crime and incarceration and give an often forgotten group of children the chance to reach their highest potential. Memphis Daily News has more
A domestic assault case against the 23-year-old daughter of General Sessions Court judge candidate Gary Starnes is set to come before current judge, David Norton, on Monday, but Norton is expected to recuse himself. Such a move would lead to the appointment of an outside judge and prosecutor in the case. And while it will increase the workload for the remaining judges, they say they can handle it. Chattanoogan.com reports
Davidson County General Sessions Judge Mike Jameson has stepped down from the bench, taking an unpaid leave of absence through the Aug. 2 election to assist his former law partner Phillip North in his bid for the state Senate. Jameson lost to Rachel Bell in March primary, and although he pledged to serve through August, he now says his allegiance is with his former colleague. Read more in The Tennessean
Knoxville lawyers will gather Thursday, July 26, at the Square Room on Market Square for Celebrate Pro Bono! The festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a dinner buffet. Tickets are $25 per person ($15 for law students) and may be ordered online, by fax to (865) 525-1162 or by mail to Legal Aid of East Tennessee, 502 S. Gay Street, Suite 404, Knoxville 37902. Tennessee Supreme Court Justices Sharon G. Lee and Gary R. Wade will serve as the masters of ceremonies. The evening also will feature a silent auction, and will wrap up with a presentation of the Knoxville Bar Association's Pro Bono Awards and awards for those who have performed extraordinary service to low-income clients through the Pro Bono Project. Learn more about the event
The Memphis Lawyers' Chapter of the Federalist Society will present a luncheon seminar on "Union Organizing Made Easier: The Obama NLRB" on Thursday, July 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Madison Hotel. The speaker will be Raymond J. LaJeunesse, vice president and legal director at the National Right to Work Legal Defense Fund. The cost is $25 for society members and $30 for non-members. To register contact Greg Grisham at (901) 462-2616 or gregory.grisham@jacksonlewis.com.
Following publication of a story in yesterday’s issue of TBA Today, two additional lawyers running for public office have been identified. They are state Sen. Tim Barnes of Adams, who is seeking reelection in the 22nd District, and Bristol lawyer Thomas M. Gray III, who is seeking the District 4 House seat currently occupied by Rep. Kent Williams. That brings to 24 the number of lawyers running for legislative office this year. See the full list
The Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office has added two new attorneys to its staff. R. Benjamin Rowe will serve as the second judicial district DUI prosecutor and serve on the district’s Fatal Incident Response Team, according to District Attorney General Barry Staubus. Also joining the staff is Wesley Mink, who will work in the General Sessions Court division. Read more from Tri-Cities.com.
A court aimed at helping veterans who come to the criminal justice system as a result of drug addictions, homelessness and other situations brought on by the ravages of untreated wartime stress held its first session this week in Clarksville. General Sessions Judge Ken Goble brought the court to order on Tuesday, telling one early participant, “This is for those who have sacrificed and are now in a bad place. This is a chance to get you off the road you’re on.” Learn more about the court from the AOC.
Vanderbilt Law School has added Morgan Ricks to its faculty as an assistant professor. A former investment banker and senior policy advisor in the Obama administration, Ricks most recently was visiting assistant professor at Harvard Law School. Read more from Vanderbilt
Nashville attorney Randy Spivey will expand curriculum and develop new programs as he takes over as academic director for Lipscomb University’s Institute for Law, Justice and Society, the Nashville Post reports. Spivey previously practiced with the Nashville firm Williams & Prochaska and most recently served as disciplinary counsel for the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Board of Professional Responsibility.
The Tennessee Bar Foundation’s collection of videotaped interviews with prominent Tennessee lawyers and judges is now available at the Tennessee State Library and Archives, the Chattanoogan reports. The collection consists of 76 interviews -- a virtual “Who’s Who” of the 20th Century legal profession in Tennessee, including Howard Baker, Adolpho Birch, Wyeth Chandler, Martha Craig Daughtrey, Lewis Donelson, Joe Duncan, Benjamin Hooks, Irvin Kilcrease, Gilbert Merritt, James Neal, Paul Summers, Thomas Wiseman and many others. See them at http://www.tnbarfoundation.org/legal.aspx
A report compiled by the Tennessee Bar Association shows that while the number of lawyers serving in the legislature has declined over the last several years, more lawyers are candidates for the General Assembly this year than in the last two election cycles. The report shows that 25 lawyers are running for 20 seats. In two districts, lawyers are pitted against each other in the primary or will likely face off in the general election. It remains to be seen whether, with the retirement of several lawyer lawmakers, the actual number of lawyers in the General Assembly will increase. See a full list of candidates with links to learn more about their campaigns.
Ripley native and former Memphis attorney Betty Lightfoot died Tuesday (July 17). She was 95. A graduate of Southwestern College and the Atlanta Law School, Mrs. Lightfoot served in World War II before returning to Memphis, where she held various jobs including serving as a secretary for Mayor Boss Crump, performing public relations for the Peabody Hotel and serving in legal roles for the University of Tennessee and Tall Trees. A graveside service was held today at Memorial Park Cemetery on Poplar Avenue. The Commercial Appeal has more.
A report compiled by the Tennessee Bar Association shows that while the number of lawyers serving in the legislature has declined over the last several years, more lawyers are candidates for the General Assembly this year than in the last two election cycles.
The report shows that 25 lawyers are running for 20 seats. In two districts, lawyers are pitted against each other in the primary or will likely face off in the general election. It remains to be seen whether, with the retirement of several lawyer lawmakers, the actual number of lawyers in the General Assembly will increase.
Memphis lawyer Joseph T. Kirkland Jr. was suspended by the Tennessee Supreme Court for one year, but allowed to serve all but 90 days on probation. Kirkland voluntarily reported to the Board of Professional Responsibility that he used previously disbursed and unclaimed funds in his trust account to pay for law firm operating expenses. All funds ultimately were replaced and properly disbursed, resulting in no financial loss to third parties. In addition to the suspension, the court ordered Kirkland to engage a practice monitor during the probationary period. Download the BPR notice
In one of several stories about the increased need for pro bono services, the Nashville Ledger argues that one particular program in the state needs immediate attention. That program is the Modest Means Initiative, funded largely by the Nashville Bar Association during its pilot phase. Now that the program is fully established, the association is looking for a new sponsoring agency and/or funding of $10,000 to $15,000 to continue the service. The program, designed to serve the working poor, charges a fee of $25 for a legal referral and caps lawyers’ fees at $75 per hour. Program founder and Nashville lawyer Jonathan Cole says there has been a “huge uptick in requests for these kind of services” but that the association cannot continue to fund it alone.
Former state Rep. Chris Clem, a Chattanooga attorney, has been appointed to the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, according to a news release from Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey. “Chris has spent a career both in and out of the legislature highly engaged in judicial issues. I can think of no one more qualified to evaluate the judiciary...” Ramsey said in the news release. Clem represented House District 27 from 2000 to 2006. The Times Free Press has more
In an editorial today, The Tennessean encourages voters to “be more attentive than ever” to state and county judicial elections. The paper then recommends a vote of “retain” for Jeffrey S. Bivins and Roger A. Page, two appellate judges on the ballot this year. The paper also offers endorsements in Davidson County judicial races.
