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.
The erosion of new associate hiring at law firms has resulted in a dramatic three-year decline in starting salaries for recent law graduates. Research by NALP, formerly the National Association for Law Placement, found that average starting salaries for members of the class of 2011 holding full-time jobs fell by 6.5 percent compared with the previous class, to $78,653 from $84,111. The median reported salary dropped by 5 percent, to $60,000 from $63,000. The median starting salary has dropped by 17 percent since 2009, according to NALP, and the average salary has decreased by 16 percent. Learn more from the National Law Journal
Chattanooga lawyer Bo Hixson talks about his 25 years of commercial litigation practice -- and his involvement with P.A.T.H. (Partnering With Attorneys to Help) to General Sessions Court. Through this program, individuals with a case on the Monday docket can receive basic information about Sessions Court rules and procedures from volunteer attorneys. Although Hixson is on the board of the Chattanooga Bar Association, which launched the program, he was not an immediate believer in P.A.T.H. “I was skeptical about it at first because of my concern about an attorney crossing the line from giving general guidance to giving legal advice,” he says. Then he volunteered one Monday morning, and the experience changed his opinion. Read more from the Hamilton County Herald
With unprecedented numbers of distressed litigants applying for free legal services, reaching out to lawyers for reduced fees, or representing themselves, the Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission continues to work to help people who can't afford a lawyer. The Nashville Ledger explores the progress, including the recent data showing an increase of Tennessee attorneys doing free legal work, and the publication of the court's eight plain-language divorce forms. Anne-Louise Wirthlin, the court's Access to Justice Coordinator, says judges and court clerks are reporting an increase in people using the forms, and the ATJ Commission is in the process of developing plain-language forms for other situations.
The Nashville Pro Bono Program and attorneys from Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP are also involved in this effort, hosting monthly programs to explain self representation. The first is Aug. 7, from 5-7 p.m., at the Legal Aid Society’s downtown headquarters.
The third and final in a series of debates hosted by the Bradley County Bar Association and the Cleveland Lions Club is set for July 17, with candidates in the 3rd and 4th Congressional district races. The forum will be at the Johnson Theatre at Cleveland State Community College at 6:30 p.m., with a theme of "An informed vote is the best vote." The Cleveland Daily Banner urges readers to attend the forum and writes that "sometimes it’s just best to hear what [candidates] have to say, and how they say it, in person and up-close in a comfortable, nonpartisan and enclosed atmosphere," and praises the bar association and Lions Club for organizing the events.
The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Johnson City lawyer Bryan Bradley Martin on July 11 for one year, but allowed him to serve all time on probation. Martin submitted a conditional guilty plea that he neglected clients’ matters and failed to communicate with his clients. The court found his actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.16, 3.2 and 8.4. Download the BPR release
With U.S. District Court Judge Samuel “Hardy” Mays's ruling yesterday that municipal schools referendums in the greater Memphis area may take place, a Sept. 4 trial date has been set to determine whether statutes allowing the referendums are constitutional. Mays agreed that submissions of possible evidence for the non-jury trial, which will focus narrowly on the issue of whether the Public Chapter 905 law is invalid because it applies only to Shelby County, would be due Aug. 10 -- eight days after the Aug. 2 referendums. Read more in the Commercial Appeal
Beginning today, registered voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots for the August 2 state primary and county general elections. Early voting continues through July 28. Whether you vote early or on election day, valid state or federal photo identification is now required when voting in person. The Secretary of State's Office has more on this year's voter requirements. Help for voters is available in many areas, including these guides for Memphis and Knoxville
George Thomas, one of four suspects in the January 2007 slayings of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom, has filed a motion invoking his right to a speedy trial in a move designed to prevent the Knox County District Attorney from challenging — for a second time — Special Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood's decision to grant Thomas a new trial. Thomas' new trial had been set to begin in October, however, prosecutors have been trying to block it. The News Sentinel has the latest in the case.
Judge Samuel Mays ruled today that the Aug. 2 municipal schools referendums in the greater Memphis area may take place, with early voting to begin Friday. The ruling ended a daylong hearing, in which Mays listened to representatives from the Shelby County Commission and the suburbs, which want residents to vote on whether to start separate school districts. According to the Commercial Appeal, Mays is still discussing the possibility of not certifying votes on the referendum until a decision is made on the constitutionality of legislation that allows for the creation of multiple municipal school systems in the county.
Hamilton County residents reportedly are receiving a “prank” phone message indicating they have failed to report for jury duty and will be fined $500 and serve a 30-day prison sentence. Victims are being contacted via text and/or email and told to call a number to receive a message. The phone numbers are (704) 319-7254 and (704) 319-7242. Officials say this prank is happening all over the country and that citizens should not to call the numbers. While the punishment for failing to report for jury duty in Hamilton County is accurate, officials says they would never text or email that information. Instead, no-shows would receive a letter or a subpoena with a court date. Read more on Chattanoogan.com
The Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility has filed a petition for discipline against Paul Rush, an assistant district attorney in the 10th Judicial District, which covers Bradley, McMinn, Polk and Monroe counties. The petition states that Rush knew a key witness in Cleveland's 1999 Valentine's Day triple slaying was going to be prosecuted on check fraud charges, but didn't tell defense attorneys until one or two days before the trial began. His failure to share the information, according to the petition, triggered a mistrial and allowed the murder defendant to walk free. The Times Free Press reports
Legal aid groups and bar associations have a number of pro bono activities planned across the state over the next several weeks. Memphis Area Legal Services launched its second of three Justice for All Online Auctions this week to raise money for its pro bono programs. The site will stay online through July 31. Contact Mary Lynes at (901) 271-0660 or mlynes@memphisbar.org for more information or to donate auction items.
On Saturday, the Memphis Bar Association's Access to Justice Committee will host a free legal clinic from 10 a.m. to noon at the city’s main library. To get involved contact Linda Warren Seely at (901) 523-8822 or lseely@malsi.org.
Next Wednesday, the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will work with the Nashville Public Defender's Office to staff a free legal clinic for veterans at Operation Stand Down of Nashville. Any veteran can attend the clinic but should call (615) 248-1981 to make an appointment.
Finally, on July 26, Legal Aid of East Tennessee will hold its annual Pro Bono Celebration and Silent Auction at The Square Room, 4 Market Square. The event will be emceed by Tennessee Supreme Court Justices Sharon G. Lee and Gary R. Wade. A reception and silent auction will begin at 5:30 p.m. Awards will be presented at 6:30 p.m.
Lawyers from AutoZone, Bass, Berry & Sims and Memphis Area Legal Services on Tuesday donated their time to help seniors and low-income residents draft wills, powers of attorney and other legal documents. It was the fourth year the groups have joined efforts to serve Memphis-area senior citizens. Read about it in the Commercial Appeal. Today, the Memphis Bar Association’s (MBA) Access to Justice Committee provided legal advice at the Project Homeless Connect event at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. The event was organized by Linda Warren Seely with Memphis Area Legal Services and MBA Executive Director Anne Fritz.
The Nashville Bar Association (NBA) has formed a new Veterans Committee and named Bass Berry & Sims lawyer Robert Echols as chair of the group. The NBA says the committee “offers a great opportunity to meet new veteran friends in the bar, share experiences and…serve other less fortunate veterans in [the] community.” It kicked off its activities recently with a reception at Echol's firm. Learn more online or contact Vicki Shoulders at (615) 242-9272 or vicki.shoulders@nashvillebar.org.
The national labor law firm of FordHarrison, which moved into Middle Tennessee last year, has recruited two attorneys, including a partner, from King & Ballow. Making the jump to the new firm are Mark Stamelos, who has been with King & Ballow for almost 12 years, and associate Josh Sudbury. The additions bring to seven the number of lawyers in FordHarrison’s Nashville office, according to the Nashville Post.
Three additional attorneys have left the Nashville office of Miller & Martin following a large exodus last month. Larry Bridgesmith, founder of the Institute of Conflict Management at Lipscomb University and adjunct professor at Vanderbilt Law School, has joined Bone McAllester Norton as of counsel in the area of labor and employment. Ken Bryant, previously the leader of the transportation practice group at Miller & Martin, has joined Stites & Harbison. And, Junaid Odubeko, former legal counsel to then Gov. Phil Bredesen, has joined Butler Snow O’Mara Stevens & Cannada. Butler Snow also announced it has hired Michael Sheridan, the former general counsel of HR services company Ceridian. The additions give Butler Snow a presence of 41 lawyers in Nashville.
A news item in yesterday's issue of TBA Today mistakenly identified the Mississippi lawyer who petitioned a federal appeals court this week to vacate his guilty plea in a judicial bribery case. It was Zach Scruggs, son of Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, who filed the motion. The younger Scruggs pleaded guilty to failure to report a crime in the same case involving his father. He served a 14-month prison sentence, paid a $250,000 fine and lost his law license. The Commercial Appeal has the story.
Texas, the nation's most active death penalty state, announced Tuesday that it would become the latest to switch to single-drug executions amid a drug shortage that has left states scrambling for acceptable alternatives. The state now will use a single dose of the sedative pentobarbital to carry out death sentences. Learn more from CBS
Planning commission members are exploring a new vote on construction of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro while they appeal a court ruling that stopped occupancy of the nearly finished mosque. A commissioner told the Daily News Journal that legal counsel indicated the body could revisit the matter any time as long as public notice is adequate. A judge in May overturned the commission's approval of the mosque because public notice wasn't sufficient. Meanwhile, the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro intends to ask for a certificate of occupancy for the new mosque soon despite a court order banning the county from issuing the document. The paper has more on that issue
