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 Bench Bar Committee of the Tennessee Judicial Conference presented a thought-provoking and informative look at two current hot topic issues: 1) the handling of matters involving pro se litigants; and 2) our ever-growing sets of local rules of court.
Following the program, football coach and Memphis businessman Bill Courtney inspired the group at the Bench/Bar Luncheon with a leadership challenge, and a recounting of his experience at Manassas High School that was featured in the Academy Award winning documentary "Undefeated."
A Connecticut man accused of attempting to rob a woman at knifepoint says he was sleepwalking at the time. His lawyer says he plans to use the claim as a medical defense, and is busy gathering records in an attempt to convince prosecutors they should take the claim seriously. WRCB-TV reports
New York-based law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman has selected Nashville's AT&T Building as its new downtown home. According to a news release, the firm has signed a seven-year lease for two and a half floors. Pillsbury announced in October that it planned to expand into Nashville with a new 150-person office. The Nashville Business Journal has more on the site selection.
According to local officials, the public address system in the Rutherford County Judicial Building didn’t operate properly last Thursday when a bomb threat forced evacuation of the building. In addition, according to witnesses, the fire alarm was not activated and the courtroom communication system wasn’t used. Officials acknowledge that the public address system, which can be heard in the hallways, has not operated properly in years. With regard to the courtroom system, the Daily News Journal reports that local officials have provided conflicting reports this week about how it works.
Opponents of a Murfreesboro mosque have asked a judge for an injunction to stop further construction. Lead attorney Joe Brandon Jr. said the filing asks Chancellor Robert Corlew III “to put some teeth in his ruling,” which last week found that the local government failed to provide adequate public notice for a site plan meeting. “If you have a void site plan application, you don’t have a valid building permit,” Brandon said. The Daily News Journal reports
Former General Sessions Judge James Taylor, already facing criminal charges in Davidson County, was indicted earlier this week by a Hawkins County Grand Jury on multiple theft and money laundering charges. The 12 new charges bring the total charges against him to 53. The earlier counts related to fraudulent payment claims he made to the state while serving as judge. These new charges are related to alleged thefts that occurred in his private practice. Among the alleged victims are three Hawkins County churches that made donations for a heritage display at the justice center, two of his employees and two fellow lawyers. Bond on the new charges was set at $150,000. Taylor remains in custody in Davidson County on a $175,000 bond. Read more from the Rogersville Review
Thirty seven attorneys are leaving the Nashville office of Miller & Martin to join Butler Snow O'Mara Stevens & Cannada PLLC, the Nashville Business Journal reports. With this expansion, Butler Snow becomes one of the largest firms in the state and among the largest in the country, with more than 220 attorneys practicing in 12 offices nationwide. Read more from the firm and see a list of those making the move.
In a second article about the departures from Miller & Martin, one Nashville lawyer cites Butler Snow’s alternative billing practices, technology, and free flow of attorneys and resources as a key reason for making the move, while others referenced “different philosophies" about how to build a practice.
The House of Delegates reviewed a number of policy issues during its session today in Memphis as part of the TBA Annual Convention. In addition, House Speaker Claudia Jack passed the gavel to Charlie Trotter, who will lead the body in the coming year.
TBA President Danny Van Horn today recognized the work of three TBA sections by presenting them with Section Cup awards during the Section Chairs Roundtable at the TBA Annual Convention in Memphis. Over the past year, sections accumulated points for holding meetings and CLEs or providing new services to members. Sections of like size competed against each other for the honor. The TBA Appellate Practice Section was named the Section Cup recipient for smaller TBA sections, with Executive Council member Buck Lewis accepting the award on behalf of the section.
Metro Nashville Police officials have filed a civil lawsuit to prevent gang meetings in the South Nashville area. The suit is meant to crack down on the Kurdish Pride Gang, which police say has been involved in vandalism, gun possession and witness intimidation dating back to 2007. This lawsuit targets two-dozen gang members and prevents them from holding gang meetings in a specific square mile, near a park in South Nashville. This is the first such legal action in Tennessee since a law allowing it passed the legislature in 2009. WPLN reports
An order has been filed requiring new trials for the defendants in a January 2007 torture slaying, according to John Gill, special counsel to Knox County District Attorney General Randy Nichols, and reported by the News Sentinel. This comes despite a request from prosecutors that Special Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood recuse himself from the case, after he indicated last week he was ordering new trials without a hearing.
TBASCUS members from across the state gathered for lunch today (June 6) at the Rendezvous restaurant in Memphis, helping to kick off the 2012 TBA Annual Convention. TBA President Elect Jackie Dixon addressed the group, outlining some of her objectives for the coming year and inviting them to take part in upcoming TBASCUS programs. TBASCUS (Tennessee Bar Association Seasoned Counselors Up To Somethin') is open to all TBA members who have reached the age of 50.
Thirty-one years ago this month, former Tennessee Gov. Ray Blanton was convicted of mail fraud, conspiracy and extortion for selling liquor licenses, which got him 22 months in a federal prison. Many of the players in that drama were lawyers. The Nashville Post looks at where some of them are now, including Blanton’s legal counsel T. Edward “Eddie” Sisk (selling mattresses in Nashville), then-U.S. Attorney Hal Hardin, and then-Deputy Attorney General William “Bill” Koch. The article is from an upcoming book by Keel Hunt, who was city editor of the Tennessean at that time. He recalls -- during what then-Lt. Gov. John Wilder famously called, “Impeachment, Tennessee style” -- how decisions were made and party lines faded into a cooperative effort to stabilize Tennessee politics.
Former President Bill Clinton confirmed Tuesday evening that he offered to nominate Mario Cuomo to the U.S. Supreme Court, but the New York governor didn’t want the job. Clinton said Cuomo didn’t want to give up the governorship. He then stayed in office, ran for re-election and lost. Clinton went on to tap Ruth Bader Ginsburg for the nomination. ABAJournal.com has more
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Tuesday denied Prop 8 backers' request for a rehearing before a larger en banc panel of the court. The next option for supporters of the ban on same sex marriage is the high court, which they've vowed to pursue. The order denying rehearing leaves in place the court's February ruling striking down the ban on equal protection grounds. However, some observers think a challenge on the Defense of Marriage Act would be a more likely candidate for high court review since it's a challenge to a federal statute, not a state voter initiative, and since plaintiffs in the Prop 8 case are asking for a far more sweeping ruling — one declaring marriage a fundamental right. Read more about it on Law.com
Even though the Washington County commission agreed to hire a third General Sessions judge starting in January, Circuit Court Clerk Karen Guinn says there is no available room. District Attorney General Tony Clark says he's also out of office space but still needs another prosecutor to handle the new court. State standards say a Sessions Court prosecutor should handle up to 200 cases per week; right now they have close to double that amount. "We have to have people to prosecute these cases,” says Clark. “We are spending a minute to a minute-and-a-half on a case. People deserve more than that." Guinn says she plans to ask the county commission for two new employees and additional equipment for the third Sessions Court, which will cost close to $85,000. Money for a new prosecutor must come from the state budget, however. WCYB has the story
The Cherokee County Justice Center and Historic Courthouse in Canton, Ga., reopened today after being closed for more than five hours on Tuesday while authorities searched the buildings and grounds for an alleged bomb. The evacuation follows two courthouse bomb threats in Tennessee in the last week, in Murfreesboro and Nashville. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the story
The 131st Annual TBA Convention opens tomorrow (Wednesday) at The Peabody in Memphis. Registration opens at 1 p.m., and programs, events and meetings continue through Saturday. Walk up registrations are welcome. The gathering will take place at the same time as meetings of the Tennessee Judicial Conference, the Tennessee Association for Justice, the Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women and the Tennessee Alliance for Black Lawyers.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is soliciting applications from persons interested in appointment as federal public defender for the Western District of Tennessee at Memphis. This is a vacancy created by the retirement of the previous incumbent. Applications are due by June 15. Download information from the court
The Sixth Circuit Judicial Council is soliciting applications from persons interested in appointment as United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Tennessee at Jackson. This position will become vacant upon the retirement of United States Bankruptcy Judge G. Harvey Boswell on July 8. Applications must be received by July 18. Download more information
