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 American Bar Association notified Lincoln Memorial University's John J. Duncan Jr. School of Law two weeks ago that it would refer the school's appeal back to the organization's top accrediting body, according to court documents filed Thursday. The association said it would send certain issues back to the Council of the Section of the Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, which will consider the panel's written notice, including the opportunity for an appearance by representatives of the law school, at its June 8 meeting. In the meantime, the ABA has asked U.S. District Judge Tom Varlan to continue to stay the lawsuit Lincoln Memorial filed against the ABA until June 15, when lawyers would file another update on the appeal process. The suit alleges antitrust and due process violations. The school opted also to appeal the decision through the ABA. The News Sentinel has more
Tennessee lawyers are sharing their insights and expertise with young lawyers from across the country at this weekend’s meeting of the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division in Nashville. The capstone of the three-day meeting is a luncheon on Saturday with Tennessee Supreme Court Justice William C. Koch, Vanderbilt Law School Professor Brian T. Fitzpatrick, Tennessee Bar Association Executive Director Allan F. Ramsaur and Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jane Branstetter Stranch speaking on this year’s Law Day theme “No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom.” Other lawyers presenting seminars during the meeting include Gail Vaughn Ashworth, George Barrett, Lisa Cole, Mark Chalos, Matthew Curley, Margaret M. Huff, Anne C. Martin, Bruce McMullen, Barbara Moss, Lucian T. Pera, E. Todd Presnell, Eli J. Richardson, Lisa Rivera, Matt Sweeney, Kendrick Vaughn and Heather Howell Wright.
The Knoxville Bar Association celebrated Law Day today with its annual luncheon, featuring a panel discussion led by University of Tennessee College of Law School Dean Douglas A. Blaze. The panel explored issues that impact the legal profession, the courts and the American justice system. Also at the event, the Young Lawyers Division recognized the Hon. Thomas W. Phillips for "his contribution to the advancement and protection of law through liberty" and awarded winners of the poster and essay contests, Liana Hu of Farragut Middle School and Gloria Yu of Hardin Valley Academy, respectively.
At its 19th annual Recognition Dinner on June 1, Nashville School of Law will celebrate the contributions of Aubrey B. Harwell Jr., George A. Dean, Bill Stinnett, Bill Wilkinson, and the late Dean James Gilbert Lackey Jr. (1915-1987). During the gala at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel, Harwell will be presented the 2012 Community Service Award, Dean will be named the 2012 Distinguished Faculty Member, and Stinnett and Wilkinson will be jointly named 2012 Recognition Dinner Honorees. Lackey will be named the first “Legend of Nashville School of Law.” Learn more from NSL
The Cecil C. Humphreys Law School will honor Professor Francis Gabor’s many contributions to the law school and the greater legal community at a memorial service on May 24 at 5 p.m. at the school. All are invited. Gabor, a Holocaust survivor, received his first law degree in Budapest, an LL.M. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, and his law degree from Tulane. He joined the law school faculty in 1976 and died in March of this year. A fund has been established in his memory at the law school. Make checks payable to University of Memphis Foundation and mail to Department 238, U of M Foundation, P.O. Box 1000, Memphis, TN 38148-0001, with designation to the Professor Francis Gabor Fund.
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development is seeking a staff attorney to defend second injury fund cases in Western Tennessee. The position could be located in either Jackson or Memphis. Interested candidates should send a resume and salary history to Legal Director, 220 French Landing Dr., B3, Nashville 37243 or fax to (615) 741-4169. Learn more on Joblink
Register now for the TBA’s 131st Annual Convention. Scheduled for June 6-9 at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, the event is packed with interesting programming and fun activities. Highlights include a visit to the famed Stax Records Museum of American Soul Music, a Bench/Bar luncheon featuring Bill Courtney, the dynamic coach at the center of the Academy Award winning documentary “Undefeated,” and high-quality CLE programming on the new Code of Judicial Conduct, tips for growing your practice and more.
The Williamson County Bar Association will honor four legal figures at its Friday Law Day luncheon. The Legal Aid Society and Nashville Pro Bono Program will honor Clerk and Master of Chancery Court Elaine Beeler for her work in establishing the Volunteer Lawyer Program, and it will honor Bill Lane, Diane Crosier and Ben Papa as 2012 Pro Bono Volunteers of the Year, the Tennessean reports.
A national law firm is seeking attorneys to start a long-term document review project in Nashville. The assignment is expected to last for at least two months. Recent law school graduates are encouraged to apply. Interested candidates should send a resume in Word format to Jeff Butler at jbutler@beaconhillstaffing.com. Beacon Hill Staffing Group provides executive search, temporary staffing, contract consulting and temp/contract-to-hire resources. Its legal division focuses on customized staffing solutions for the legal marketplace. Learn more about the Nashville opportunity on the company website
Work is set to begin next week to repair and preserve the front exterior of the U.S. Supreme Court building, seven years after a chunk of marble fell 100 feet onto the stairs leading to the entrance. The project will take 21 months, but access to the building will not be affected. CNN reports
An Aug. 22 settlement date has been set in the case in which Chattanooga attorney Jeffrey A. Stinnett is charged with forging the name of former Chancellor Howell Peoples. Criminal Court Judge Rebecca Stern also set a possible trial date of Nov. 13. The Chattanoogan reports
Hamilton County Chancellor W. Frank Brown III will preside over the trial to determine whether Shelley Breeding qualifies as a Knox County candidate who can run for the new 89th District state House seat. A May 16 trial date has been set. Breeding wants to run as a Democrat for the seat, which lies wholly in Knox County near Anderson County. A map shows Breeding's house is in Anderson County, to which her property taxes are paid, but her driveway and mailbox are in Knox County. The News Sentinel has more
Law week activities in Memphis closed out this yesterday when Chief Judge David Kennedy of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court addressed the crowd at the Memphis Bar Association's Annual Memorial Service at Calvary Episcopal Church. Thirty attorneys and judges who died this past year were honored. See photos and read the memorial statements about those honored. Law Week activities kicked off last Friday with the Law Week Launch Party in Court Square with barbecue and live music.
Nashville residents who have failed to comply with the booking requirements of state misdemeanor citations and who are now named in arrest orders are about to be given a second chance. The Metropolitan Police Department, in association with the General Sessions Courts, District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Criminal Court Clerk and Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, will host a Failure to be Booked Self-Surrender Program this Friday and Saturday.
The deadline for using the federal Income Withholding for Support form is June 1, the Office of Child Support Enforcement of the Administration for Children and Families reminds those who practice family law. All entities issuing child support income withholding orders must use this form. After this date, employers may begin returning non-compliant income withholding orders. Download more information from U.S. Department of Health and Human Servicesread more »
Judicial employees in Kentucky will have to take unpaid furloughs for three days this year to deal with cuts to the court system's budget, Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. announced. The court system has reduced employment by 282 people since 2008 because of a shrinking budget. To generate cash, Minton said the judicial system will start charging schools $10 for criminal background checks that used to be done for free. The charge will increase from $15 to $20 for all others seeking background checks. WSMV has the AP story
One of the biggest law firms in the country, Dewey & LeBoeuf, is falling apart, while the whole industry, from law schools to lone lawyers, NPR's On Point says, are wondering what comes now. The radio program discusses "the business of law, in trouble."
Providing continuing legal education (CLE) for lawyers by lawyers is a Tennessee Bar Association priority, and lately many of you have asked if continuing mediation credit (CME) could also be offered. What do you think? Please email TBA CLE Director Mindy Thomas-Fulks to participate in a survey, which closes on May 7 at noon.
Frost Brown Todd LLC announced today that it will merge with Nashville law firm MGLAW PLLC effective June 1. MGLAW's seven attorneys and staff will join Frost Brown Todd's 16-member Nashville office in its space on the 18th and 19th floors of the Pinnacle at Symphony Place. Frost Brown Todd has nearly 450 attorneys in nine offices throughout Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia.
