Herbert Slatery is new attorney General & Reporter

Herbert H. Slatery III was unanimously selected the new Tennessee Attorney General by the state Supreme Court Sept. 15. He will replace Robert Cooper Jr., who has served in the capacity for eight years.

Slatery has been Gov. Bill Haslam’s chief counsel since 2011. Prior to that appointment, he was in private practice in Knoxville with Egerton, McAfee, Armistead & Davis PC for 30 years. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and law degree from the University of Tennessee.

In his brief remarks after Chief Justice Sharon Lee introduced him, Slatery admitted there would be a learning curve but said the most important thing is “getting the right people.” He promised “no quick wholesale changes” to the attorney general’s office, however. “They are “top notch lawyers,” he said.  

Soon after the announcement, Cooper released a statement congratulating his successor and expressing his gratitude to those who served with him. “I want to thank the lawyers and staff whose excellent legal work and commitment to professional duty make this office the best in the nation,” Cooper said. In a statement, Lee thanked Cooper, saying he “has led that office with the highest level of skill and intellect.”

Slatery was selected from among six finalists. Making the final cut with him were Eugene N. Bulso Jr., Cooper, Mark A. Fulks, Sen. Douglas Overbey and William E. Young. Lee pointed out that the process for selecting the state’s attorney general was open, describing how the court accepted applications from any licensed attorney in the state.

COURTS

6 Counties Giving Judges Access to Drug Database
Six counties in Tennessee have been chosen to take part in a pilot project that gives drug court judges access to information in the Controlled Substance Monitoring Database to help ensure the success of program participants, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. Cocke, Grainger, Hamilton, Jefferson, Sevier and Sullivan counties were selected to represent rural, semi-urban and urban areas. “This program is designed to give judges more tools in their tool box to assist those persons who suffer from addiction and who are in drug court treatment programs,” said Sen. Doug Overbey, R-Maryville, a co-sponsor of the legislation allowing the program. If successful, the legislation sponsors believe the pilot program could be extended statewide.

New Domestic Violence Court
Begins Davidson County began a new Domestic Violence Court in September, the Tennessean reports. For the first time, all domestic violence cases will be referred to the court, with judges, prosecutors and security staff specially trained to handle such matters.

“We’re going to see a major change in how the cases are handled,” said General Sessions Judge Angelita Blackshear Dalton, who will be the first in a three-judge rotation to run the new court. General Sessions Judge Gale Robinson and newly elected Judge Allegra Walker will round out the rotation. The court is in the Justice A.A. Birch Building.

RETENTION ELECTIONS

How Tennessee Stacks Up
As part of the publication Gavel to Gavels’ review of Tennessee’s proposed Amendment 2, it compares the final provision regarding the retention election for appellate judges with similar provisions in others states. Twenty states provide for some form of retention election at some stage in the judge’s career, however they don’t all operate quite the same. Sixteen states use the typical retention system: a judge is initially appointed to the bench and then serves for a short period of time. The judge then must receive a simple majority of votes in a yes/no retention race to receive a full term. The language of the question also varies by state with some using “yes/no” and others “retain/
replace.”

LAW SCHOOL

Memphis Among 'Most Impressive Law School Buildings' in the World
The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law was ranked 24 out of 50 Most Impressive Law School Buildings in the world, according to the website bestchoiceschools.com. The law school relocated to the former U.S. Post Office, which also served as the U.S. Customs House before it reopened for students in 2010 after an extensive renovation. “This honor confirms what all of us in Memphis have long known,” said Peter Letsou, dean of the school. “We have an absolutely spectacular facility that instills a great sense of pride among our students, alumni, faculty, staff and the greater Memphis community.” The Memphis Business Journal reported.

ACCESS TO JUSTICE

Equal Justice U Kicks Off
TBA President Jonathan Steen launched one of the central initiatives of his tenure in remarks delivered at the 2014 Equal Justice University (EJU) in Murfreesboro Sept. 11. Steen spoke about Medical-Legal Partnerships, which engage professionals from both fields to create a more comprehensive and responsive health care team. EJU is hosted by the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) and co-sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association. Nearly 250 lawyers, law students and other advocates gathered for the annual conference for Tennessee’s Access to Justice community, which includes presentation of the annual Access to Justice Awards (see photo, facing page), provides continuing education and opportunities for networking through task force meetings and social functions.

Other speakers at the 2014 EJU included civil rights leader Diane Nash, retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Janice Holder and former TBA President Buck Lewis.