Robertson’s Book to Debut in February

Longtime Journal Editor Suzanne Craig Robertson is now a published author! He Called Me Sister will be available Feb. 21 from Morehouse Press. It chronicles the fascinating, moving story of a friendship with an inmate on death row. It was a clash of race, privilege and circumstance when Suzanne’s husband Alan first signed up through a church program to visit Cecil Johnson on death row, to offer friendship and compassion. Suzanne had no intention of being involved, but slowly, through phone calls and letters, she began to empathize and understand him. That Cecil and Suzanne eventually became such close friends — a white middle-class woman and a Black man who grew up devoid of advantage — is a testament to perseverance, forgiveness and love, but also to the notion that differences don’t have to be barriers. The book recounts a 15-year friendship and how trust and empathy were forged despite the difficult circumstances, and how Cecil ended up ministering more to Suzanne’s family than they did to him. The story details how Cecil maintained inexplicable joy and hope despite the tragic events of his life and how Suzanne, Alan and their two daughters opened their hearts to a man convicted of murder. Cecil Johnson was executed Dec. 2, 2009.

Judge Sharon Lee Announces Retirement

Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee has announced she will retire on Aug. 31. Lee is currently the high court’s longest-serving member, having been appointed in 2008 and serving as Chief Justice from 2014 until 2016. Prior to her time with the Supreme Court, she spent four years on the Court of Appeals.

“Serving in the Tennessee Judiciary for the past 19 years has been the greatest honor of my professional life,” Lee said. During her time on the court, Lee advocated for access to justice and spearheaded a variety of innovative projects, including the Business Court pilot project, e-filing implementation, a review of the state’s indigent representation system and a statewide docket cleanup initiative. Five candidates have applied for the seat: Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Kristi M. Davis, Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Tom Greenholtz, First Judicial District Chancellor John C. Rambo, Chattanooga lawyer Michael Richardson with the Richardson Law Firm, and Knoxville lawyer Dwight E. Tarwater with Paine Tarwater Bickers.

Landers Retiring from Editorial Board

Suzanne Landers has served on the Tennessee Bar Journal editorial board since 2006 and concluded her service at the end of December. She says, “This has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to read and learn while editing for this amazing publication with the amazing people who have served alongside me. The Tennessee Bar Journal is such a pillar of knowledge to be truly appreciated.” Our thanks and gratitude to Suzanne and we wish you the best in retirement!

Tasha, Caroline and proud dad Michael Rogers.

Rogers Sworn In to the Minnesota Bar

TBA President Tasha C. Blakney’s daughter, Caroline Rogers, was sworn in to the Minnesota Bar in November. Blakney presented Rogers to the Minnesota State Supreme Court. She says, “I never imagined I’d have an opportunity to appear before the Minnesota Supreme Court, but I’m certainly grateful that I did. Moving for Caroline’s admission to practice law was one of the most special things I have ever done. We couldn’t be prouder of her.”

2023 Diversity Leadership Institute

The YLD Diversity Committee has selected the 2023 Diversity Leadership Institute class. This year’s participants represent all six law schools in the state of Tennessee. Congratulations to Kayla Mathews from Belmont University College of Law; Dedra Brown, Bethany Jervis and Sharon Leveron from Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law; Renee Austin, Dominique DeFreece, Trenton Woodley and Remon Youssef from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law; Kianna Cooper, Hayley Pogue, Jamie Schultz and Allyson Stembridge from Nashville School of Law; Kevin Kennedy, Jonathan Palmer Smith, Maya Thomas and Cameron Watts from Vanderbilt Law School; and Kay Frazier and Molly Green-Majewski from the University of Tennessee College of Law. Class members will embark on a six month leadership and mentoring program designed to develop skills to succeed as a law student and attorney, empower students to contribute more to the legal community, match students to mentors in a diverse variety of practice areas and build relationships among students of diverse backgrounds.

TBA Staff Celebrates Holidays

For an opportunity to give back to the community, the TBA staff donated more than two dozen new toys to Nashville’s Room in the Inn’s “More Than a Toy Drive.” More Than a Toy provides unhoused neighbors an opportunity to reconnect during the holidays. Guests “shop” for their children and grandchildren and then wrap the gifts with volunteers. |||