The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee (ACLU-TN) last week announced Kathy Sinback’s departure from the role of executive director. In a release, Sinback said, “It was an honor for me to build on the work of the legendary Hedy Weinberg and to help position ACLU-TN for future success. It is evident now more than ever that we need nonpartisan organizations like ACLU-TN to unite people around common values such as freedom, democratic participation, due process and respect for our neighbors.” The ACLU-TN Board of Directors has named Phyllida Burlingame as interim executive director and is initiating a search for a permanent executive director.

University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law has released Season Two of its "Show Cause" podcast. Episodes include discussions about the risks to Tennessee's wetlands, helping pediatric victims of gun violence through a partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety and LeBonheur Children's Hospital, and a new disability rights legal clinic launching in the spring. Listen to all episodes here.

A number of legal organizations will hold free legal clinics this week. On Tuesday, the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) will hold a walk-in clinic at the Gallatin Civic Center from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. CST. On Wednesday, LAS will hold a clinic for veterans from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST at Operation Stand Down in Nashville, while Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) will hold a clinic at the John T. O’Connor Senior Center from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST and a clinic for veterans from noon to 2 p.m. EST in Knoxville. On Thursday, LAS will hold a walk-in clinic from 3 to 4:30 p.m. CST at Greenhouse Ministries in Murfreesboro. On Saturday, LAS will hold its McHugh Clinic in Nashville from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CST while the Memphis Bar Association will hold its Second Saturday Clinic from 10 a.m. to. noon CST at the Benjamin Hooks Central Library.

Members of the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) joined the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands on Saturday evening to celebrate the group's 55th anniversary. TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr. was in attendance at the gala — held at the historic Fisk University in Nashville — to honor LAS' dedication to justice and the progress made in the last past, as well as to inspire the work ahead. Congratulations to LAS Executive Director DarKenya W. Waller on a successful event.

Davidson County lawyer Patricia Rae George was reinstated to the practice of law on Dec. 2. She had been placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on May 27, 2003. George filed a reinstatement petition. The Board of Professional Responsibility found it to be satisfactory.

Virginia lawyer Jonathan Morris Barnett was reinstated to the practice of law In Tennessee on Dec. 5. He had been placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on March 27, 2014. Barnett filed a reinstatement petition. The Board of Professional Responsibility found it to be satisfactory.

The TBA will host Yoga, Mindfulness and Meditation for Legal Professionals on April 18, at the Wild Heart Meditation Center in Nashville. The program will offer evidence-based meditation and yoga techniques to help relax the mind and improve professional performance. Attorneys will learn practical strategies to reduce stress, enhance focus and maintain composure in high-pressure situations. No prior experience in yoga or meditation is required, and the event is open to anyone in the legal profession looking to cultivate a sustainable work-life balance. The program runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT. For more information and to register visit the TBA website.

A challenge to the legality of the Nashville transit referendum will go to trial Jan. 8-9, 2025, Davidson County Chancellor Anne Martin announced Friday, The Tennessean reports. If the challenge is successful, the results of the referendum will be voided. Former Metro Council member Emily Evans and the Committee to Stop an UnFair Tax filed suit against the Davidson County Election Commission the day before Thanksgiving to contest the election results, which endorsed Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s $3.1 billion transit plan. The group argues that some of the plan’s projects, such as sidewalk improvements, are not allowed under the IMPROVE Act, the state law that permits local governments to impose tax increases to fund public transit systems. Before the trial, the case will return to court Dec. 20 to determine the structure of the proceedings.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) recently awarded $424,694 to West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS) for it to modernize and enhance its pro bono program based on the findings of a recent planning assessment. WTLS plans to hire additional staff, integrate pro bono into core practice areas, develop clear priorities and protocols and improve volunteer engagement. It also will create a pilot project to address the region's need for re-entry legal services. The funding comes as part of a large award of more than $5.4 million to 21 legal aid organizations in 14 states. As noted in past reporting, Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee (LAS) and the Cumberlands also received $73,218 from the Pro Bono Innovation Fund to conduct a six-month assessment focusing on staffing structures, integration of services, and technological enhancement to optimize pro bono legal service delivery.

Demetrius Haley, who was convicted in October of civil rights violations related to the death of Tyre Nichols, is appealing the denial of bond while he awaits sentencing on Jan. 22, 2025. The appeal was filed with the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Daily Memphian reports. Haley's attorneys argue he should be released pending sentencing because he was not convicted of a "crime of violence." In related news, the federal sentencing date for another of the five former officers charged in the Nichols case has been delayed until early next year. Emmitt Martin III, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in August, is now scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 28, 2025. He was originally set to be sentenced Dec. 5. Martin will be tried separately from the other officers because of his cooperation with prosecutors in his federal case.