Tennessee Bar Journal Editor Julia Canada Wilburn spoke on a panel today at the National Association of Bar Executives (NABE) Communications Section Workshop in Raleigh, North Carolina. She focused her remarks on working with journal editorial boards. Other panelists talked about magazine layout and design, operations and finding new advertisers. The Communications Section holds its annual professional development workshop each fall in different cities across the country. TBA staff have a long history of participation and leadership in the section.

A federal judge has delayed sentencing for Desmond Mills Jr., one of the former Memphis police officers charged in the death of Tyre Nichols. U.S. District Judge Mark Norris moved the sentencing date to early next year after a petition from Mills’ attorney, the Daily Memphian reports. The move to postpone sentencing comes after two other former officers asked for acquittals of their convictions on charges related to Nichols’ death. Mills agreed to a federal plea in November 2023.

Belmont Law is hosting its first Reentry Simulation partnership with the Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry on Oct. 25 from 1-4 p.m. CDT in the Baskin Building Commons Area, 1901 15th Ave S, Nashville 37212. During the simulation, attendees will take on a new identity and experience real-life situations that individuals face during reentry. Each participant is equipped with a "Life Card" detailing criminal background, living and job situations, and specific weekly tasks crucial for avoiding potential return to prison as they experience the first month of post-release life. Registration is free but required.

Faith-based leaders, law enforcement and community members will gather Oct. 24 for the “Protecting Places of Worship Forum” in Memphis. Hosted by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service (CRS) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, the forum will address the growing concern over hate crimes targeting places of worship. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at the FedEx Event Center at Shelby Farms Park, 415 Great View Dr. E., Cordova 38018. Attendance is free, but registration is required. Get more information and register online.

Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal last week ruled that the city of Forest Hills could change the names of Confederate-themed streets, overruling the state's Historical Commission, which said the names were protected under the Heritage Protection Act, which specifically seeks to preserve Civil War-era monuments. The Tennessee Lookout reports that attorneys for the city have long argued the act should not apply to streets within subdivisions that were built on private property by private developers who constructed and named roads before they were formally recognized and adopted as public streets. State attorneys argued that the language of the act does not address this issue, and that the act requires that any street with a historic name that is now a public street remains subject to the law.

The Tennessee Board of Law Examiners has released statistics about the state's July 2024 bar exam. According to the board, 759 individuals — 647 first time test takers and 112 repeaters — took the exam. They represent 103 different law schools and saw an overall pass rate of 72%. For first time test-takers at Tennessee law schools, Vanderbilt University Law School saw a 97% pass rate followed by Belmont University College of Law at 94.8%, the University of Tennessee College of Law at 91%, University of Memphis School of Law at 78.7%, Nashville School of Law at 70% and Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law at 64.2%. See all statistical information released by the board.

Indiana joins a growing number of states in exploring innovative approaches to expand delivery of legal services, including through regulatory reforms. This month, the Indiana Supreme Court issued an order responding to recommendations from its innovations commission's July report, including directing development of "initial parameters for a legal regulatory sandbox," Reuters reports. Sandbox programs provide a controlled venue allowing entities to offer legal services that may otherwise run afoul of existing regulations, while still protecting the profession and consumers by maintaining a professional discipline process. Indiana's program follows initiatives in other states that allow alternative business structures, including early innovators Arizona and Utah. Reuters has an update on Arizona's program, which now has over 100 approved entities that allow non-lawyers to have an economic interest in law firms. Utah, the first state with a regulatory sandbox, continues to review and update its program, writes the ABA Journal.

The Community Legal Center (CLC) in Memphis will host an estate planning clinic at City View Towers, 256 S. Camilla St., Memphis 38104, on Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. CDT to help seniors with wills, powers of attorney and more. Attorneys and licensed notaries are needed to volunteer. Contact Melissa Hamilton at melissah@clcmemphis.org or (901) 543-3395 x209 for more information.

The Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP) recently announced that Lead Counsel and Executive Director Jessica Van Dyke will transition into the role of legal director. Jason Gichner has been appointed as the new executive director, effective Oct. 14. “I am honored to step into this role and continue building on the foundation that Jessica has laid,” says Gichner, who has served as deputy director since 2019. Chief Operating Officer Becca Morris states, “Jason’s deep commitment to justice and our cause makes this transition an exciting new chapter for TIP as we continue our fight for the exoneration of the wrongfully convicted.” Read more in a press release from the organization.

Tennessee's early voting period for the Nov. 5 general election begins today and runs through Oct. 31. In addition to voting in the presidential, congressional and state legislative races, some local seats and referendums are on the ballot. The Tennessee Secretary of State has more election information, including for early and absentee voting, at GoVoteTN.gov. Specific times and polling place details vary by county. USA Today has more on early voting across the country.