The Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission is seeking applications to fill vacancies in two state courts. Applicants are sought for the 4th Judicial District Circuit Court, which serves Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties. Those interested should apply no later than noon CDT on Oct. 23. A public hearing of applicants will be held on Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. EDT at the Sevier County Courthouse. In addition, the Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is accepting applications for a vacancy on the Court of Criminal Appeals. Applicants should be residents of the state's Eastern Grand Division. Those interested in this position should apply by noon CST on Nov. 13. A public hearing for this position will be Dec. 5 at 10:30 a.m. EST at the Tennessee Supreme Court Building in Knoxville. Both applications can be found on the Administrative Office of the Courts website.

The TBA will host its annual Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) Boot Camp tomorrow in Nashville. The event is designed to provide lawyers with insights into the court's procedures and strategies for success. Attendees will observe oral arguments, participate in discussions with experienced attorneys and enjoy a networking lunch. Registration opens at 9 a.m. CDT, with the program running from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. To register for the CLE, visit the TBA's online course catalog.

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts is celebrating the appointment of Judge Adrienne Waters Ogle to the Fourth Judicial District Circuit Court, noting in a press release that she is the first woman to hold that position. Ogle was appointed to the court by Gov. Bill Lee in September. She fills a new position that was created by the Tennessee legislature to address a backlog of civil cases in Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson, and Sevier counties. Prior to joining the court, Ogle served as a juvenile magistrate in Sevier County for 10 years and as a partner at Green, Waters Ogle and the McCarter Law Firm. Of her new post Ogles says, “I am honored. I also think it’s a big responsibility. I want to do a great job. I’m sure all judges do, but maybe even more so because I’m the first female. I feel like there’s a responsibility to do not just a good job, but a great job."

U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III in the Eastern District of Tennessee has announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded more than $5.1 million in grants to help reentry programs in the district. Funding from the department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) will provide services in a number of jurisdictions including Bedford County, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Johnson City and Knoxville. Chattanoogan.com has more.

The July 2024 bar exam is shaping up to be a strong one for test takers, with pass rates largely trending up, according to Reuters. More than half of U.S. states had reported exam results as of Friday morning with 18 of the 26 posting higher overall pass rates than in July 2023. Ten states saw improvements of five percentage points or more, two states had the same pass rate as last year, while six were down by small margins. Officials with the National Conference of Bar Examiners attributed some of the gains to the large size and strong academic credentials of the entering class of 2021. Applicants to law school increased 13% that year due to the pandemic.

The U.S Supreme Court is preparing to weigh in on the legal challenge involving Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth. The U.S. Justice Department is contesting the law, which restricts access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors. Tennessee is one of two dozen states enforcing such restrictions. This case is being described as one of the most important LGBTQ rights cases to reach the court according to Moore County News. The court previously allowed a similar ban in Idaho to take effect while legal challenges proceeded.

The Tennessee Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee met last Thursday to discuss proposed changes to state wetlands regulations. David Salyers, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, told lawmakers that allowing unchecked development on Tennessee’s wetlands — which serve to absorb floodwaters and replenish aquifers — could lead to flooding that will cost taxpayers “millions and millions of dollars down the road." Developers, by contrast, criticized the department's recommendations for not going far enough to remove restrictions that increase project costs and timelines. Tennessee Lookout reports on the hearing.

Tennesseans whose job was affected by Hurricane Helene can apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), according to the Tennessee Department of Labor (TDOL) and Workforce Development. WSMV 4 News reports that individuals can apply regardless of whether federal DUA has been approved yet. Those receiving state unemployment should also apply for DUA to be eligible for additional federal benefits. For more information or to apply, visit the TDOL website.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has activated a limited disaster plan for trial courts in four judicial districts impacted by severe flooding from Hurricane Helene. The order extends deadlines for filings, statutes of limitation and certain court orders by 45 days, from Sept. 26 to Nov. 12. Orders of protection and temporary injunctions that would otherwise expire between those dates are now extended until Nov. 12. This action follows emergency declarations by Gov. Bill Lee and President Joe Biden that an emergency exists in the state of Tennessee, including parts of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Judicial Districts, according to a press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued an order amending Rule 13 to among other things, make changes to the Administrative Office of the Court’s (AOC) Claims and Payment System (ACAP). To give the AOC time to implement the changes, the court set the effective date for Sec. 6(a)(1) as Dec. 1. All other changes — including those related to the financial obligations of parents, legal custodians and guardians in cases when a guardian ad litem is appointed and the crimes that affect the maximum compensation allowed for appointed criminal cases — will take effect immediately. The AOC had proposed various amendments to the rule on March 7. The court accepted comments on the proposal through May 6.