The Shelby County District Attorney's office has filed an emergency writ of certiorari against General Sessions Court Judge Bill Anderson's decision to release on his own recognizance a man who allegedly shot four people. In the unusual legal filing, the office is looking to reinstate bail for the defendant, the Commercial Appeal reports. Detawn Gunn was charged with shooting four at the Memphis entertainment district known as Railgarten. Anderson allowed Gunn out of jail without posting monetary bail, but did set conditions on his release. The district attorney’s office had proposed $500,000 in bail. WREG also reports that State Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, has weighed in on the matter, alerting the Board of Judicial Conduct to Anderson’s decision. He also says the judge's actions may violate a new state law requiring the safety of the community to be the first consideration of bail.

The 21st Annual TBA Leadership Law (TBALL) program has launched its annual call for nominations for the 2025 class. Nominees should have from five to 15 years of experience in practice. Nominations are due Oct. 4 and should be submitted using this online form. Last year, 35 lawyers from across the state were accepted into the program. The new class will kick off in January 2025 with an opening retreat at Montgomery Bell State Park and end next June with a commencement ceremony during the TBA Annual Convention in Franklin. Email TBALL coordinators Tanja Trezise or Jarod Word with any questions.

Newer practice management systems have features unimaginable 20 years ago, particularly for solos and small firms. Want to integrate your phone system with a practice management program or access your data from anywhere? These and other cool features make it essential to prioritize your “needs” and “wants” before you shop around. Use this checklist in conjunction with “Moving to a New PM System” for a full 360-degree picture of options and possibilities. Find more in the Managing a Firm section of TBA’s Law Firm in a Box.

The Tennessee Bar Association will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day. The office will reopen on Tuesday at 8 a.m. CDT. Visit the TBA.org website for information on CLE or other TBA programs and for staff contact information.

Over the past week, the Tennessee Supreme Court has reinstated 16 lawyers who had been suspended for failing to complete annual continuing legal education requirements in 2023. See the list of those reinstated online.

Former Judge Anthony Andrew "Andy" Jackson has died at age 74. After a successful career in agriculture, Jackson became a Dickson County Juvenile and Probate Court judge, where he served for 33 years. Those who knew Jackson praised him for his intelligence, independence and fairness and said he made a significant impact on the lives of countless individuals, the Dickson Post reports. Jackson also was instrumental in shaping the state's Juvenile Court Rules and served as a leader in the Juvenile Court Judges Association. Donations in his memory may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. A visitation with the family will be held on Sept. 13 from noon to 2 p.m. CDT at the Clement Railroad Museum in Dickson, with a Memorial Mass to follow at St. Christopher’s beginning at 2 p.m.

The 2024 Equal Justice University (EJU) kicked off today in Murfreesboro with an opening plenary featuring longtime advocate Ashley Wiltshire speaking on the history of access to justice efforts in Tennessee. A welcome lunch featured remarks by Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Bivins and presentation of the New Advocate of the Year Award to Tomi Robb with the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee. This afternoon, the Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission met and held a question and answer session for attendees. The evening will conclude with the annual Access to Justice Awards Reception and Dinner, where two additional awards will be presented. The conference continues tomorrow with TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr. speaking at lunch. See photos from today.

West Tennessee District Attorney General Fred Agee has requested a state investigation into Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, for allegedly posting documents online containing a defendant's personal information, including a Social Security number, potentially in violation of state law. Agee's complaint, filed with the state Comptroller’s Office and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, stems from Taylor's social media posts showcasing a plea agreement in a case Agee handled, which Agee says were intended to criticize him and potentially expose sensitive information. Taylor claimed the documents were shared to highlight what he perceived as lenient plea deals, and said he removed the documents when he became aware of privacy concerns. The request for investigation also explores whether the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office, where Sheriff Paul Thomas is indicted for a separate scheme, provided Taylor with the information. The Daily Memphian has more on this story.

Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert has once again filed a motion to dismiss an ouster petition against her. This time, she argues that the attorney hired by the Shelby County Attorney's Office lacks standing to bring the case, according to the Commercial Appeal. Halbert's attorneys claim that only the Tennessee Attorney General's Office, the Shelby County District Attorney's Office, or the Shelby County Attorney's Office can file such a petition. However, both the district attorney and the county attorney have stated they have a conflict of interest in the matter. The state attorney general has declined to intervene, citing the political nature of the case. Halbert's attorneys also argue that the county attorney's office did not have the authority to hire outside counsel without approval from the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.

Women are outnumbering men on state ballots this fall, with two women competing for Tennessee's U.S. Senate seat, and Vice-President Kamala Harris running in the presidential election. According to Knox News, reports find this increase in female candidates mirrors a national trend that may help close the gender gap in political representation. The paper cites data from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, which reveals that only 15% of Tennessee's state legislators are women. Additionally, a recent Vanderbilt poll highlights significant gender differences on policy issues. "The variations we observe among registered voters ... indicate that gender-based opinions could have substantial effects on voting and policy-making, both in our state and nationwide,” says Joshua Clinton, co-director of the poll.