The Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Steven Michael Hodgen from the practice of law on May 31 after finding that he failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning a complaint of misconduct. Hodgen is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases and must cease representing existing clients by June 30.

The Nashville Davidson County Register of Deeds will begin operations in a new location at 300 Deaderick St. starting June 14. The office is moving from its current office at the Bridgestone Arena to a space across the street from the Historic Metro Courthouse. The last day in its current location will be June 21. The office reports that services will remain available and uninterrupted during the move. This includes filing and recording of all property documents, liens, and releases; e-recording and remote filing; information services (in person, by phone and via email); provision of document and plat copies, and voter registration. Read more in this announcement.

Registration is now open for the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) Equal Justice University Conference. Co-sponsored by the TBA, the conference will take place Aug. 28-30 at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro. This year’s event, with the theme "Cultivating Civil Justice Leaders to Protect the Promise," will feature award presentations, inspiring keynote speakers, networking opportunities, CLE sessions and other special events. EJU is the largest gathering of Tennessee's equal justice community.

New lawyers were welcomed to the legal profession at swearing ceremonies in Memphis and Jackson today. Representatives from the TBA and local bar associations were on hand to congratulate the new admittees. The Tennessee Supreme Court will hold ceremonies in Knoxville and Nashville tomorrow. See photos from today’s events.

The next legal clinic for veterans in Knoxville will take place June 12 from 12-2 p.m. EST at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office in Knoxville. This is a general advice clinic sponsored by the Knoxville Bar Association, KBA Barristers, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, the University of Tennessee College of Law, the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office and the local Veterans Affairs office. Sign up to volunteer here.

The Shelby County Sheriff's Office said a man incarcerated at the Shelby County Jail at 201 Poplar was found "unresponsive" in his cell Friday morning, and later died at the hospital. According to a statement from the sheriff’s office, the man, identified as Kevin B. Wright, was being housed individually and was found just after 7 a.m. Friday. A statement from the office said that "Corrections deputies immediately implemented life-saving measures, and Memphis Fire transported him to Methodist University Hospital in critical condition, where he was later pronounced deceased." The inmate was in the midst of his criminal trial, the Commercial Appeal reports. Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy has asked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to investigate.

A trial date for the two men accused of fatally shooting Memphis rapper Young Dolph in 2021 has been reset for Sept. 23, the Commercial Appeal reports. The trial, originally set for March, was to have started today in Memphis. In extending the date, Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Jennifer Mitchell said, "I was extremely upset when the lawyers came to me, asking for a motion to continue this case. I was really anxious to get this case over and done with starting this week, but they both expressed to the court the desire to get experts in. So I allowed the continuance to occur." Mitchell also set a new date of Aug. 9 for oral arguments over expert witnesses.

Former U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton has been appointed by Metro Nashville to lead an investigation into the Metro Nashville Police Department after details of a 61-page complaint by a former lieutenant were made public, the Nashville Banner reports. The complaint, a copy of which was obtained by WPLN, alleges a lack of accountability, inconsistent enforcement of policies, interference with investigations and biasing outcomes in favor of higher-ranking officers. Stanton, who served as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee from 2010-2017 and is now an attorney in the Memphis office of Butler Snow, has overseen a number of other critical investigations. In 2018, a federal court appointed him as a monitor of the Memphis Police Department following violations of the city’s consent decree. In 2022, he was appointed by Gov. Bill Lee to investigate the state’s death penalty protocols.

Nashville Public Radio reporter and producer Meribah Knight will receive the TBA’s Fourth Estate Award for her podcast series “The Kids of Rutherford County,” which brought to light abuses in the juvenile court system in Rutherford County. The award, which was established to recognize and encourage journalists who promote public understanding of the rule of law and improvements in our system of justice through their vigorous exercise of their First Amendment rights, will be presented at the TBA Annual Convention in Memphis on June 14 during the Lawyers Luncheon. Read the TBA's full press release.

Can't join us for the full TBA Convention later this month? Or maybe you need to add a guest ticket? Individual tickets are available for purchase for Thursday's Public Service Breakfast, University of Tennessee College of Law Breakfast, University of Memphis School of Law Breakfast, Bench Bar Luncheon, Legal Community Reception and Dinner & Entertainment with the judges; as well as Friday's Lawyers Luncheon. Buy tickets here now through June 9. Tickets to individual CLE programs will be available for purchase on site at the TBA registration desk in the Peabody Hotel.