The Chattanooga Bar Association elected three new members to its board of governors late last month. Keith Grant of Robinson, Smith & Wells; Logan Threadgill of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel; and Katherine Lentz of Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison were selected by members to join the board. They will replace outgoing board members Jeffrey Maddux, Mark Litchford and Melody Shekari who reached the end of their terms. The Hamilton County Herald has more on each new board member.

Join the TBA International Law & Practice Section for its annual forum to be held in-person on March 17. This program will offer attendees four hours of general CLE credit and will feature topics like foreign direct investment, economic sanctions, import and export control laws and cybersecurity issues. Register now and check back for more details.

The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday suspended Ryan Bodiford Feeney from the practice of law for six months, with the first 30 days as active suspension and the remainder served on probation. Feeney executed a conditional guilty plea to a complaint that claimed he failed to communicate reasonably with his clients regarding prior suspensions, failed to withdraw from representation during his prior suspensions, and knowingly practiced law on multiple occasions during his prior suspensions.

Tennessee lawyers representing the state at the ABA’s Midyear Meeting in New Orleans heard updates on the profession from a variety of ABA leaders at the TBA’s annual delegation breakfast on Sunday. Among those addressing the group were ABA President Deborah Enix-Ross, ABA House of Delegates Chair Gene Vance, ABA President-elect Mary Smith and ABA Executive Director Jack Rives. The delegation, under the leadership of former TBA President John Tarpley, also heard from TBA President Tasha Blakney and took part in a Saturday reception honoring former TBA Executive Director Joycelyn Stevenson. See photos from those events here.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider six applicants for a chancery court vacancy in the 7th Judicial District, which covers Anderson County. They are: James W. “Jamie” Brooks Jr., Karen G. Crutchfield, H. Daniel Forrester, Evan E. Hauser, Roger A. Miller and Jimmy “Jim” Terry Jr. The commission will meet on Feb. 24 to interview candidates beginning at 9 a.m. EST at the Anderson County Courthouse, 100 N. Main Street, Clinton 37716. Any member of the public may attend the hearing to express, orally or in writing, objections to any applicant(s) for the post. The vacancy was created by the Jan. 31 resignation of Judge M. Nichole Cantrell.

Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp is seeking to transfer to adult criminal court the cases of five juveniles involved in two violent carjackings in January. The carjacking that occurred on Jan. 26 involved a 14-year-old and two 16-year-olds, while the carjacking on Jan. 28 involved a 13-year-old, 14-year-old and 15-year-old, Chattanoogan.com reports. Juvenile Court Judge Rob Philyaw will make the ultimate decision on whether or not to transfer the cases. He issued a statement saying he cannot comment on the case but will apply the admissible facts to the factors he is allowed to consider when making the decision. He also said he often speaks in the community about the “serious life-altering consequences” youth offenders can face and encouraged teens and their families to heed these messages.

Williamson County lawyer Melissa Ann Baker was suspended from the practice of law today for three years, with one year to be served on active suspension and the rest on probation. The Tennessee Supreme Court conditioned the probation on Baker engaging a practice monitor and complying with recommendations from the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program. The court imposed the discipline after finding that Baker (1) failed to file responses to two motions; (2) made material misrepresentations during oral argument; (3) failed to file responses to motions, which resulted in the dismissal of the client’s case; (4) failed to timely produce information to opposing counsel; and (5) filed inappropriate motions in juvenile court. Her conduct was determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1 , 1.3, 1.4(a) and (b), 3.1, 3.2, 3.3(a)(1), 3.4(c), 4.2, 4.4(a) and 8.4 (a), (c) and (d).

The Tennessee Supreme Court has denied a motion from Elliott James Schuchardt to strike a response from the Board of Professional Responsibility in his disciplinary case. Schuchardt filed the motion on Feb. 2, arguing that the board’s response to his petition for dissolution of a temporary suspension did not comply with applicable law. In a brief filed with the motion, Schuchardt argued that the court has no legal authority to summarily dismiss a petition for dissolution of a temporary suspension and that in doing so, violated his right to due process. In denying the motion, the court stated that summary dismissal was legally appropriate given the “unusual circumstances of this case.”

Shelby County lawyer David R. Huggins received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on Friday. The court took the action after determining that Huggins failed to take proper action in the case, failed to expedite litigation, and failed to follow court rules and orders. He also was found to have engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 3.2, 3.4 5.5(a) and 8.4(d).

Both the city of Memphis and Shelby County leaders are taking steps to respond to the death of Tyre Nichols. On Friday, Mayor Jim Strickland announced that the city is contracting with an outside organization to do an investigation into its police department. According to The Commercial Appeal, the city has engaged the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services through the Collaborative Reform Initial Technical Assistant Center and the International Association of Police Chiefs. Meanwhile, the Shelby County Commission today is considering two non-binding requests for action. One supports additional training, improved data collection and greater transparency on the use of force. The second calls on the Shelby County sheriff to use the video of Nichols in its annual de-escalation training. The Daily Memphian has more.