A list of those who passed the February 2025 Tennessee bar exam is now available. Those who meet all licensing requirements will be sworn in at events across the state in early June. The Tennessee Supreme Court will meet on June 2 at 2 p.m. CDT in Nashville; on June 3 at 9 a.m. in Memphis and 1:30 p.m. CDT in Jackson; on June 4 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. CDT for virtual ceremonies; and on June 9 at 9 a.m. EDT in Knoxville. Watch for statistics from this spring's exam coming soon. Download the list in pdf format.

Brock Shipe Klenk PLC is pleased to announce that Sharon Lee, former Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court, has joined the Firm as Special Counsel. With her experience as a litigator, mediator and appellate judge, Justice Lee will enhance the Firm’s broad range of services, including mediation, complex litigation and appellate advocacy. Brock Shipe Klenk is honored that Justice Lee has chosen to continue her legal career by providing her expertise to the Firm’s dynamic and fast-growing practice. For more information, read the press release from the Firm. Lee can be reached at:

Email: slee@bskplc.com          T: (865) 338-9700

BROCK • SHIPE • KLENK
265 Brookview Centre Way, STE. 604
Knoxville, TN 37919

In a news conference outside the federal courthouse in Nashville, members of the federal public defender’s office and advocates said they have asked Gov. Bill Lee to pause executions until March 2026 to allow courts time to review the state’s new protocol. “This protocol is a sham,” said Kelley Henry, a supervisory assistant federal public defender who represents a number of people on Tennessee’s death row. “It’s a mere shadow of the previous protocol. They haven’t put in more safeguards. They’ve made it worse.” The governor responded to criticisms saying he does not plan on calling for a reprieve for all executions, but he does review each case individually, the Tennessean reports. "It was a lengthy process in making sure we had the right protocol here," Lee said. Four people are set to be executed this year under a new, single drug protocol.

Bass, Berry & Sims has announced that former state official Ginna Winfree Burrell has joined the firm as counsel and will lead its alcoholic beverage law practice team. According to the firm, Burrell will focus on federal liquor license requirements, regulatory and enforcement matters, and administrative hearings related to alcoholic beverage ordinances and statutes. A 2006 graduate of the Nashville School of Law, Burrell previously served as the assistant director and interim director of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). She also worked at Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin and as a regional vice chair for the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators. Read more from the firm.

A bill that would allow school districts to charge tuition from noncitizen students narrowly passed the Senate today, reports the Tennessee Journal. The measure passed by a 19-13 vote. A companion bill is moving through the committee process in the House. The House Education Committee approved a similar bill in March. The House Finance Subcommittee is scheduled to consider that measure on Monday.

The state Senate Government Operations Committee has passed HB910/SB861, a bill that would dissolve the Tennessee Human Rights Commission and transfer its functions to the state attorney general. Established in 1963, the commission is an independent state agency in charge of enforcing civil rights laws and prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations. The commission employs investigators, attorneys and other personnel and is run by a nine-member board of commissioners appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House. The bill now goes to the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee, where it is scheduled to be considered next week. In the House, a companion bill passed the Ways and Means Subcommittee and is scheduled to be heard by the full Finance, Ways and Means Committee next week as well. The Nashville Post has more on the proposal.

Tennessee Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti and a bipartisan coalition of 51 attorneys general issued follow-up letters to nine voice service providers indicating it appears they continue to be in violation of state and federal laws by routing allegedly unlawful robocalls across their networks. The letters provide information about the work of the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force and analyses of each provider’s illegal or suspicious robocall traffic. The letters also warn providers that if they fail to act to cease transmitting illegal call traffic, the states may pursue enforcement actions. A press release from the AG’s office notes that one such enforcement action already is being pursued against Avid Telecom.

Two large law firms have reached preemptive agreements with the Trump administration to avoid similar actions taken against other firms this spring. The terms of the deals were described in social media posts from the president. Bloomberg Law reports that Milbank will spend $100 million on pro bono services, avoid what the president characterized as “illegal DEI discrimination,” represent clients regardless of political views and include partners with diverse political ideologies on its pro bono committee. Willkie Farr & Gallagher agreed to spend $100 million in pro bono work and affirm its commitment to “merit-based hiring, promotion and retention” and not engage “in illegal DEI discrimination and preferences,” the president said. The Associated Press has more on that agreement. Earlier this spring, the administration began issuing executive orders targeting law firms, beginning with Covington & Burling. One targeting Paul Weiss was revoked after that firm agreed to spend $40 million in pro bono services for mutually agreed projects, renounce partisanship in hiring and choosing clients, and use merit-based employment practices. Three others, Jenner & Block, Perkins Coie and Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, have sued and won temporary restraining orders pausing parts of those orders. The ABA Journal has more on those cases.

Stewart County General Sessions Court Judge Andy Brigham is being honored for his service to CASA in Stewart County. A profile from News Channel 5 says Brigham worked to bring CASA to the county and has spent 14 years “giving a voice to children in need.” The piece concludes that “his dedication, humility and kindness make him stand out as a true leader.” A donation of $250 from Bart Durham Injury Law will be made to the organization in honor of the recognition. To nominate someone for the channel’s “My Hero” feature contact myhero@newschannel5.com.

The Tennessee Supreme Court imposed a public censure on Bedford County lawyer Richard Lamar Dugger on April 9. The court found that Dugger violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 3.2 and 3.4 in representing one client in a bankruptcy case and a second client in a landlord tenant case. In the first complaint, the court found that Dugger failed to include his client’s home in a bankruptcy matter, which resulted in his client’s home being foreclosed. In the second matter, Dugger failed to appear in court, failed to take action following the entry of an adverse judgment against his client and delayed the outcome of the case.