The Hamilton County Commission yesterday conducted public interviews of eight hopefuls for an appointment as a judge in General Sessions Court. It will make a decision at a meeting next Wednesday, according to Chattanoogan.com. The candidates are Kisha Cheeks, Tracy Cox, Andrew Coyle, Ron Powers, Sam Robinson III, Tori Smith, Pat Wagner and Jonathan Wilson. Whoever is selected to fill the vacancy created by the election of Judge Alex McVeagh to the Circuit Court will serve until the August 2026 general election. The winner of that election then will serve until 2030, which is when the McVeagh’s term would have expired.

Franklin lawyer Christopher Yong-Min Chi died Aug. 13 at the age of 52. A graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, Chi worked as a lawyer at various law firms and health care companies in California and Tennessee. Prior to pursuing his law degree, Chi worked as a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Press Enterprise and Athol Daily News (Greenfield, Massachusetts). A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday from 1-4 p.m. CDT at 139 Richards Glen Dr., Franklin 37067. Chi will be laid to rest at a later date at a family plot in New York state. Memorial donations may be made to the family’s 529 education accounts or to the Franklin nonprofit GraceWorks, 104 Southeast Pkwy., Franklin, TN 37064.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) has opened a new office for its Eviction Prevention Program (EPP) in Knoxville. A ribbon-cutting and celebration was held earlier this month, Knox TN Today reports. LAET’s Executive Director Debra House said the EPP has been a massively beneficial program for the entire community and for people from all walks of life. “Since its inception in November 2023, the EPP has handled 357 cases and prevented 166 evictions. This program needed its own space to make it more accessible. We now have a large parking lot, and the building is on a bus line.” In addition to eviction prevention, the office also educates consumers about issues such as fair housing, discrimination, unfair lockouts and repairs and basic maintenance. It also assists with domestic violence cases to help make the home a safe place for all. The new office can be reached at 865-371-8730. Read more in a release or see photos from the event.

Shelby County Commissioners voted down a referendum, proposed by Commissioner Erika Sugarmon, that would have allowed voters to decide whether the commission should hire its own attorney, the Daily Memphian reports. The measure failed by one vote of the two-thirds majority needed to send it to the Shelby County Election Commission and put it to voters on the November ballot. Sugarmon argued the commission needed to be able to hire its own attorney independent of the Shelby County Attorney’s Office as a “check and balance” on the county administration.

Registration is now open for the next free advice clinic for Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits, set for Sept. 19 in Nashville. The clinic, sponsored by the Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts and Bradley, provides assistance with business formation and corporate governance, review of contracts and guidance in navigating local ordinances and state regulations. Prospective clients should register by Sept. 16. Attorneys should email vlpa@abcnashville.org to volunteer.

Emmitt Martin III, one of five former Memphis Police Department officers charged with the beating death of Tyre Nichols, allegedly will change his plea from not guilty to guilty at an upcoming court hearing, the Commercial Appeal reports. Martin entered the not guilty plea in September of last year after being indicted on charges of using excessive force, deliberate indifference, conspiracy to witness tamper and witness tampering. If he does change his plea, he will be the second defendant to enter into a plea agreement. Desmond Mills agreed to a federal plea in November 2023. The four remaining defendants are scheduled to begin trial on Sept. 9. Update: read a release issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee after the pleading.

Two webcasts on Sept. 11 will help lawyers improve their mediation and arbitration skills. The first, "Top 10 Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Mistakes Lawyers Make in Mediations,” will run from 10-11 a.m. CDT. One hour of CLE and CME credit is available. Then from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT, tune in for the “Top 10 Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Mistakes Lawyers Make in Arbitrations.” Nashville lawyer David Taylor with Bradley will present both programs.

On Aug. 20, the Supreme Court of Tennessee suspended 123 attorneys for failing to complete annual continuing legal education requirements in 2023. View the order or see the full list online, including those who have been reinstated in the last two days. Access all administrative suspension lists dating back to 2005.

The following attorneys were suspended by the Supreme Court on Aug. 20, 2024, for failing to comply with Rule 21 of the Rules of the Tennessee Supreme Court, which requires mandatory continuing legal education, during the 2023 compliance year. Attorneys who have since complied with CLE requirements, and for whom notice has been received from the court, are noted as reinstated.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has suspended the law license of Davidson County lawyer Mickie Smith Daugherty after finding that she failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility about a complaint and posed a threat of substantial harm to the public. The court reported that the complaint alleged misappropriation of funds. Daugherty is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases and must cease representing existing clients by Sept. 19. The court also issued an order allowing documents in the case to be filed under seal.