Civil Rights activist and pioneer in nonviolent protest, James Lawson, died June 9 at the age of 95, according to the Tennessean. Lawson inspired a generation of activists in the earliest days of the Civil Rights Movement, including helping to organize the movement to desegregate lunch counters in Nashville. Imprisoned as a conscientious objector during the Korean War in the early 1950s, Lawson was also kicked out of Vanderbilt University and arrested for organizing student demonstrations. During his incarceration, he said he learned about the nonviolent protests led by Mohandas Ghandi in India. In 1960, Lawson drafted the first purpose statement for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), an organization led by Nashville students. In 1961, he was arrested during a freedom ride and held in a Mississippi prison for weeks. Lawson was working on the sanitation strike in Memphis in 1968 and called Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to participate, then leading marches in the wake of King’s death. In 2006, Vanderbilt invited Lawson back to the school as a divinity professor. The university later purchased his writings and photographs, and in 2021, launched the James Lawson Institute for the Research and Study of Nonviolent Movements.

The Tennessee Bar Foundation has announced that Nashville lawyer John Murphy will serve as its new executive director beginning July 1. Murphy will replace longtime director Barri Bernstein, who announced in January she would retire. Bernstein will continue on as a consultant for the next year to ensure continuity of programs. Murphy brings a diverse professional background to the position, including legal practice, nonprofit management and public service. He most recently served as senior advisor for economic inclusion at the Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County. He has been an active member of the TBA, serving on the Young Lawyers Division Board as sponsorship chair.

Sixteen sponsors have signed up to help underwrite the costs of this year's TBA Annual Convention. Thank you to diamond presenting sponsor Fastcase, platinum sponsor TriStar Court Reporting, gold sponsor LexisNexis, silver sponsors TBA Member Insurance Solutions and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, bronze sponsor SoFi, and YLD sponsor National Bar Association Ben F. Jones Chapter. Exhibitors include Conservatorship Association of Tennessee, JAMS, Mutual of America, The Bar Plan, Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) and Tradeline LLC. Non-exhibiting sponsors include Clio and Time Miner. The YLD's CLE is being presented by ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Check out our sponsor page for more information. If you are coming to Memphis, please visit all exhibitors and enter our Exhibitor Passport drawing for great prizes!

Kentucky lawyer Katherine Anne Shepherd has been reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee after being on inactive status for more than five years. Shepherd was placed on inactive status on April 11, 2012. Her reinstatement was made effective as of June 4.

The five city charter amendments that were supposed to be on Memphis voters' Aug. 1 ballot are being moved to November, the Daily Memphian reports. Shelby County Elections Coordinator Linda Phillips said she did not receive the text of the ballot questions — including a multi-part question on gun control and one that would mandate a mayoral candidate live in the city for two years — by the deadline for them to be included on the August ballot. City Council Chief Administrative Officer Brooke Hyman told the paper that the referendums have been moved to November to give the public more time to learn about the proposals.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has given Mississippi lawyer Andrew Jackson Clark until July 25 to complete outstanding obligations with the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education. If the obligations are not satisfied by then, the court says it will dismiss the petition. Clark filed the petition on June 3.

Harold Collins, chief administrative officer for Shelby County Government, has announced that he plans to run for Shelby County mayor in 2026. The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports that Collins was celebrating his recent graduation from Jackson State University with a master's degree in public policy “when he made the surprise announcement before supporters, family and friends.” Collins previously served as a Memphis city council member, deputy director of the Shelby County Division of Corrections and head of the Shelby County Office of Reentry. He ran unsuccessfully for Memphis mayor in 2015. Current Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris is ineligible for reelection.

Civil Rights activist and pioneer in nonviolent protest, James Lawson, died yesterday at the age of 95, according to the Tennessean. Lawson inspired a generation of activists in the earliest days of the Civil Rights Movement, including helping to organize the movement to desegregate lunch counters in Nashville. Imprisoned as a conscientious objector during the Korean War in the early 1950s, Lawson was also kicked out of Vanderbilt University and arrested for organizing student demonstrations. During his incarceration, he said he learned about the nonviolent protests led by Mohandas Ghandi in India. In 1960, Lawson drafted the first purpose statement for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), an organization led by Nashville students. In 1961, he was arrested during a freedom ride and held in a Mississippi prison for weeks. Lawson was working on the sanitation strike in Memphis in 1968 and called Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to participate, then leading marches in the wake of King’s death. In 2006, Vanderbilt invited Lawson back to the school as a divinity professor. The university later purchased his writings and photographs, and in 2021, launched the James Lawson Institute for the Research and Study of Nonviolent Movements.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has permanently disbarred Christopher Shawn Roberts from the practice of law and ordered him to close his law firm IOLTA account, pay restitution to his former client and pay all costs incurred to the Board of Professional Responsibility. The court took the action after finding that Roberts failed to diligently represent a client, provide competent representation, turn over client materials after termination of representation and reasonably communicate with his client. He also was found to have knowingly violated court orders, charged an unreasonable fee, concealed documents meant for others, advised his client to lie to a court officer, provided false information to the court, and engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, deceit, and misrepresentations. His actions were determined to violate Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.1, 1.2(a) and (d), 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.16, 3.2, 3.3(a), 3.4(c), 4.1(a) and 8.4(a)(c)(d).

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman today urged a federal judge in Kentucky to block the Department of Education’s new Title IX rule from taking effect on Aug. 1. The pair, supported by four other state attorneys general, argued the rule would harm Tennessee students, families and schools and asked the judge to issue a temporary injunction. The same group sued in April over the new rule. Of the 26 states that have sued in other venues, this is the first case to be heard in federal court.