The Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission will meet on May 20 in Columbia to consider five applicants for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 22nd Judicial District, which serves Giles, Lawrence, Maury and Wayne counties. This vacancy will be created by the upcoming retirement of Judge David Allen on Aug. 3. The applicants are: Lewisburg attorneys Lee E. Brooks and Richard M. Murrell; Columbia attorney Wesley M. Bryant; and Lawrenceburg attorneys Jessica H. Parrish and Amy L. Wilson. The public hearing will take place at Columbia Central High School, 921 Lion Pkwy., Columbia 38401 beginning at 9 a.m. CDT. The commission is expected to vote immediately following the interviews and forward three names to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. Read more in a press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

On April 10, Overton County lawyer Lynda W. Patterson received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court. Patterson was hired to seek damages against the former residential tenants of her client. She negotiated an agreed judgment with the tenants, prepared the order, secured signatures and mailed the document to the court. The order though was never entered by the court. Patterson’s client contacted her twice about the status of the order, but she did not respond. Fourteen months later Patterson discovered the order had not been entered and proceeded with a default judgment against the former tenants. The court found that her actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 3.2 and 8.4(d).

The Tennessee Supreme Court has publicly censured Williamson County lawyer Jay Nelson Chamness for violating Rules of Professional Conduct 4.1, 8.4(c) and 8.4(a). Chamness represented a plaintiff asserting employment discrimination in a case filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. Over the course of 11 months, Chamness made at least four false statements to opposing counsel about personal circumstances for which he needed extensions of time. In the last instance, Chamness asked to reschedule depositions and for more time to draft a motion because his mother had died. She was, in fact, still alive.

The Supreme Court of Tennessee has temporarily suspended Matthew Lee Harris from the practice of law after finding that Harris was substantially non-compliant with his Tennessee Lawyer Assistance Program Monitoring Agreement. Harris is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases and must cease representing existing clients by May 17. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court. The court also approved a motion to file documents in the case under seal.

The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) is planning to sue Live Nation on antitrust grounds, Axios reports. The ticketing and live event company has faced intense scrutiny from lawmakers and consumer advocacy groups over botched ticket sales for Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour" in late 2022. Live Nation acquired Ticketmaster in 2010. At that time, the DOJ did not attempt to block the deal, but it barred the company from pressuring concert venues to use its ticketing software. The 10-year consent decree was extended for more than five years in 2020.

The bar associations of Hamblen, Hawkins and Greene counties will host a meet and greet for newly confirmed Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Mary Wagner. The event will take place April 26 from 5-8 p.m. EDT at Morristown Landing, 4355 Durham Landing, Morristown 37814. Refreshments will be provided. RSVP here, or direct questions to Lauren Carroll at 423-586-5291 or Mark Stapleton at 423-921-9100. Wagner, who currently serves on the Shelby County Circuit Court, was confirmed by the Tennessee General Assembly on March 11. She will join the Supreme Court after Justice Roger A. Page retires on Aug. 31.

The American Bar Association (ABA) will present results from the sixth ABA Survey of Civic Literacy during a free virtual event on April 23 beginning at 10 a.m. EDT. Conducted annually, the survey measures the civics knowledge of the American public as well as views on a range of topical issues. During the event, Judy Woodruff, senior correspondent for PBS NewsHour, will moderate a panel discussion featuring a Harvard University professor, a writer and editor at Protect Democracy, and federal appellate judge. The event is part of the ABA’s Law Day celebration. Register here.

The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) has extended the deadline for submitting session proposals for this year's Equal Justice University (EJU). Proposals are now due April 24. Topics of interest include employment law, family law, health and benefits, housing and consumer, special education and juvenile justice, as well as professionalism. See all topics and submit proposals online. The 2024 EJU is set for Aug. 28-30 at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro.

When you’re busy, it’s difficult to think of a ringing phone as a prospective client rather than a mere interruption. The TBA's Practice Management Center offers a chart comparing services that not only answer phones but can help with client screening, intake and more. Access this and more resources in the center's Opening a Firm section.

Tennessee Bar Association leaders recently met with the members of the state’s congressional delegation in Washington. D.C., as part of the American Bar Association's (ABA) annual Day on the Hill. TBA President Jim Barry, President-elect Ed Lanquist, YLD President-elect Sean Aiello, ABA Resource Committee Chair Jonathan Cole and Executive Director Sheree Wright participated in the visits and other activities planned as part of the Day on the Hill event. Members of the group met with representatives from all nine congressional offices and both senators. The focus of this year’s ABA Day on the Hill was promoting support and funding for the Legal Services Corporation, as well as increased funding for federal public defenders, support for attorney-client confidentiality over prison email systems, reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and reforms to student lending. See photos from the event.