A number of potential candidates are expressing interest in running for the U.S. District 7 seat being vacated by Mark Green. Former state representative Brandon Ogles, a Republican from Williamson County, has announced his bid for the position, the Nashville Post reports. Ogles, a cousin of U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, who represents District 5, served in the state House from 2018 to 2022. In addition, Clarksville Republican and state Sen. Bill Powers has confirmed he is interested in the seat, Tennessee Lookout reports. On the Democratic side, former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry had already announced she was running for the Democratic nomination for the district.

State Rep. Caleb Hemmer, D-Nashville, is seeking a legal opinion from Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti as to whether state Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds meets the statutory requirements to hold the job. The Tennessee Journal reports that Hemmer wrote to Skrmetti saying that Reynolds does not possess a teacher license, which he argues is required by law. Gov. Bill Lee’s office says a teaching degree is not “explicitly required” by the statute. Lee previously told reporters that a “full vetting process” occurred at the time Reynolds was hired and determined she met the qualifications.

The Tennessee Supreme Court last week dismissed a reinstatement petition filed by Shelby County lawyer Teshaun David Moore because the petition was not properly filed. The court noted that attorneys seeking reinstatement from a suspension in excess of one year must file their petitions with the Board of Professional Responsibility, not the court. The justices also point out that reinstatement petitions must be accompanied by a $2,000 advance cost deposit. Moore was suspended for six years on Dec. 11, 2020, with four years to be served on active suspension and the rest on probation subject to conditions.

The Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated the law license of Hamilton County lawyer Jessica Mines Dumitru to active status on Feb. 16, but made the change effective as of Feb. 5. Dumitru was placed on inactive status more than five ago on Nov. 3, 2015.

A Cordova man is accused of pretending to be an attorney and stealing nearly $40,000 from multiple clients, WREG reports. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Memphis Police Department are investigating three cases involving Glenis “Chip” Campbell over the last three years. One couple police are talking to paid Campbell $28,000 over two years to have him handle a workers’ comp case. They became suspicious when Campbell refused to provide any receipts or paperwork. They called the TBA and learned he is not a licensed attorney. Another man paid Campbell $3,240 to represent him in a Mississippi criminal case in, but after the payment, Campbell disappeared. In 2008, Campbell was found guilty of impersonating a lawyer and sentenced to 150 days in the Shelby County Correctional Facility.

Attorney volunteers are needed for an Essential Documents for Essential Workers clinic at Belmont University’s Ministry Center on Feb. 24 from noon to 3:30 p.m. CST. At the clinic, attorney and law student volunteers will draft simple wills and powers of attorney for low income clients. Forms will be provided and no prior estate planning experience needed. To sign up to volunteer and for more information, please email Ginny Blake.

The University of Tennessee College of Law will hold the 24th Annual Julian Blackshear Jr. Scholarship Gala on March 2 at the Knoxville Convention Center. The event will honor civil rights leader and RBJ Campbelle Jr. Award recipient Dr. Harold Middlebrook. The event also will feature special guest speaker Teresa Wynn Roseborough, executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary at Home Depot. The evening will begin at 5 p.m. with a reception followed by dinner at 6 p.m. EST. Individual tickets are available for $75 per person. Student tickets may be purchased for $20. Contact Ellen Cole at ecole@utk.edu with questions.

McKendree United Methodist Church in downtown Nashville will hold a free webinar on March 7 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. CST about human trafficking and its realities in Middle Tennessee. The event, designed to raise awareness about the problem of human trafficking, will be conducted via Zoom. No registration is required. The meeting link can be accessed by scanning the QR code in the attached image. Speakers include Davidson County Circuit Court Judge Lynne T. Ingram; Brenna Filburn, a community engagement specialist with AncoraTN, and McKendree pastor Stephen Handy.

The 2024 TBA Leadership Law class met last month for its “Issues in Policy & Politics” program in Nashville. Class members heard from a number of legislators and state leaders. TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright led a panel discussion about the legislative process and what lawyers bring to the table when serving as legislators. Lawmakers participating in that session included Sen. Sara Kyle, D-Memphis, House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, and Rep. Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville. Class members also heard from Anastasia Campbell, director of the Legislative Office of Legal Services, and Brandon Smith, chief of staff to Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. See photos from the day.

A pair of legislative measures that would reshape the bail system in Tennessee moved forward in a state House of Representatives subcommittee Tuesday with near unanimous "aye" votes for both, the Tennessean reports. The first measure, filed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, would enable Tennessee judges to deny bail for a broader set of charges, including acts of terrorism, second-degree murder, aggravated rape of a child, aggravated rape and grave torture. The measure was amended to also include any offense that requires the convicted individuals to serve at least 85% of their sentence. The second measure would prohibit judges from considering a defendant’s ability to pay when setting bail and expand the discretion judges currently have to approve or deny bail for the crimes covered by the 2022 “truth in sentencing” law. Both measures now move to a full committee vote.