The Tennessee Supreme Court today suspended Shelby County lawyer Brian Chadwick Rickman from the practice of law for five years, with two years to be served on active suspension and three years on probation. The court took the action based on six disciplinary complaints, including that Rickman failed to ensure the safekeeping of client funds, protect clients against misconduct by his supervising employer, and report supervisors’ misconduct to the court or the Board of Professional Responsibility. He also failed to comply with court orders directing the disbursement of client funds, comply with requests for information from the board and notify the court and opposing counsel of his suspension. Rickman agreed to a conditional guilty plea acknowledging his conduct violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2, 1.15, 3.4, 5.1, 8.1(b), 8.3 and 8.4(d) and (g).

The Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated two lawyers on Friday and one lawyer today who had been suspended for failing to complete annual continuing legal education requirements. View the Sept. 8 order and the Sept. 11 order to see two reinstated after meeting requirements for 2022, and the Sept. 8 order for one meeting requirements for 2021.

The Biden administration formally asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday to overturn a ruling from a federal appeals court that would limit the availability of the abortion pill mifepristone, The Hill reports. The manufacturer of the brand name pill, Danco Laboratories, also filed an appeal with the court. In August, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the drug could stay on the market in states where abortion is legal, but struck down changes made in 2016 to expand access. The appeals court said those changes did not follow proper procedure. Its decision, however, remains on hold while the Supreme Court decides whether to take up the case.

Eric Munchel, the Nashville man known as "zip-tie guy," has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol — one of the longest sentences imposed for activities that day, the Tennessean reports. Munchel was sentenced to 57 months of incarceration and three years of supervised release. His mother, Lisa Eisenhart, received 30 months of incarceration with three years of supervised release. Both also were ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution. Munchel is one of 26 Tennesseans charged or sentenced. Read about the other cases here.

A national prisoner advocacy group is urging the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate alleged civil rights abuses at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center in Hartsville, the Tennessean reports. Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) says it has heard reports of sexual and physical assault; use of force, threats and retaliation by staff; neglect of medical and physical needs; unsanitary conditions; and gang activity. Private prison company CoreCivic, which runs the facility, says there are staffing issues but that the claims raised by FAMM "don't reflect the facts."

Police are investigating the death of a man who was found unresponsive in his cell Friday evening, WSMV reports. According to the station, officers at the Nashville-Davidson County Maximum Correctional Center discovered 60-year-old Phillip Pharris around 5:15 p.m. CDT. Medical staff were called in to assist and began CPR when they arrived. Pharris was pronounced dead at 5:55 p.m. He had been in custody since June 9 on two counts of probation violation with an arrest history of controlled substance possession, theft, vandalism and aggravated assault. An investigation is underway but foul play is not suspected.

The American Bar Association (ABA) filed an amicus brief last week with the U.S. Supreme Court, urging the court to uphold protections granted by Congress to administrative law judges (ALJs). In its next term, the court has agreed to hear a case challenging whether Congress violated Article II of the U.S. Constitution by limiting removal of ALJs. In May 2022, a divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that for-cause removal protections violate the constitution’s requirement that the president ensure the laws be faithfully executed. The ABA argues that ALJs need “decisional independence … to maintain public confidence in their decisions.” Read more about the case from the ABA.

U.S. senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty are accepting applications from candidates interested in a judicial appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Those interested should download and complete the required questionnaire available online from Blackburn's website or Hagerty's website. Completed questionnaires and a current resume should be submitted by email to appointments@blackburn.senate.gov and appointments@hagerty.senate.gov by Oct. 2. Questions about the process also may be sent to both email addresses.

A legal clinic for veterans, sponsored by Memphis Area Legal Services Inc. and the Memphis Bar Association, will be held in Memphis tomorrow from noon to 2 p.m. CDT. The clinic will be moving back to an in-person forum at a new location — the Veterans Affairs’ (VA) social work offices at 575 Phelan Ave., Memphis 38126 — but virtual/telephonic options will still be available. Volunteers do not have to be certified by the VA to help. Cases include wills and estates, family law, child support, criminal defense, expungement, housing and consumer protection. Those interested in assisting should contact Jake Dickerson.

Legal Aid of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will hold three legal clinics this week. On Tuesday, a clinic will be held at the Gallatin Civic Center, 210 Albert Gallatin Ave., from 4:30-5:30 p.m. CDT. On Wednesday, a legal clinic specifically for veterans will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S., Nashville 37203. On Thursday, a clinic will be held at Greenhouse Ministries, 309 South Academy St., Murfreesboro 37130 from 3-4:30 p.m. CDT. See all September clinics. To volunteer, contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131.