The Memphis mayoral and municipal election is set for Oct. 5 when voters will choose between 17 candidates for mayor, a host of candidates for city council and three candidates for city court clerk (though the city council recently passed an initial ordinance ending elections for that office). Current clerk Myron Lowery is not seeking reelection. Candidates are Demeatrise Givens, Janice Hooker and Michael R. Williams. Candidates for mayor include Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner, state Rep. Karen Camper, businessman J. W. Gibson, former mayor Willie W. Herenton, county school board member Michelle McKissack and former Memphis NAACP president Van Turner. Current mayor Jim Strickland is term limited. Early voting runs from Sept. 15-30. The last day to request an absentee ballot is Sept. 28. See the full list of races and candidates in the Commercial Appeal.

A second federal judge in Tennessee has ruled against a new law aimed at limiting drag performances in public places, the Associated Press reports. U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer of Knoxville on Friday granted a temporary restraining order against District Attorney Ryan Desmond preventing him from enforcing the state law against a Blount County Pride festival over the weekend. The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee and other civil rights lawyers brought the lawsuit on behalf of festival organizers. The decision is the second in the state to block the law. U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Parker ruled over the summer that the law was unconstitutional and blocked its enforcement in Shelby County.

The American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released a formal opinion today providing a roadmap to help lawyers stay within the parameters of ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct when they prepare a witness or client to testify before a deposition or adjudicative proceeding. Formal Opinion 508 explains the difference between legitimate witness preparation and guidance and unethical efforts to influence witness testimony, especially in the era of remote proceedings.

The repayment pause on federal student loans ended Aug. 31. Interest will begin to accrue this month and payments will begin again in October. TBA member benefit partner SoFi is offering a free webinar on Sept. 20 at 11 a.m. CDT to educate members about next steps, so resuming payments can feel as manageable and stress-free as possible. Topics to be covered include the latest news on federal student loans and payments resuming, tips to help manage student loan debt, and how to use relevant information and tools to make informed decisions. Register for the webinar or learn more about SoFi’s loan and refinancing services at SoFi.com/TBA.

It is not uncommon for firms to have hundreds, sometimes thousands, of closed bankers boxes sitting around, with some spending thousands of dollars on file storage per month. Many firms are starting to move towards paperless office environments, which raises questions about how long closed files need to be kept and if paper copies can be destroyed after conversion to digital. Join Paul Unger with Affinity Consulting for a webcast on Oct. 11 from 12-1 p.m. CDT to learn more about the basics of document management and retention.

The Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated three lawyers on Friday and two lawyers today who had been suspended for failing to complete annual continuing legal education requirements in 2022. View the Sept. 1 order, the Sept. 5 order or see the list of all those reinstated online.

The 11th annual ClioCon Conference takes place in Nashville Oct. 9-10 at the Opryland Hotel and TBA is giving away TWO FREE PASSES to Tennessee law students. The annual conference is the definitive event for legal professionals and legal tech leaders to learn about news and events impacting the legal profession. Check out the agenda, which offers two full days of programming and networking opportunities. A member benefit partner of the TBA, Clio offers a wide range of practice management services, white papers and podcasts about the future of the practice. Each winner will receive a daily pass to attend the conference. Overnight accommodations are not included. The deadline to enter the drawing is Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. CDT.

ENTER TO WIN HERE

The University of Memphis School of Law has received a three-year $300,000 grant from the Everytown Law Fund, which will be used to hire a legal fellow to handle civil legal issues impacting victims of pediatric gun violence. The funds will go the Memphis Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic, the Commercial Appeal reports. New York-based nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety finances a variety of litigation projects tied to gun violence, but the law school is the first recipient of a grant for an Everytown Legal Fellow. Law school Dean Katharine Schaffzin and Katy Ramsey Mason, director of the Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic, made the announcement yesterday.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission meeting today in Franklin selected three nominees to forward to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration in filling a vacancy in the 21st Judicial District. They are: Nolensville lawyer Russell D. Gill, Brentwood lawyer Erin W. Nations and Franklin lawyer David H. Veile. The vacancy on the court, which serves Williamson County, is due to the Sept. 29 retirement of Circuit Court Judge Michael W. Binkley. Read the announcement from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Tennessee access to justice leaders today announced creation of the Justice Frank F. Drowota Trust to provide supplemental funding for organizations providing legal services to low-income individuals. The announcement was made today during a luncheon at Equal Justice University in Murfreesboro. Leaders involved in the trust include TALS immediate Past Director Ann Pruitt, former TBA President Buck Lewis, Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee and Justice Drowota’s wife, Claire Drowota, who will serve as trustees. Former University of Tennessee College of Law Dean Doug Blaze, TBA President Jim Barry and Pruitt will serve as trust advisors and trustee successors. In response to the announcement, Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page said, “Everyone in Tennessee’s judiciary and beyond thought Frank was the finest judge and finest person we had ever known. The Court is pleased that his memory is being honored in this way.” For more information and to support the Drowota Trust, contact Buck Lewis. See additional photos from the event.