The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday reinstated five lawyers and today reinstated three lawyers who had been suspended for failing to complete annual continuing legal education requirements in 2022. View the Aug. 23 order, the Aug. 24 order or see the list of all those reinstated online.

The Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility recently issued two new ethics opinions. The first, 2023-F-169, addresses what steps lawyers should take when departing a law firm and what steps firms should take to protect clients. The second, 2023-F-170, addresses acceptance of credit card payments and the use of payment platforms such as Venmo. TBA CLE ethics speaker Brian Faughnan provides his take on the opinions in his blog Faughnan on Ethics.

The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday reinstated four lawyers who had been suspended for failing to complete annual continuing legal education requirements in 2022. View the order or see the list of those reinstated online.

Registration is now open for the TBA’s 37th Annual CLE Ski set for Jan. 20-25, 2024, in Snowmass, Colorado. The CLE package offers 15 hours of credit in a variety of practice areas while allowing time to enjoy the beautiful slopes and one of Colorado's premier ski resorts. Participants will stay at The Stonebridge Inn, located in the heart of Snowmass Village just 10 miles from Aspen and central to four remarkable ski areas: Snowmass, Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain and Buttermilk. An opening reception on Jan. 20 will kick off this year's program. Reserve your spot now or learn more in the online CLE course catalog.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Davidson County lawyer Newton S. Holiday III from the practice of law on Aug. 17 for two years, with six months to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The court conditioned reinstatement on payment of $9,500 in restitution, engagement of a practice monitor and payment of the disciplinary costs. The court found that Holiday failed to act with reasonable diligence; failed to communicate with a client or keep her informed of significant events and developments in her case; accepted representation pursuant to a contingent fee agreement that was not in writing; and secured the client’s acceptance of a settlement without advising the client of his conflict of interest. These actions were determined to violate Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.5(c), 1.8(h) and 8.4(a).

Four lawyers recently were reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee after being on inactive status. They are: Washington, D.C., lawyer Marc Scandlyn Brewen, Virginia lawyer Katherine Villane Johnson, Williamson County lawyer Erika D. Roberts and Alabama lawyer Amanda Kay Snipes. Read about their specific cases in the Tennessee Supreme Court orders linked above.

The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday reinstated 18 lawyers who had been suspended for failing to complete annual continuing legal education requirements in 2022. View the order or see the list of those reinstated online.

Make plans now to attend the TBA’s 2023 Administrative Law Forum on Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST. Thanks to Jonathan Fly, administrative judge for the Tennessee Department of Human Services, for producing this program. Watch for program topics and speakers coming soon.

The abortion pill mifepristone will remain available to patients but with restrictions, a three judge panel of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week. By a vote of 3-0, the panel blocked changes made by the Food and Drug Administration in 2016 to make the drug more accessible, but noted that its decision is subject to a prior U.S. Supreme Court order, which “stayed the district court’s order pending resolution of this appeal.” In addition, it ruled 2-1 to overturn a lower court ruling that suspended overall approval of the drug. Read more from Reuters or read the ruling.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy has dropped up to 40 cases because they involved the five police officers charged in Tyre Nichols’ death. Mulroy also has reduced charges in about 10 cases that involved the same officers, the Daily Memphian reports. The DA's office said the decision followed a review of about 100 cases. He cited a “lack of credibility” from the officers. All five officers have pleaded not guilty to a number of criminal charges, including second-degree murder.