If you missed the 2022 Legislative Update earlier this year, you can catch it again next week. Tune in on Dec. 20 from 9-10 a.m. CST as Berkley Schwarz of the Tennessee Bar Association and Brad Lampley of Adams and Reese provide an update on legislation affecting Tennessee lawyers from the most recent session of the Tennessee General Assembly. Interested in something else? Check our Last Minute CLE Your Way offerings, which include 15, 12, 10, eight and six-hour packages.

The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) Barristers announced last month that Eighth Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Zachary Walden will take office as president of the group. Other officers named for the young lawyer group include Vice President Charles S.J. Sharett and Secretary/Treasurer Jimmy Snodgrass. New board members are Matt Knable and Isaac Westling. The Barristers also presented President’s Awards to Mariel Bough and Grant Williamson, co-chairs of the Diversity Committee.

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a second legal clash over President Biden’s student debt relief plan that is currently blocked by lower courts, The Hill reports. The new case stems from a legal challenge brought by individual borrowers who argue the program’s enactment was procedurally improper. Recently, a Texas-based federal judge invalidated the program and a New Orleans-based federal appeals court let that ruling stand, prompting the Biden administration to file an appeal with the Supreme Court. Earlier last month, the justices agreed to hear a St. Louis-based appeals court’s decision to block the program in a case brought by six conservative-led states.

Ronald Sandlin, 35, of Millington was sentenced to 63 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. He admitted advance planning to interfere with the peaceful transition of power and the assaulting of law enforcement officers. According to court documents, Sandlin and two co-conspirators began planning to disrupt the counting of 2020 presidential electoral votes in December 2020. Prosecutors revealed that he had posted on social media about organizing a caravan to travel to Washington, D.C., and calling on others “take the Capitol.” He also engaged in a private chat about shipping guns in advance of the event. Read more from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments will consider five candidates when it meets to select nominees for an upcoming vacancy on the Tennessee Supreme Court. Justice Sharon G. Lee plans to retire on Aug. 31, 2023. The applicants are: Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Kristi M. Davis, Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Tom Greenholtz, First Judicial District Chancellor John C. Rambo, Chattanooga lawyer Michael Richardson with the Richardson Law Firm, and Knoxville lawyer Dwight E. Tarwater with Paine | Tarwater | Bickers. The council will hold a public meeting to consider the candidates on Jan. 4, 2023, beginning at 9 a.m. EST at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy in Knoxville. The council is expected to vote to forward three names to Gov. Bill Lee immediately following the interviews.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today made a number of appointments to the Advisory Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure. Commission members Kathryn Barnett, James Bowman, Doug Halijan, F. Dulin Kelly and Allan Wade were reappointed to another term. They now will serve through June 30, 2026. The court also named three new members. Sarah Keith, an assistant district attorney general in the Anderson County District Attorney General’s Office, will replace Steven Strain, while Donald Capparella with Dodson Parker Behm & Capparella in Nashville will replace F. Braxton Terry. Both will serve through June 30, 2026. Finally, the court named 20th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Jennifer L. Smith as the new trial court liaison to the commission. She replaces Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Mark Ward.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today permanently disbarred Davidson County lawyer David Dwayne Harris from the practice of law. The court found that Harris failed to (1) do any work for his client, (2) reasonably communicate with his client, (3) expedite litigation, (4) deposit fees into a trust accounts, (5) respond to requests from the Board Professional Responsibility regarding a complaint, and (6) participate in the disciplinary proceeding. The court found that he also charged and collected an unreasonable fee. His actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4 , 1.5, 1.15, 1.16, 8.1 and 8.4(a).

The Tennessee Supreme Court today made a number of appointments to the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education. Commission members Julie Bennett and Mitchell Panter were reappointed to another term. They now will serve through Dec. 31, 2025. Franklin lawyer David Veile also was reappointed to another term as commission chair. He will serve through Dec. 31, 2023. In addition, the court named two new members. Dr. LaDonna Tatum Williams, assistant principal of Nashville’s Westmeade Elementary School, will replace Concetta Smith, while Shannon Hoffert, regulatory counsel with Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare in Memphis, will replace Christopher S. Campbell. Both will serve through Dec. 31, 2025.

Three University of Tennessee College of Law students have advanced through the regional rounds of the National Moot Court Competition and will represent the school at the national level. Second-year student Luke Norton and third-year students Miles Schiller and Julia Slagle won the Region 7 level for the third consecutive year. For the second consecutive year, Schiller was named the outstanding oral advocate in the championship round. The team is coached by emeriti professors Don Leatherman and John Sobieski. The finals will be held at the Association of the Bar of the City of New York Jan. 30 through Feb. 2, 2023. Read more about the competition and case and see a photo of the team.

The U.S. Supreme Court today agreed to hear a second legal clash over President Biden’s student debt relief plan that is currently blocked by lower courts, The Hill reports. The new case stems from a legal challenge brought by individual borrowers who argue the program’s enactment was procedurally improper. A Texas-based federal judge last month invalidated the program and a New Orleans-based federal appeals court let that ruling stand, prompting the Biden administration to file an appeal with the Supreme Court. Earlier this month, the justices agreed to hear a St. Louis-based appeals court’s decision to block the program in a case brought by six conservative-led states.