Judge Julia Smith Gibbons, a member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, received the Edward J. Devitt Award on Friday for distinguished, lifetime service to the judiciary. The ceremony was held at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., the Daily Memphian reports. In remarks at the ceremony, Gibbons said she has enjoyed the solitary and collective work of an appellate judge, along with years of work on judiciary panels. Her activities have included serving as chair of the U.S. Judicial Conference’s Budget Committee, and member of the Judicial Resources Committee and Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Gibbons had actually been named the award recipient in 2021, but the pandemic delayed the public recognition and reception. 

EMF Broadcasting, home to K-LOVE/Air1/WTA, is seeking an entertainment and media attorney to provide legal advice and counsel on a broad range of entertainment and media matters, from financing, production, licensing, and distribution of media, to strategic guidance on industry regulations relevant to film and publishing. This position also will support radio, podcasting, streaming, live events and other media ventures. A minimum of seven years of experience in a firm, corporate legal department or equivalent setting is required. Read the full job description and get instructions for applying on TBA's JobLink platform.

Join the TBA on Nov. 18 from 9 to 10:15 a.m. CDT for a webcast featuring retired U.S. immigration judges candidly discussing issues related to the immigration court system. Topics will include the “real” discretion of immigration judges, the flexibility for immigration judges to voice their opinions, and a First Amendment lawsuit filed by the group's union. Register here for “Immigration Judges Unfiltered: A Candid Discussion on Judicial Independence, Internal Ethics and Communication, and Other Structural Concerns.”

The Memphis Bar Association will holds its annual Pro Bono Awards celebration on Nov. 3 from 5-6:30 p.m. CDT at Butler Snow’s Memphis office, 6075 Poplar Ave. #500, Memphis 38119. The celebration will honor a judge, attorney, public interest professional, law student, law firm and legal department that made a difference through pro bono service. The event is free but registration is required. Contact Lauren Gooch with any questions. A free one-hour CLE on handling pro bono cases will proceed the celebration.

Nashville attorney John Tarpley, a shareholder at Lewis Thomason, has helped form the Trucking Defense Advocates Counsel, a commercial transportation advocacy organization. The group recently held its first meeting with 300 participants. Tarpley defends trucking companies in state and federal courts and at mediations and settlements. He is chair of the firm’s Transportation Practice Group and a former TBA president.

The Memphis Lawyers’ Chapter of the Federalist Society will host Josh Hammer, opinion editor of Newsweek and research fellow with the Edmund Burke Foundation, on Nov. 2 from 12:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. CDT. The event will take place at the Hu Hotel Ballroom, 79 Madison Ave., Memphis 38103. Lunch will be served beginning at 12:45 p.m. Hammer will present “Common Good Originalism: Our Tradition and Our Forward.” He will be joined by Christopher Green, professor of law and the Jamie L. Whitten,  chair in law and government at the University of Mississippi School of Law. Register online or by contacting Greg Grisham, 901-333-2076.

Funeral arrangements have now been announced for the late Rep. Barbara Cooper. Visitation will be held 4-7 p.m. on Nov. 4 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 1169 Kerr Ave., Memphis 38106. Funeral services will be held Nov. 5 at 12:30 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, 1695 Central Ave., Memphis 38104. Burial will follow at the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, 4000 Forest Hill Irene Rd, Memphis 38125. A meal will then be served at the Southbrook Town Center, East Shelby Dr., Memphis 38116. All times central. Read more about Cooper’s career.

Davidson County lawyer Nathan Scott Moore was reinstated to the active practice of law with conditions today. On April 14, 2014, Moore was suspended by the Tennessee Supreme Court for two years, with three months to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. Moore filed a petition for reinstatement on Oct. 1, 2021. The court approved his reinstatement but conditioned it on engagement of a practice monitor for one year and compliance with any monitoring agreement recommended by the Tennessee Lawyer Assistance Program.

Zipper Law, a boutique law firm in Franklin, is seeking an associate attorney with up to five years experience. Previous family law and/or litigation experience is preferred but not required. Applicants must be currently licensed in Tennessee or a recent successful Tennessee bar applicant. The firm focuses on family law and simple estate planning. Read the full job description and get instructions for applying on TBA’s JobLink platform.

Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA) students recently prevailed at two national high school mock trial competitions. The team defended its 2021 first-place win at the Empire Eclipse Virtual Mock Trial Competition last week with a win over United World College (UWC) of Changshu, China. The online field consisted of 24 teams from the United States, Canada, South Korea and China. This week, the team took first place in the Empire Chicago Mock Trial Competition, which involved 32 teams from the United States and Canada. The championship round was held at the Chicago-Kent Law School. MBA student Frank Pierce was recognized as an outstanding witness for the defense while team co-captain Chanden Climaco was recognized as an outstanding attorney for both the prosecution and defense. See photos of the team.