The Tennessee Supreme Court on Friday issued an order directing Justin Grey Woodward to inform the court within 30 days why the imposition of reciprocal discipline (based on the actions of the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia) would be unwarranted in Tennessee. Woodward was reprimanded publicly by the Georgia Supreme Court on Jan. 19 for conduct involving three separate matters. The Georgia court reports that Woodward sought the discipline before the issuance of a formal complaint.

The TBA YLD also visited Duncan Law. YLD District Representative Chuck Sharrett and Danny Chung, a 2L participant in the YLD’s Diversity Leadership Institute, spoke to students about the importance of networking, attending CLE events, and exploring different fields of law. TBA membership is free to all law school students studying in the state of Tennessee. See a photo from the visit.

Members of the TBA Young Lawyers Division were in Knoxville to promote TBA membership and benefits to law students at the University of Tennessee College of Law and the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law. At the University of Tennessee, students came out for a breakfast and to hear from Diversity Leadership Institute (DLI) graduate Darrius Dixon. He discussed his experience in the DLI program and encouraged the 1Ls to get involved with the TBA early in their law school career. See a photo from the visit.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit ruled Friday that President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program should be put on hold while challenges play out, The Hill reports. The decision came in an appeal from six Republican-led states after a federal district judge said the states did not have standing to sue. As of Friday, more than 22 million people had applied for the student loan debt forgiveness program according to the White House. In related news, Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett last week rejected an emergency bid from a group of Wisconsin taxpayers to block the plan. Tennessee Daily has that story.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will host a free webinar tomorrow at 9 a.m. CDT to discuss single article sales tax. Learn more about the program or register here.

The Chattanooga office of Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) is hosting its annual Pro Bono Night this Thursday at Chattanooga Whiskey Event Hall. The evening will feature food, drinks, music, a silent auction and the group’s traditional awards ceremony. This year, LAET will be honoring the partnership and pro bono work of attorneys Emily O’Donnell and Rebecca Miller, as well as the Chattanooga Hamilton County Family Justice Center and the Chattanooga Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. Purchase tickets here.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments will consider nine applicants for the Court of Criminal Appeals – Western Section vacancy created by the passing of the Judge John Everett Williams on Sept. 2. The applicants are: Vance Dennis, Joshua B. Dougan, John Morris Miles, Hillary Lawler Parham, Jeffrey William Parham, Matthew F. Stowe, William Mark Ward, Matthew Joseph Wilson and Chadwick R. Wood. The council will hold a public hearing on Nov. 22 at 9 a.m. CST in the courtroom of the Tennessee Supreme Court Building in Jackson. The council is expected to vote immediately following the interviews and forward three names to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. Read more about the process or learn more about the individual candidates from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The Fred D. Thompson U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building in Nashville was dedicated Friday afternoon, capping a quarter century effort to replace the aging Estes Kefauver Federal Building. A host of state and local political luminaries were on hand, including former U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker and their successors, current Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty. Nashville Mayor John Cooper attended, as did legislative leaders like Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson of Franklin and House Majority Leader William Lamberth. The building features secure underground parking for judges, 11 courtrooms, offices for the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee and both U.S. senators. See photos from Tennessee Lookout.

Former state Rep. Jeremy Durham was arrested in Nashville Saturday on charges of DUI, resisting arrest and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, according to WSMV. Metro Police responded to a reported traffic accident with a possible impaired driver at the intersection of First Ave. N. and Broadway. Durham reportedly refused a field sobriety test and blood test by saying “lawyer.” Durham is a former state representative representing a district in Williamson County. He was expelled from the House in September 2016 after the attorney general released a report accusing him of sexually harassing 22 women at the legislature.

The Tennessee Supreme Court last week suspended 26 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee; nine of them also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the October fee suspension order and October IOLTA suspension order. One lawyer has since been reinstated. See the list of all lawyers suspended and reinstated for fee and IOLTA violations in 2022 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.