Collierville Municipal Judge Lee Ann Pafford Dobson took the oath of office on Aug. 30, after running unopposed in the August election. The oath was administered at the Collierville Courthouse by Shelby County General Sessions Judge Deborah Henderson, the Herald Independent reports. Mayor Stan Joyner also shared remarks about Judge Dobson. Local elected officials, court staff, members of law enforcement, colleagues and family were on hand to support Dobson, who has served on the court since 2019.

For the first time, the American Bar Association and the National Bar Association are simultaneously led by Black women — Deborah Enix-Ross and Lonita Baker, respectively. In an interview with Bloomberg Law, the leaders discuss the legal profession’s diversity, their individual career paths, and how lawyers can press for social justice in a deeply divided society. “Lawyers are trained to be leaders. We are uniquely positioned to work toward solutions,” Enix-Ross tells Bloomberg. “We must lead the way in promoting civics, civility and collaboration — the cornerstones of our democracy — to restore confidence in our institutions.”

The Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility is seeking a motivated attorney for the position of disciplinary counsel in its Investigations Section. Located in the board’s Brentwood office outside of Nashville, the position is responsible for investigating attorney disciplinary matters and preparing and presenting ethics continuing legal education. Strong communication and writing skills are required. Working knowledge of the Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct is preferred. Get the full job description and instructions for applying on the TBA’s JobLink platform.

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an order soliciting comments on proposed amendments to the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure and Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure. The court notes that the Advisory Commission on the Rules of Practice & Procedure recommended these changes during its 2021-2022 term, which ended on June 10. Comments on the amendments are due by Dec. 2 and should be emailed to appellatecourtclerk@tncourts.gov or mailed to James Hivner, Clerk, Re: 2023 Rules Package, 100 Supreme Court Building, 401 7th Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37219-1407. Comments also should reference docket number ADM2022-01198.

Memphis lawyer and TBA Senior Counselor Wanda Stovall Donati died Aug. 22 at the age of 80. Donati began her career as a social worker, later attending law school as a single mother. Following graduation, Donati joined Memphis Area Legal Services, where she met Don Donati, the man who would become the love of her life and her law partner. Early in their practice, the couple fought to desegregate Memphis area nursing homes. Later they built a social security disability practice aimed at helping the least fortunate. Visitation will be held Sept. 23 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. CDT followed by a celebration of life at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, 1934 Poplar Ave., Memphis 38104. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mid-South Food Bank, 3865 S. Perkins Rd., Memphis, TN 38118, or the charity of one’s choice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today appointed 27th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Jeff Parham and Lynnville Municipal Judge Cara Lynn to its Judicial Ethics Committee. Parham replaces 30th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Jerry Stokes, who retired today. Lynn replaces Judge Deana Hood, whose term expired today due to her election to the 21st Judicial District Circuit Court. Both Parham and Lynn will serve through Dec. 31, 2024.

Roane County lawyer Kent Lowery Booher, who was disbarred in 2015 based on a conviction of statutory rape, has been sentenced in federal court to life plus 120 months for the sexual exploitation of children, the Claiborne Progress reports. According to trial evidence, Booher used electronic messaging platforms to talk with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl. The other party turned out to be an undercover officer. Over a five-day period, Booher engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the officer, arranging to meet the supposed minor in person. He was arrested at the destination by the Harriman Police Department. Booher previously was convicted of sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old girl in 2012 and 2013.

Nashville’s largest litigation law firm is targeting a new high-rise for its local headquarters, the Nashville Post reports. According to sources, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings plans to move its Nashville office to One22One, a newly opened skyscraper in the Gulch area of the city. Bradley is currently located in Music Row’s Roundabout Plaza building, built in 2004. A listing for that space says it will be available in January 2024, though it is possible the firm could end its current lease earlier. 

The Tennessee Supreme Court recognized Attorney General Herbert Slatery III today for his service to the state. Slatery, who was appointed as attorney general in 2014, is retiring at the end of the day today. Prior to being named attorney general, Slatery served as chief legal officer to then-Gov. Bill Haslam and was in private practice with the Knoxville firm of Egerton, McAfee, Armistead & Davis. In a statement, Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page said Slatery “leaves the office in an excellent position and has served his state well.” The court has named Jonathan Skrmetti as the next attorney general.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued an order amending Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 10B in response to a petition filed by the Tennessee Trial Judges Association (TTJA) asking the court “to provide judges with authority to summarily deny repetitive recusal motions filed pursuant to section 1.01 of Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 10B, to provide appellate courts with a means of supplementing the record in Rule 10B appeals, to state that the scope of appellate review and relief in Rule 10B appeals is limited to affirming or reversing a trial court’s decision on a recusal motion, and to describe the procedures that should be followed on remand from an appellate court’s order reversing a trial court’s denial of a recusal motion.”

The TBA filed a comment in response to the TTJA’s proposal in which it supported the proposed changes to sections 1.01 and 2.05 as drafted, supported the purpose of the changes to section 1.03 but suggested a change in the proposed language to sections 1.03 and 2.06. The court agreed with the TTJA’s proposed changes to section 1.01 and 1.03 and added language clarifying that any subsequent motion filed under section 1.01 (seeking disqualification, recusal or a determination of constitutional or statutory incompetence of a judge) in the same case must state, with specificity, substantially different factual and legal grounds than those relied upon in support of a prior motion filed under this section, and if this requirement is not satisfied, the subsequent motion may be deemed repetitive and may be summarily denied by the judge without requiring a response to the motion, a hearing on it or any other written explanation for denying the motion as provided in section 1.03. The court also agreed with the TTJA’s proposed changes to section 2.05 allowing the appellate court, when reviewing the petition for recusal appeal, to remand to the trial court for the taking of proof and making further findings on matters designated by the appellate court. Finally, the court amended section 2.06 by adding that if an appellate court reverses a trial court’s order denying a motion under section 1.01, the appellate court shall remand the case for designation of a successor judge in accordance with section 1.04 of this rule.