The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Memphis is seeking an assistant U.S. attorney in its criminal division. Candidates should have three to five years of experience litigating cases in federal or state court. Previous jury trial experience is strongly preferred. Interested attorneys should apply by Sept. 2. Learn more about this opportunity on the TBA’s Job Link platform.

“My Cousin Vinny” may be one of the best movies about lawyers ever made. That’s not an exaggeration, if you’re thinking about attorney ethics! The number of professional responsibility lessons one can learn from this cinematic masterpiece is incredible! Join the “CLE Performer” Stuart Teicher on Sept. 29 from noon to 1 p.m. as he runs through this classic and covers some important ethics topics, including competence (Rule 1.1), confidentiality (Rule 1.6), lies/deception (Rule 8.4) and more! This is the third installment in a day of ethics programming. Learn more about Teicher’s presentation on mastering the art of correspondence, which will air from 9-10 a.m., and Can Lawyers Really Do That?, which will follow from 10:30-11:30 a.m. All times central.

Gov. Bill Lee has named Erin Merrick as his chief legal counsel. She has served as deputy legal counsel and succeeds Jonathan Skrmetti, who last week was named the state's new attorney general. In announcing the move, Lee said that “Erin is a dedicated public servant who will lead with integrity and bring significant expertise as chief legal counsel, and I appreciate her continued service to Tennessee.” Merrick has been in the deputy role since 2019 after working as an assistant attorney general. She holds master’s and law degrees from Vanderbilt University. The Nashville Post has more from the governor's release.

The TBA Animal Law Section will host a free webinar on the relationship between animal cruelty and family violence on Aug. 23 from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. Presented by Erin Aiello, a law enforcement trainer with the Humane Society of the United States, and University of Tennessee College of Law Professor Joan Heminway, the event will provide insights into intimate partner violence cases and offer strategies to help keep people and their pets safe. The free event is open to everyone but registration is required. Connection information will be sent the week of the program. One hour of CLE credit is available for TBA members for a fee of $50. Contact jword@tnbar.org about that option.

Former U.S. Sen. Bob Corker will lead a statewide, bipartisan coalition of elected leaders urging Tennesseans to approve a ballot measure that would delete a reference to slavery from the Tennessee Constitution. The “Vote Yes on 3” campaign is aimed at removing language that allows slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a criminal conviction. The exact provision reads: “That slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, are forever prohibited by this State.” The amendment will be on the Nov. 8 ballot, Tennessee Lookout reports.

A retirement gathering for Sixth Judicial District Clerk and Master Howard G. Hogan will take place Sept. 1. The event will be held from 8-10 a.m. EDT in the Probate Courtroom of the City-County Building, 400 W. Main St., Knoxville 37902. Light refreshments will be served. Hogan has served in the role since 1998.

Vanderbilt University Law School has added two new faculty members for the upcoming academic year. Sean Seymore joins the school as Centennial Professor of Law. Seymore is an expert in patent law whose research focuses on how patent law and policy should evolve in response to advances in science and technology. He previously taught at the school from 2010 to 2021. In addition, Francesca L. Procaccini joins the faculty as assistant professor of law. She will teach constitutional law and federal courts. Procaccini most recently was with Harvard Law School, where she focused on political rights and the courts. She previously oversaw the Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic at Yale Law School, worked in the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and was a legal fellow in the White House Counsel’s Office.

Hamilton County’s next sheriff, Austin Garrett, has named Brian Bush to be the department’s general counsel. He will replace Coty Wamp, who was elected Hamilton County district attorney last week, the Times Free Press reports. Bush ran for Chattanooga city court judge but lost to incumbent Sherry Paty. Bush is a Chattanooga native who earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. He currently handles civil litigation cases at Spears, Moore, Rebman & Williams. He previously served as an assistant district attorney in the Hamilton County District Attorney's Office.

A University of Tennessee professor falsely accused of being a spy is criticizing the nomination of Casey Arrowood for U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee. In an interview with Tennessee Lookout this week, Dr. Anming Hu said the president should rescind the nomination and, if not, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee should reject Arrowood, who headed up the prosecution of Hu under the Trump administration’s “China Initiative.” That effort focused on rooting out spies from American universities. The Biden Justice Department has since halted the program and Hu has been reinstated to this former job.

The Memphis Bar Foundation is accepting grant applications for projects and programs that further its mission. Applications for up to $2,500 per project should be submitted by 5 p.m. CDT on Aug. 31. To be eligible for a grant, an organization must be a 501(c)(3) and must provide a copy of its IRS determination letter. The foundation is a nonprofit organization that promotes philanthropy among members of the Memphis Bar Association (MBA), promotes social justice and legal education, and advocates for and supports public awareness of the legal system. For more information contact the MBA Executive Director Mary Ann Upchurch.