Democratic candidates for governor are tallying new endorsements in their campaigns, the Nashville Post reports. In the race to take on Gov. Bill Lee, Nashville doctor Jason Martin has released a list of endorsements from 10 state lawmakers, while Memphis City Councilmember JB Smiley Jr. has won the support of Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis. In the open race to succeed state Sen. Brenda Gilmore, D-Nashville, candidate Charlane Oliver has secured the support of several prominent Nashville Democrats including former mayor Megan Barry, Metro Public Defender Martesha Johnson and Conexión Américas co-founder Renata Soto. Oliver will face former Metro Councilmembers Jerry Maynard and Ludye Wallace, Barry Barlow and Rossi Turner in the primary. Maynard has the backing of Gilmore, former Mayor Karl Dean, four Nashville members of the state House and a number of other current and former local officials.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands has named Jordan Stringer as the new managing attorney and pro bono director in its Nashville office. Stinger will supervise staff, oversee administrative functions, help coordinate client services and assist in oversight and quality assurance systems. He also will serve as director of the Volunteer Lawyers Program, developing strategic initiatives and managing staff to support pro bono lawyers. Stringer most recently was legal counsel for Equifax Inc. He also has experience working for nonprofit organizations, international law firms and industry. He earned his law degree from Emory University School of Law. Read more about Stringer in this release.

Shelby County lawyer Aaron Anthony Neglia was suspended from the practice of law yesterday. The Tennessee Supreme Court took the action after Neglia pled guilty and was convicted in state court of bribery of a public servant, and in federal court of conspiracy to violate the travel act. The court referred the matter to the Board of Professional Responsibility to determine the extent of final discipline.

The Tennessee Supreme Court unanimously held today that the Tennessee Republican Party and its State Executive Committee did not violate the Tennessee Open Meetings Act when they determined that Robby Starbuck would not be added to the ballot in the upcoming primary election for the U.S. House of Representatives 5th Congressional District because the law did not apply. The court found that the party was acting as a state executive committee when it determined Starbuck was not a bona fide Republican and removed him from the ballot. The Open Meetings Act applies to state boards but not to state executive committees, the court said.

The Tennessee Supreme Court in a unanimous decision issued today clarified the appropriate legal standard to be applied in post-conviction cases involving allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel due to counsel failing to seek suppression of evidence on Fourth Amendment grounds. The court ruled in the case of Tommie Phillips v. State of Tennessee that such claims must meet a three-prong test to proceed: prove that a suppression motion would have been meritorious, that counsel’s failure to file such a motion was objectively unreasonable, and that, but for counsel’s objectively unreasonable omission, there is a reasonable probability that the verdict would have been different absent the excludable evidence. In this specific case, the court found that Phillips failed to establish a successful claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.

U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris this week granted a stay in federal court proceedings for Tyrone Chalmers, who was convicted in 1997 of robbing and killing a man in Shelby County, and is now on death row. The stay allows Chalmers to once again pursue arguments in state court that Tennessee lacks authority to execute him because of an intellectual disability, the Associated Press reports. Previous attempts have failed, and the Tennessee Supreme Court has rejected efforts to reopen post-conviction proceedings for him. Norris said the state’s recent law allowing retroactive application of a prohibition on execution of the intellectually disabled now provides a mechanism for Chalmers to pursue a mental disability claim.

More than $4 million of Nashville's latest round of federal COVID relief funding will help Davidson County renters and immigrants secure legal services, the Tennessean reports. Metro Council unanimously approved two American Rescue Plan Act funding resolutions, allocating $1.8 million to expand legal services for immigrants and $2.6 million to provide legal representation to low- and moderate-income renters facing eviction. Funding for immigrant services will be awarded to the Tennessee Immigration and Refugee Rights Coalition and Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors for pro-bono legal clinics and assistance with DACA, asylum, residency and citizenship applications. Funding for renters’ services will be awarded to the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands and Conexion Americas for a two-year pilot program providing outreach, education and legal aid to qualifying renters.

Admission ceremonies for those who passed the February 2022 Tennessee Bar Exam continued today virtually. Ceremonies took place at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page administered the oath at the first morning event while Justice Sharon Lee administered the oath at the second morning ceremony. Justice Jeffrey Bivins presided over the lunchtime ceremony. Justice Sarah Campbell wrapped up the day's events, administering the oath at the afternoon session. TBA Executive Director Joycelyn Stevenson was on hand at each event to virtually introduce several attorneys. See photos from today's ceremonies.

Pre-registration for the 2022 TBA Convention will close Monday at noon CDT. After that point, attendees will have to register at the door. This year’s event is taking place in-person June 15-18 at the downtown Nashville Hilton. The week will offer nine hours of CLE, including Bench/Bar, Better Right Now and diversity programs. Opportunities to network with colleagues include the Opening Reception, Bench/Bar Luncheon, Joint Reception with the Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women (TLAW) and Tennessee Alliance for Black Lawyers (TABL), the Thursday night social event at Fifth & Broadway and the annual Lawyers Luncheon. Sign up now for the full registration package or purchase individual tickets.

Candidates who passed the February 2022 Tennessee Bar Exam are being admitted to the practice of law at ceremonies across the state this week. Today, in-person ceremonies were held in Knoxville and Nashville, and will continue tomorrow in Memphis. Virtual ceremonies will be held Thursday and Friday. TBA President Sherie Edwards, YLD President Billy Leslie and Executive Director Joycelyn Stevenson were on hand at the Nashville ceremony. Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Bivins administered the oath of office. In Knoxville, YLD Board Member Zack Walden with Eldridge & Blakney introduced new admittees on behalf of the TBA, while Justice Sharon Lee administered the oath of office. In addressing the new lawyers, Lee encouraged them to “Remember to keep your personal and professional life in balance. Use your license for good and your time to help others.” See photos from today's events.