In honor of International Women's Day on Tuesday, the TBA will offer a rebroadcast of “A Discussion on Women in Law.” During this one-hour discussion, panelists talk about their experiences serving as women in the legal profession and how that experience has been impacted by their respective cultures. Participants include Joycelyn Stevenson, executive director of Tennessee Bar Association, and Madame La Batonniere Nathalie Lailler, president of the Caen Bar Association in France. Attorney Tabitha Robinson, a board member of Sister Cities Nashville, moderates the conversation. The theme of this year’s International Women's Day is #BreakTheBias.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments met today to consider seven applicants for two imminent vacancies on the Court of Criminal Appeals Eastern Section. After holding a public hearing and conducting public interviews, the council selected four individuals to forward to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. They are: 10th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Andrew Freiberg, 11th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Thomas Greenholtz, 6th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Kyle Hixon, and 5th Judicial District Assistant District Attorney Tracy Jenkins. The vacancies were created by the decisions of judges Norma McGee Ogle and D. Kelly Thomas Jr. to not seek retention in the August 2022 election. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more on each of the candidates.

Georgia lawyer Allison S. Hines Ficken and Ohio lawyer Daniel Michael Spirko were recently reinstated to the practice of law after having been on inactive status for more than five years. Ficken was reinstated effective Feb. 8. Spirko was reinstated effective Feb. 4.

Brentwood attorney A.J. Bahou today announced he will run for State House District 63 in the Republican primary. Bahou, an intellectual property patent attorney, served as chair of the Tennessee Young Republicans from 1997-1999, and was active in the organization for over seven years. He has also been active in Leadership Brentwood, Brentwood Rotary, the Nolensville Lions Club and the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves on the board and executive committee of LaunchTN, a statewide incubator for small business startups in Tennessee. Learn more about his campaign in this press release or online at https://voteajbahou.com.

The TBA’s 26th Annual Labor and Employment Law Forum will take place in person in Nashville on May 6. The all-day program will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will provide in-depth, timely, specialized and practical information on a range of labor and employment law topics. Program participants include John Bode with Miller & Martin in Chattanooga; Heather Collins with Collins & Hunter in Brentwood; Casey Duhart with Acadia Healthcare in Franklin; Jason Ensley with Ensley, Baker & Shade in Johnson City; Stanley Graham with Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis in Nashville; and Chris McCarty with Lewis Thomason in Knoxville.

The Knox County Juvenile Court Assistance Board will hold its annual Basket Auction & Spring Lunch on April 8 beginning at 11:30 a.m. The event will include a lunch, silent and live auction, and presentation of the Susan D. Kovac Award to Knox County’s most outstanding child welfare attorney. Proceeds will benefit the Volunteer Advisory Board, the Annual Foster Care Appreciation Dinner for foster care parents, and foster care children with emergency needs. The event will take place at Knox County Juvenile Court, 3323 Division St., Knoxville, TN 37919. Learn more in this flyer or call 865-215-6475 with questions.

Nashville Mayor John Cooper’s office is now accepting applications for a $1.5 million grant to prevent violence in North Nashville, WPLN reports. The program builds on the first round of $5,000 grants given out last year to curb shootings. The new initiative, labeled “Cure Violence,” is part of the city’s gradual shift toward more community-based solutions to public safety, at a time when violent crime has been rising. Nonprofit groups have until April 22 to apply.

The U.S. Senate voted 49-44 today to strike down President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate for health care workers. The Republican members of the chamber were able to force the vote under the Congressional Review Act, The Hill reports. Though no Democratic senators voted with Republicans to eliminate the rule, the GOP was able to get it through the evenly divided Senate because of six Democratic absences. The fate of the bill is unclear though. Observers say it would not likely pass the House or be signed by the president. The vaccine mandate applies to workers at health providers that participate in Medicare and Medicaid. It has been the subject of several court challenges but was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in January.

Knoxville lawyer Carol Anne Long has joined the University of Tennessee College of Law as associate director of the Bettye B. Lewis Career Center. In her new position, Long will serve as the primary liaison with employers, maintaining relationships with hiring personnel and developing interview opportunities. She also will provide advising assistance to students and alumni. Long previously practiced civil and criminal defense litigation with two Knoxville law firms and worked as a judicial clerk for Judge Charles D. Susano Jr. of the Tennessee Court of Appeals and Judge James Curwood Witt Jr. of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. She is a 2000 graduate of the College of Law. Long was active in the TBA Young Lawyers Division and is a lifetime member of the TBA YLD Fellows. She is married to former TBA President Jason Long.

Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis today announced that Jennifer Weaver and Eric Scalzo have been named leaders of its Healthcare Industry Team. Weaver is a partner in Waller’s litigation practice with experience defending health care providers in False Claims Act cases throughout the United States. Scalzo is a partner in Waller’s corporate practice where he handles complex transactions in the physician and dental practice management space. His experience includes assisting providers and investors in the formation, acquisition, growth and sale of physician and dental group practices. The team they lead is comprised of more than 200 attorneys advising health care providers and investors across the country.