The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is now accepting applications for the Court of Criminal Appeals vacancy. The vacancy was created by the retirement of Judge Alan E. Glenn, effective July 1. Attorneys who are at least 30 years of age, residents of the state for at least five years and current residents of the Western Tennessee Grand Division may submit their applications to the Administrative Office of the Courts by noon CDT on Oct. 13. Applicants will be interviewed on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10 at a location to be determined and announced soon.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is accepting applications for 29th Judicial District Circuit Court judge, covering Dyer and Lake counties. Successful applicants will be at least 30 years of age, residents of the state for at least five years and current residents of the 29th Judicial District. Those interested should complete the Trial Court Vacancy Commission Application and submit it to the Administrative Office of the Courts by noon CDT on Oct. 8. A hearing to consider applicants will be held on Nov. 4 at 9 a.m. CDT at a to-be-determined location in the 29th Judicial District.

The Chattanooga Bar Foundation (CBF) recently welcomed five new fellows during the Chattanooga Bar Association’s 2021 Law Day celebration, the Hamilton County Herald reports. The new fellows include: Misty Harris, Harris Law Firm; Paul Hatcher, Duncan, Hatcher, Holland & Fleenor; Jim Levine, Baker Donelson; Richard Rose, Miller & Martin; and Jerry Tidwell, Tidwell & Associates. The group joins 142 fellows who make up the current roster. As a group, the fellows work to improve the study of law, the administration of justice and relations between the members of the legal profession and the public. 

A new investigation has found that 131 federal judges didn’t recuse themselves from court cases that involved companies in which they or their family members owned stock, The Hill reports. The findings come from an investigation by the Wall Street Journal, which found that, of the two-thirds of federal district judges who disclosed individual stock holdings, roughly 20% of them heard at least one case involving their stock. In those cases, about two-thirds of the rulings were in favor of the financial interests of the judge. Code of conduct for federal judges requires them to recuse themselves where there is a financial interest in the case or “ownership of a legal or equitable interest, however small.”

Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel shareholder and TBA member Kirby Yost will now serve as chair of the firm’s real estate practice group. Yost has been with Chambliss since 2011 and assists owners and developers of all sizes on real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, financing and retail and office leasing, advising on land use, zoning and other real property matters. She follows Michael Stewart, who served in the role for several years. Yost is a member of the TBA Young Lawyers Division, Public Education Committee and a 2019 member of the TBA Leadership Law program.

For the first time in history, four of the nation’s top legal associations are led by Black men. Navan Ward with the American Association for Justice, Reginald Turner with the American Bar Association, Judge Carlos Moore with the National Bar Association and Douglas Burrell with the Defense Research Institute recently gathered in Washington, D.C., to discuss the “enormous possibilities” their leadership can bring to the legal profession. Watch a video from the group’s meeting.

The Tennessee Attorney General is warning consumers about recruitment schemes being offered by various Bitcoin websites. The Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) say the complaints coincide with an uptick in companies claiming to use artificial intelligence and Bitcoin to maximize returns on investment. These companies offer money for every additional investor you recruit. Tips on avoiding the pyramid scheme and how to report complaints can be found on the AG’s website. Additionally, the AG’s podcast, “Making the Case,” has a corresponding episode on the consumer warning.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Statistical Analysis Center today released two new reports on hate crimes and crimes against law enforcement officers, the Chattanoogan reports. “Tennessee Hate Crime 2020” reports that while bias-motivated offenses increased from 113 to 118 in 2020, the number is down from 2018 when 168 cases were reported. The report “Law Enforcement Officers Killed or Assaulted 2020” shows a 4.3% decline from 2019 to 2020, with simple assault being the highest reported offense in the category at 1,293 incidents in 2020. There were zero murders reported in the category. Both reports can be found on the TBI’s website.

A Nashville judge has ruled that a new law will require the state parole board to move up parole hearings for eligible defendants, the Tennessean reports. Davidson County Chancellor Anne C. Martin ruled in favor of defendant Jeffrey Wayne Hughes who, despite being eligible for review with a fall release date, was not scheduled to appear before the board until next summer. The board of parole had resisted moving up Hughes’ hearing date because of their interpretation of the new Re-Entry Success Act of 2021, which they felt let them wait until the next scheduled hearing to reassess his status. Under the new act, eligible defendants have a presumption of parole release unless “good cause” is shown for why they must remain incarcerated. The board argued that this interpretation of the law could overwhelm their system and tax limited resources. In her order, Martin called that argument “inconsistent with all principles of due process” and the state’s obligation to follow the law.

Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Cornelia “Connie” Clark will tomorrow become the first active member of the judiciary to lie in state at the Tennessee State Capitol. Clark will also become only the second woman to lie in state, following the late Sen. Thelma Harper, who died in April. Only three Tennesseans have been provided with the honor in the past 88 years. Clark, a member of the judicial branch for more than 30 years, died Sept. 24 after a short battle with cancer. She will lie in state tomorrow from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. CDT. Read more on this story from the Administrative Office of the Courts.