The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday suspended Davidson County Lawyer Michael Lloyd Freeman for three years, with three months of active suspension and the remainder on probation. Freeman failed to file an appropriate complaint in a contested divorce action resulting in the dismissal of the divorce for failure to prosecute, failed to reasonably communicate with his client and expedite his litigation, failed to review his client’s file and respond to a pending motion for summary judgment and failed to file an executed marital dissolution agreement and take appropriate action to confirm its filing with the court. He must pay the Board of Professional Responsibility for all costs of the disciplinary proceedings and restitution in the amount of $750.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will host two legal advice clinics this week for members of the public with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, and SNAP and unemployment benefits. An in-person clinic will take place Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Operation Stand Down Nashville, 1125 12th Ave. S. The second clinic will take place on Saturday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. CDT at the Belmont Ministry Center, 2005 12th Ave. S. To help answer questions, contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131.

The TBA Criminal Justice Section will host Criminal Law Basics 2021 on July 7 from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. CDT. This year’s program will focus on sentencing practices and procedures, including an intro to sentencing, alternative sentencing measures and a diverse panel of judges, prosecutors and defense lawyers discussing different perspectives on these important issues. Among those panelists is Cyntoia Brown, a juvenile offender ordered to serve life in prison for murder before ultimately being granted clemency by former Gov. Bill Haslam. Register for the program here.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today adopted an interim rule for special three-judge panels. Gov. Bill Lee signed into law late last month legislation that creates a three-judge panel to hear constitutional challenges to state laws, executive orders, regulations and legislative redistricting cases. Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 54 lays out the applicability, composition, location and other procedures for the new panel.

The U.S. Senate yesterday voted 53-44 to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the Associated Press reports. Jackson is the first appellate court judge appointed by President Joe Biden. She replaces Merrick Garland, who left the role to serve as Biden’s attorney general. Jackson is considered by many to be a leading contender for the U.S. Supreme Court. Jackson has written nearly 600 opinions as a district judge in Washington, worked as a federal public defender and served as vice chair on the commission that sets the guidelines judges consult when sentencing federal offenders.

Applications are now being accepted for 24th Judicial District Circuit Court judge, covering Benton, Carroll, Decatur, Hardin and Henry counties. The vacancy was created by the retirement of Judge C. Creed McGinley. Those interested should complete the Trial Court Vacancy Commission application and submit to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) by noon CDT on June 29. Applicants must be at least 30 years of age, residents of the state for at least five years and current residents of the 24th Judicial District. The commission will hold a public hearing to consider applicants on Aug. 3 at 9 a.m. CDT in a 24th Judicial District location that will be announced later.       

State of Tennessee Deputy Budget Director Mike Dedmon, who worked closely with the judicial branch on state budget issues, has died. He was 54. Dedmon worked with multiple directors of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and members of the judiciary during his nearly 20 years with the state budget office. Visitation will take place tomorrow from 5 to 7 p.m. and again on Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. CDT, immediately followed by funeral services. Visitations and funeral will take place at Sellar’s Funeral Home in Lebanon. Interment will be held at Crossville City Cemetery. More information can be found on the AOC’s website.

The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) is now accepting nominations for its annual access to justice awards. The Janice M. Holder Award, the B. Riney Green Award and the New Advocate of the Year award recognize those who have contributed to Tennessee’s equal justice community and will be awarded during the annual Equal Justice University (EJU) virtual conference on Sept. 21-23. According to TALS, registration for EJU will open in mid-July. Nominations are due by July 16. Visit TALS’ award nomination page for nomination instructions, the awards nomination form, and specific eligibility and criteria for each of the three awards.

Programming continued during the virtual portion of the Tennessee Bar Association Annual Convention, with an agenda that included virtual law school alumni mixers, a virtual section roundtable, a local bar meeting and a civility roundtable.  Day two wrapped up with a virtual practice management roundtable. The in-person portion of the event is now set to begin at The Peabody in Memphis with the TBA's registration desk opening at 1 p.m. CDT. You can find the full schedule of events on TBA’s website.

Hamilton County businessman and Republican activist Greg Vital announced yesterday that he will vie for Tennessee’s House District 29, the Chattanoogan reports. Vital joins Democrat DeAngelo Jelks in the race for late Rep. Mike Carter’s seat in the General Assembly. Vital is chairman, president and co-founder of Morning Pointe Senior Living and Independent HealthCare properties. In 2012, Vital lost the Republican primary for state senate to Sen. Todd Gardnehire by 40 votes. The Democratic and Republican primary elections are July 27. The general election is Sept. 14.