The Board of Judicial Conduct has suspended Madison County Judge Hugh Harvey for 30 days. Harvey was arrested in August for driving under the influence and being in possession of a firearm. According to the board's order, Harvey self-reported his arrest and, acting on advice from the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP), completed 60 days of in-patient treatment for alcoholism. He pled guilty to the DUI last month and the charge of possessing a handgun was dismissed. An investigative panel of the board concluded that Harvey will be suspended from Dec. 22 until Jan. 20, 2023, and must be monitored by TLAP for five years. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more.

The Memphis Bar Association has announced it will host a portrait unveiling for retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Janice M. Holder on Jan. 13. The event will take place at 2 p.m. CST at the Judge D’Army Bailey Courthouse, Second Floor, South Corridor, 140 Adams Avenue, Memphis. A reception will follow. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP by Jan. 6 to info@memphisbar.org or 901-527-3573.

Applications for the TBA’s 2023 Scaling Small program are due on Dec. 15. Scaling Small Law is a three-month-long advanced program for entrepreneurial lawyers, solo practitioners and newly formed solo/small firms. This comprehensive business education and development program offers training in business planning, marketing, solo/small firm finance and budgeting, client service and experience, ethical considerations, and outsourcing and leveraging technology. To learn more, check out the syllabus and application process. The program launches on Jan. 10, 2023.

The Tennessee Department of Health is seeking to hire a data governance director in the Office of Informatics and Analytics. The position will lead the support of the Health Department's Data Governance projects, efforts and transformation and support data modernization projects throughout the department. Extensive experience with data governance models, frameworks, and principles and expertise in Institutional Review Board (IRB) composition, activities, and responsibilities is required. Preferred qualifications include at least eight years of supervisory management experience and at least four years of public health data governance experience. For instructions on how to apply, visit the TBA’s JobLink site.

Grab some popcorn and join your colleagues for a theater-style event designed to help you meet your CLE requirements before the end of the year. Live and in-person, the TBA’s Last Minute CLE Watch Party will show five dual (ethics) hours of the most popular CLE online videos on the big screen. Join the party on Dec. 29 from 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. CST in the auditorium of the Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St. Don’t forget to use the three prepaid CLE credits that come with your TBA membership. Not a member? Join today!

The November episode of the TBA's BarBuzz podcast is now streaming. Attorney Shellie Handelsman of Handelsman Law in Nashville joins the latest episode to give listeners a rundown of legal news from across the state, upcoming events and bar association happenings. BarBuzz is part of the TBA Podcast Network and can be found on the TBA's website or anywhere you listen to podcasts. 

Tennessee House Republicans have nominated Speaker Cameron Sexton to serve a third term in the chamber’s top leadership position, the Associated Press reports. Republican House members also voted to keep Rep. William Lamberth as majority leader and Rep. Jeremy Faison as caucus chairman. They voted to fill several other positions as well. The speaker role requires the full House’s vote when lawmakers reconvene in January for the 2023 legislative session.

A three-judge panel has upheld Tennessee’s Education Savings Account Program, which allows public tax dollars to be given to families to pay for private schooling, the Associated Press reports. The panel, made up of Chancellor Anne Martin, Judge Tammy Harrington and Judge Valerie Smith, said the counties and families who sued couldn’t prove how students would be immediately harmed by the program. The plaintiffs, including Davidson and Shelby counties, maintained that schools and students would be hurt by the voucher program because school districts lose money for every student that participates in the voucher program. But the panel ruled the opponents’ claims “lack ripeness” because the voucher law includes a provision that replaces the diverted funds for at least three years through “a school improvement fund.” Money for the improvement fund is subject to legislative appropriation.

A set of primaries to fill the seat of late Tennessee Rep. Barbara Cooper, D-Memphis, will take place in January, the Daily Memphian reports. Gov. Bill Lee yesterday issued a writ setting a Jan. 24 primary, with Democratic and Republican winners advancing to a March 14 general election. Cooper, who represented state House District 86, died in October while seeking reelection. At the time of her death, early voting ahead of the Nov. 8 Election Day already had begun. Cooper defeated independent challenger Michael Porter. The election commission began issuing qualifying petitions for candidates Monday. The deadline to file primary petitions is noon Dec. 15 with the withdrawal deadline of noon Dec. 19.

The 2022 class of the TBA Public Service Academy met for its final session of the program on Nov. 18-19 at the Nashville office of Adams and Reese. The academy is a nonpartisan training program that provides attorneys with the tools to run for local public offices, such as school board, city council and county commission. The session’s theme was “Your Campaign,” featuring presentations on building a campaign team, media training, finding your message, campaign do’s and don’ts and direct mail. This year’s program was chaired by Jamie Ballinger, Steve Elkins and Circuit Judge Joel Wallace. Class members are Raven Austin, Amanda Bradley, Duncan Bryant, Brian Bush, Jing Geng, Timothy Martin, David O’Neil, Jessica Schultz, Ryan Strain and Angela Washington. Read more on class members and speakers.