Former Knoxville prosecutor Hector Sanchez this week became Tennessee’s first Hispanic criminal court judge after he took the oath of office to serve the 6th Judicial District. “I’m excited to serve the citizens of Knox County,” Sanchez told Knoxville’s WATE 6. “I think inclusion is very important. I think diversity on the bench is important.” Sanchez is an honorably discharged Marine who earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. He believes the core values he learned while in the Marine Corps – “honor, courage and commitment” – will translate into his courtroom. “…those are things every day I try to apply to every situation that I’m involved in,” he said. Sanchez was with the district attorney’s office before Gov. Bill Lee appointed him as a 6th Judicial District Criminal Court judge. He succeeds Judge Kyle Hixson who was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals – Eastern Section.

Knoxville lawyer Charles Michael Conroy died on Oct. 2. He was 76. Conroy was born in Clarksville and graduated from Vanderbilt University before going on to earn his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. He practiced law in both Tennessee and Georgia. Conroy was a lifelong shell collector and had an extensive collection and knowledge of shells from around the world and especially Sanibel Island, Florida. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Clarksville. The day and time of the services and burial will be announced at a later date. Memorials may be made to the local chapter of the Parkinson’s Association.

Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS) will host its annual fundraiser, the Justice for All Ball, on Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. CDT. The event will be held at the Halloran Centre for Performing Arts & Education in Memphis and will feature dinner from Chef Phillip Dewayne and entertainment from the Stax Music Academy Band, the Beale Street Flippers and the PC Band. Proceeds from the event will benefit MALS and support attorneys offering pro bono legal services to the underserved population in Memphis. For more information contact, please contact Kavron Bibbs-Newman, 901-255-3452. Read more here.

Alex Friedmann, a Nashville criminal justice advocate, was today sentenced to 40 years in prison for hiding firearms and other weapons in the walls of the Downtown Detention Center while it was under construction, the Tennessean reports. Friedmann admitted to the crimes, but his attorneys argued the state was overcharging him. He has prior felony convictions elevating the minimum punishment to 25 years in prison. Prior to sentencing, Friedmann wrote to Judge Steve Dozier detailing two incidents of rape while he was being held in the old county jail when he was 18. He said he hid the weapons out of an irrational fear that he’d be jailed again and subject to another rape. Sheriff Daron Hall rejected that claim in court today, saying Friedmann’s plot was to incite violence inside the jail. Friedmann also pleaded guilty to a federal gun possession crime and will be sentenced for that charge in January.

The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday heard arguments in a voting rights case in which plaintiffs allege the state illegally blocked a man from voting over a felony conviction in Virginia, even though his voting rights had been restored there. Ernest Falls was granted clemency for a felony conviction in Virginia and had his voting rights restored before moving to Tennessee. When he tried to register to vote in Grainger County in 2020, state officials said Falls failed to prove he had paid all court costs and restitution required by the state of his conviction. Falls never owed court costs or restitution in his Virginia case and the clemency grant fully restored his right to vote in Virginia. A Davidson County judge previously sided with the state in the case, finding "Tennessee law does not require that Tennessee reach the same result" as other states' decisions on voter restoration. The Tennessean has the full story.

The White House today announced that President Joe Biden will pardon all those convicted of simple possession of marijuana under federal law, The Hill reports. “There are thousands of people who have prior federal convictions for marijuana possession, who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result,” Biden said in a statement. “My action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions.” White House officials urged governors to take similar action and told reporters that the pardon could benefit around 6,500 individuals. They added that no one is currently in federal prison for simple possession charges.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Cleotha Henderson, the man charged with abducting and murdering Memphis jogger and school teacher Eliza Fletcher last month, the Daily Memphian reports. Henderson, who also goes by the surname Abston, will go before General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Louis Montesi on Nov. 16. He is represented by public defender Jennifer Case. Henderson is charged with first-degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence. If convicted, he could receive life imprisonment, life without parole or the death penalty.  

Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS) is seeking to hire a staff attorney for its rural office in Covington. The staff attorney will be responsible for providing legal services to qualified individuals and groups under MALS' guidelines and substantive priority areas. Two to five years of legal experience is preferred. See the job posting on the TBA’s JobLink site for details on how to apply or browse all available job openings.

Tennessee Rep. Ron Gant, R-Piperton, was last night involved in a vehicular collision in rural West Tennessee, the Daily Memphian reports. Gant was flown by helicopter to Memphis for treatment after he was struck head-on by another driver who police believe was impaired. That driver died in the crash. According to the Tennessee Journal, Gant was listed in stable condition this morning and was being prepped for surgery later in the day. Gant was elected to serve Fayette, McNairy and parts of Hardeman counties in 2016 and serves as the state House assistant majority leader.  

Ten attorneys from Tennessee were yesterday admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court during the 37th annual TBA Academy. TBA President Tasha Blakney moved for admission of the members during a private ceremony at the court in Washington, D.C. Some in the group rounded out the day with a tour of the White House. Attorneys admitted before the high court were Terry Adkins, Brittany Bartkowiak, Kurt W. Bartlett, James Edwards, Tera Hambrick, Chris Holder, Charlotte Mattingly, Robin Moore, Marie Scott and Brandy Spurgin. See more pictures from the event.