The U.S. Senate today confirmed Memphis attorney Andre Mathis to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Reuters reports. Mathis, a partner at Butler Snow, was confirmed on a 48-47 vote, despite prior objections from Tennessee Republican Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty. He will be the first Black male and second Black person from Tennessee to sit on the Ohio-based 6th Circuit. Mathis is the second of President Joe Biden’s judicial picks to be confirmed this week.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will hold a free low-income legal help clinic on Wednesday in Gallatin. The clinic will run from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. CDT at the Gallatin Civic Center, 210 Albert Gallatin Ave. To volunteer for a clinic, contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131. Get more details and see all September clinics.

Alumni members of the TBA Leadership Law (TBALL) program are being asked to submit nominations for the 2023 class. TBALL is a six-month leadership training program for Tennessee attorneys with five to 15 years of practice experience. Alumni members have until Sept. 14 to submit their nominations via an online form that was emailed to them. Questions about the program or nomination process can be directed to TBALL coordinator Kate Prince.  

An article in yesterday’s issue of TBA Today omitted the names of two attorneys who have been selected for the TBA Public Service Academy. Brian Bush of Chattanooga’s Spears, Moore, Rebman & Williams PC law firm and Jessica Schultz of Schultz Law in Nashville are among the 10 attorneys who will participate in the nonpartisan training that provides attorneys with the tools to run for local public offices, such as school board, city council and county commission. The program’s two sessions will cover topics like strategy, campaign finance, work-life balance and more. Read more about this year’s class.

Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti today announced that Tennessee is among 34 states and territories to reach a $438.5 million agreement in principle with JUUL Labs, resolving a two-year bipartisan investigation into the e-cigarette manufacturer’s marketing and sales practices. Of the $438.5 million, Tennessee will receive approximately $13 million. In addition to the financial terms, the settlement would force JUUL to comply with a series of strict injunctive terms that severely limit the company’s marketing and sales practices. A multistate investigation found JUUL, a dominant player in the vaping market, relentlessly marketed its product to underage users and that its packaging did not clearly disclose that it contained nicotine and implied that it contained a lower concentration of nicotine than it actually did. The Attorney General’s Office has more.

The TBA today announced a list of 10 attorneys chosen for its third Public Service Academy. The academy is a nonpartisan training fellowship that provides attorneys with the tools to run for local public offices, such as school board, city council and county commission. The program will take place over the course of two sessions during which fellows will hear speakers discuss topics like strategy, campaign finance, work-life balance and more. This year’s class members are: Raven Austin, Chattanooga; Amanda Bradley, Franklin; Duncan Bryant, Memphis; Brian Bush, Chattanooga; Jing Geng, Nashville; Timothy Martin, Pickwick Dam; David O’Neil, Brentwood; Jessica Schultz, Nashville; Ryan Strain, Memphis; and Angela Washington, Columbia. Read more from the TBA.

Twentieth Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Phil Smith died unexpectedly on Sunday. He was 62. Former Gov. Phil Bredesen first appointed Smith to the bench in 2009. He was elected to the role in 2010, 2014 and 2022 and on Thursday had become the presiding judge of the 20th Judicial District. Before his time with the court, Smith was an assistant district attorney in the 20th Judicial District and later served as a special judge for the Davidson County 2nd Circuit Court, 5th Circuit Court, Probate Court and as a special referee for the Davidson County Juvenile Court. He also served as a hearing panel member on the Board of Professional Responsibility. In private practice, he worked for the Norman Law Firm and Robinson, Smith and Oglesby. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more on visitation and funeral arrangements for Smith.

Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge John Everett Williams died on Friday. He was 68. In 1998, Williams was appointed to the court by former Gov. Don Sundquist and was retained in elections in 2000, 2006, 2014 and 2022. He was named presiding judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals in 2018, making him the first judge from West Tennessee to hold that position in 25 years. Williams practiced law in Huntingdon for 17 years before his appointment to the court. He served as chairperson of the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program for several years and was a strong advocate for the organization. Williams was known for his colorful dress and bowties as well as summer seersucker suits. He was a longtime member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. He was also an established thespian, dazzling audiences at the Dixie Carter Performing Arts and Academic Enrichment Center just last month. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. Condolences may be left here.

The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear two cases in Knoxville for its September docket. State of Tennessee v. Johnny Summers Cavin will begin at 9 a.m. EDT and will be followed by State of Tennessee v. Joseph Gevedon. Both cases will be livestreamed on the Administrative Office of the Courts YouTube page. More information on both cases can be found on the AOC’s website.  

Judges from the 15th Judicial District were last week sworn-in by Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sarah Campbell. Included in the swearing-in were: Juvenile Court Judge Barry Tatum, Circuit Court Judge Michael Collins, Chancellor C.K. Smith, Circuit Court Judge Clara Byrd, Criminal Court Judge Brody Kane, General Sessions Judge Jimmy Lea, Magistrate David Kennedy and General Sessions Judge Ensley Hagan. The 15th Judicial District includes Jackson, Macon, Smith, Trousdale and Wilson counties. See more pictures from the event here.