TBA President Sherie Edwards last week gave an ethics presentation during the Ninth Annual Mid-South Agriculture and Environmental Law Conference, hosted by the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Edwards’ talk, “Attorney Wellness & Diversity in the Legal Profession: Ethics,” drew heavily from the top priorities she set as TBA president. “…three of my top priorities have been business education, attorney wellness, and diversity,” Edwards said ahead of the talk. She is pictured here with Judge Stephen Vaden, U.S. Supreme Court of International Trade and Harrison Pittman, head of the National Agricultural Law Center.

Lisa Perlen, executive director of the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners, has been elected to serve on the board of trustees of the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). Perlen is a member of NCBE’s Uniform Bar Examination Committee, vice chair of the Council of Bar Admission Administrators’ Accommodations Committee and a previous member of NCBE’s Character and Fitness Committee. NCBE develops the licensing tests used by most states for admission to the bar. Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Seven lawyers are among 44 participants chosen for Leadership Nashville’s Class of 2023. Lawyer participants include: Adolpho Birch, Tennessee Titans; Judge Melissa Blackburn, Davidson County General Sessions Court, Division II; Diane Lance, Metro Office of Family Safety; Eleanor McDonald, Ingram Industries; Phylanice Nashe, attorney, philanthropist and community volunteer; Brian Roark, Bass, Berry & Sims; and Matthew Scanlan, senior director, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The program, which aims to strengthen Nashville by forming connections among proven leaders across a variety of professions, industries and identities, will begin courses in September. Read more from the Nashville Business Journal.

The Shelby County Commission has passed a criminal justice reform measure that will allow those who have previously been incarcerated to volunteer for county boards and commissions, the Daily Memphian reports. Sponsored by Republican Commissioner Mick Wright and Democratic Commissioner Van D. Turner Jr., the “Fair Chance to Serve” ordinance removes barriers for people with criminal histories who apply for voluntary county boards and commissions. The measure allows them to reintegrate into society and reduces the chance of recidivism. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris will still vet all county boards and commissions applicants and they will still go before the Board of Commissioners for approval.  

The Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission has rescheduled the launch of the Tennessee Justice Bus due to tomorrow’s excessive heat advisory. The launch will now take place on June 20 at 9:15 a.m. CDT at the Nashville Supreme Court Building at 401 Seventh Ave. N. The Tennessee Justice Bus is a mobile law office that brings technology to rural and disadvantaged communities. The project addresses the technology gap many rural and disadvantaged citizens face. Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

In response to the pandemic, the Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Rule 21, section 3.01(c), which requires lawyers to have seven hours of live CLE credits each compliance year and limits the maximum distance learning credits to eight. 4.02(c), which reiterates the eight-hour distance learning limitation and limits carryover credits to eight hours per compliance year was also temporarily suspended. The court is now considering permanently eliminating limitations to distance learning credits by deleting sections 3.01(c) and 4.02(c) and is seeking comments from judges, lawyers, bar associations, members of the public and all interested parties on the matter. Written comments are due by Aug. 5 and should be emailed to appellatecourtclerk@tncourts.gov or mailed to James Hivner, Clerk, RE: Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 21, §§ 3.01(c) and 4.02(c), 100 Supreme Court Building, 401 7th Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37219-1407. Read the order here.

The City of Franklin has announced it will rename Fourth Avenue downtown to honor late Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Cornelia “Connie” Clark, the Williamson Herald reports. Clark, a Franklin native, lived on Fourth Avenue for many years. “It is with great honor that we give Fourth Avenue the honorary name after Justice Clark,” Franklin Mayor Dr. Ken Moore said. “Justice Clark gave so much to our Franklin community, and she will always be remembered for all she achieved for Franklin and Tennessee.” A street naming event will be held on June 21 at Fourth Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. The block from North Margin Street to MLK Jr. Avenue will be closed, and parking will be available on MLK Jr. Avenue.

Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III is leading a coalition of 26 state attorneys general which is asking President Joe Biden to withdraw the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new guidance on sex discrimination for schools and programs that receive federal nutritional assistance. Last month the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service announced it would expand its interpretation of the prohibition on sex discrimination found in Title IX to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The coalition’s letter says the new guidance “imposes new- and unlawful- regulatory measures on state agencies and operators receiving federal financial assistance from the USDA” that will result in “regulatory chaos that threatens essential nutritional services to some of the most vulnerable citizens.” Read more from the AG’s Office.

Michael Brandon Meador was yesterday placed on disability inactive status by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Meador cannot practice law while on disability inactive status. He may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by the Tennessee Supreme Court upon showing that his disability has been removed.

Twenty-one sponsors have this year signed up to help underwrite the costs of the TBA’s Annual Convention. Thank you to diamond presenting sponsor Fastcase; platinum sponsor Lex Reception; gold sponsor Wealth Counsel; silver sponsor Clio; bronze sponsors Mutual of America Financial Group and TBA Member Insurance Solutions; and YLD dinner sponsor, Medley Services & Investigations. Exhibitors include ABA Retirement Funds, Attorneys Insurance Mutual of the South, ElderCounsel, Gilsbar, Griffin-Pflugfelder, JAMS, LAWCLERK, STM Weather, The Bar Plan, Time Miner and the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program. Non-exhibiting sponsors include Geico, LawPay and SoFi. Check out our sponsor page for more information and make sure to visit exhibiting sponsors during Convention in the Prefunction area of the Downtown Nashville Hilton. Visit all exhibitors and enter our Exhibitor Passport drawing for great prizes!