Tennessee Bar Exam results show that 720 applicants — 599 first-time test takers and 121 repeat candidates — sat for the July exam. Of the first-time test takers, 70.95% passed — down from July 2020’s passage rate of 82.36%. For repeat test takers, 19.83% passed — a decline from 36.36% last year. Vanderbilt Law School had the highest passage rate of first-time test takers at 91.89%, followed by the University of Tennessee College of Law with 90.12%, Belmont University College of Law at 88.75%, University of Memphis School of Law at 69.41%, Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law at 53.13% and Nashville School of Law at 46.94%. The Board of Law Examiners has all exam data here.

President Joe Biden has granted an emergency declaration for nine Tennessee counties that were hit by last weekend’s severe weather, WPLN reports. Cheatham, Decatur, Dickson, Dyer, Gibson, Lake, Obion, Stewart and Weakley will now qualify for federal reimbursement for their emergency measures. Gov. Bill Lee has also asked for a Major Disaster Declaration, which would offer more federal resources for individuals, more money for long-term solutions and prevention of future disasters and would allow the state to replace damaged buildings, roads or recreational facilities. Additionally, Lee yesterday signed Executive Order 94 which temporarily waives certain state and federal rules, allows health care professionals to work outside their licensed state and prompts hotels and other vacation rentals to host tornado victims.

Catch the webcast replay of Work Smarter Not Harder - Business Education Series - Track and Utilize Core Financials and Productivity Reports on Dec. 20 from noon until 1 p.m. CST. Worth one hour of dual CLE credit, this program will familiarize attendees with balance sheets, trust accounts, profit and loss statements and chart of accounts and explain how they can best be used. This program is part of the TBA’s annual Year End CLE Event, which offers a variety of live virtual or on-demand programs, CLE packages and much more to help meet your last minute CLE needs. 

This month on the TBA’s BarBuzz podcast, guest co-host Stacie Odeneal of the Odeneal Firm in Lawrenceburg helps deliver the latest in Tennessee legal news, bar association events, happenings and more. Odeneal, an East Tennessee delegate for the Juvenile & Children’s Law Section and a 2020 member of the TBA Leadership Law program, also details her passion for child advocacy and her work as a child welfare law specialist. BarBuzz is part of the TBA Podcast Network and can be found online and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

State Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville, this week asked Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk to investigate the state’s no-bid contracting process, the Tennessean reports. In a letter to Funk on Tuesday, Campbell requested an “audit and financial review” of all emergency purchases made by Gov. Bill Lee during the pandemic. Campbell said the process leaves the public in the dark on how the state selects contractors. Lee’s emergency powers allow him to sign contracts without a competitive bidding process. Any contracts that are considered emergency purchases are also not subject to legislative oversight. Funk’s office today signaled the DA would be in favor of conducting the audit.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments completed Supreme Court candidate interviews today and voted to send the names of Sarah Campbell, Kristi M. Davis and Neal McBrayer to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. A total of nine applicants were interviewed by the council yesterday and today at the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville as part of the process to fill the court vacancy created by the death of Justice Connie Clark. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more on the story.

Kingsport attorney D. Bruce Shine died on Dec. 6. He was 83. A nationally recognized labor and employment law attorney, Shine earned his law degree from Vanderbilt Law School, a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom and in 1984 was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) from Tusculum College. In 1969 he started his own firm, Ferguson & Shine, in Kingsport with Shelburne Ferguson Jr. At the time of his retirement in January 2020, Shine was a partner in the law firm of Shine & Rowlett with Bart Rowlett. The Times News details the many political, educational and community positions Shine held, including an appointment to the Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission from 1996 until 2015, which included a two-year term as chair. The family will receive friends at Hamlett Dobson Funeral Home on Dec. 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. CST. In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial gifts be made to Girls Inc., P.O. Box 981, Kingsport, TN 37662.

Gerald Leighton Ewell Sr. of Manchester died Dec. 1. He was 92. Ewell, a graduate of Vanderbilt Law School, served in the U.S. Navy and was an assistant district attorney for 15 years. He was elected to the Coffee County Circuit Court in 1972, a position he held for 26 years, sometimes serving on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. Ewell was a member of many civic organizations, served on various municipal boards and commissions. He will receive services with military honors on Dec.11 at 2 p.m. CST at Manchester Cemetery with graveside service to immediately follow.

Don’t miss the TBA CLE’s Small Business Reorganization Act (SBRA): A Crash Course webinar on Dec. 14 from noon to 1 p.m. CST. The program will offer an introduction to the Small Business Reorganization Act (SBRA), a summary of the procedure to be followed in the initial stage of a Sub V case and a guide to forms that will be required to commence the case and get through the critical early days of the case. The program is part of the TBA’s annual Year End CLE Event, which offers a variety of live virtual or on-demand programs, CLE packages and much more to help meet your last minute CLE needs.  

The Tennessee Bar Association last week was named a regional winner in the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For competition. Run by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR), the competition identifies and honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in their human resource practices and employee enrichment. Organizations are assessed on categories such as communication, work-life balance, employee education, diversity, recognition, retention and more. The TBA will be honored during the virtual Illuminate Business Summit week in the spring of 2022.