Susan “Sue” Reeves Gregory of Memphis died on June 14 at 82. Gregory earned her law degree from the University of Memphis Law School and practiced law for over 40 years, most recently at Gregory & Gregory PC. Gregory was a past president of the Memphis Bar Foundation, an avid runner and served two terms as president of the Girl Scouts Tenn-Ark-Miss Council. Memorials can be sent to St. George’s Episcopal Church in Germantown or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

House Republican Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, and Gov. Bill Lee today confirmed that, while a special session is still possible, it is unlikely to happen before the August mid-term election, the Tennessean reports. Lee said last week he was considering calling lawmakers back for a special session after a bill aimed at providing businesses, schools and others protections from litigation related to COVID-19 failed. Faison and Lee both said today that a special session could not occur until the House and Senate reach an agreement. A special session could be called either by the governor ordering lawmakers to return for a specific reason, or the legislature signing on to an effort, which would require two-thirds of the members in both chambers, or 88 of the General Assembly’s 132 seats, to sign on to a petition for a special session.

Atlanta-based public defender organization Gideon’s Promise will host a virtual event titled “Public Defenders on the Frontlines” on Thursday at 5 p.m. CDT  or 6 p.m. EDT. Four public defenders from Louisiana, Kentucky, Texas and New York will speak on organizing rallies, COVID-19-related challenges they face while being on the frontlines of the pandemic and bridging the gap between the criminal justice system and communities around the nation. Register online or email advancement@gideonspromise.org for more information.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will host three legal phone clinics this week for members of the public with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, applying for SNAP benefits and applying for unemployment benefits. Phone clinics will be held tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 to 11 a.m. CDT. Those needing assistance may call 800-238-1443. To volunteer for a clinic, contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131. 

The Supreme Court of Tennessee yesterday suspended Davidson County lawyer Andrew Harrison Maloney for 18 months, with 10 months active and the remainder on probation. Maloney improperly used funds held in escrow for his business and personal use, failed to timely disburse funds owed to third-parties and failed to escheat certain funds to the State of Tennessee as required. During his probation, Maloney must engage the services of a practice monitor who will assess his case load and progress in disbursing funds to third parties. He must also reimburse the Board the costs and expenses of this proceeding.

A joint research effort from the National Association of Law Placement Foundation and the University of Texas School of Law’s Center for Women in Law claims to be the first in-depth look at how law experience of minority women differs from that of their white and minority male classmates, Law.com reports. “Women of Color-A Study of Law School Experiences,” found that while 70% of white male students gave race relations on their campuses a positive review, only 40% of minority women agreed. The overarching takeaway from the extensive study is that minority women are less satisfied with their law school experience than their white peers. Among minority women, 82% reported that they were “satisfied” with their law school experience, compared with 89% of white women. Just 30% of minority women said they were “extremely satisfied” with their law school experience, compared with 44% of white men. 

Davidson County lawyer Newton S. Holiday was today temporarily suspended from the practice of law by the Supreme Court of Tennessee. The court found that Holiday did not respond to a disciplinary complaint from the Board of Professional Responsibility, an action that, under Section 12.3 of Supreme Court Rule 9, provides for the immediate temporary suspension of an attorney’s license. This suspension remains in effect until dissolution or modification by the Supreme Court. 

Outgoing Tennessee Judicial Conference President Judge Don Elledge today announced results from the conference’s election of new officers, the Tennessee State Courts website reports. 26th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Roy B. Morgan Jr. will succeed Judge Elledge as president of the conference, 14th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge L. Craig Johnson moves into the role of president-elect, 25th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge J. Weber McGraw is now vice-president, 11th Judicial District Chancellor Pamela A. Fleenor is the new moving vice-president, 30th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Mary Wagner becomes the new secretary and 24th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Donald E. Parish is treasurer. President Judge Morgan also appointed 30th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Valerie L. Smith and 30th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge J. Robert Carter Jr. as convention co-chairs and 17th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge M. Wyatt Burk and 12th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Justin C. Angel as hospitality co-chairs. Judge Morgan also appointed new members to the TJC Executive Committee: 11th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Barry A. Steelman, Eastern Section; 19th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Jill Bartee Ayers, Middle Section; and 30th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Jennifer Johnson Mitchell, Western Section.

After a second round of testing for the COVID-19 virus, eight staff members and six inmates at the Hamilton County Jail have tested positive, the Chattanoogan reports. All inmates who tested positive are reported to have been asymptomatic at the time of testing. Employees who tested positive are under isolation at home, while inmates who tested positive have been quarantined in a separate area of the jail and are receiving medical treatment and review from Erlanger Health System. Sheriff Jim Hammond said that jail personnel are “going to great lengths” to follow CDC guidelines and keep the facility sanitized. The jail has a capacity of 505 beds and there are currently 358 inmates housed at the facility.

 The co-directors of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition and its affiliated political organization TIRCC Votes are stepping down and will be replaced by an internal candidate, the Nashville Post reports. Lindsey Harris joined TIRCC in 2008 and Stephanie Teatro in 2012 and together have led TIRCC since 2014. The organization’s current policy director, Lisa Sherman-Nikolaus, is set to succeed the two as executive director. Under the leadership of Harris and Teatro, TIRCC nearly tripled its staff to 24 and established TIRRC Votes in 2018. Sherman-Nikolaus moved to Nashville from Guatemala in high school and is the first person of color to lead TIRRC, which was founded in 2003. She previously worked for the Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict and Amnesty International, and she holds a master’s degree in conflict, security and development from King’s College London.