Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Robert Weiss has been reprimanded for unreasonable delays in rulings on two cases, the Daily Memphian reports. The public reprimand, issued in January by the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct, found that Weiss took up to five years to make a ruling in one case and three years in another. Reprimands of this nature from the board are somewhat rare, with Weiss being the only judge to receive one so far this year.

Public Policy Director Berkley Schwarz hosts this week’s Facebook livestream video legislative update, joined by TBA lobbyist Brad Lampley. The two update progress on TBA bills they’re helping move through the Senate and House of Representatives. You can view all the TBA’s legislative updates on YouTube and make sure to catch future updates every Thursday afternoon on the TBA’s Facebook page.

Davidson County Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway will sit down with Nashville Public Radio’s Emily Siner to record an episode for the station’s podcast, Movers & Thinkers. They’ll be discussing how Judge Calloway’s role has affected her worldview and what she sees as the balance between forgiveness and justice. You can attend the live taping of the podcast on April 18 at Nashville Public Radio on 630 Mainstream Dr. Taping starts promptly at 6 p.m.

The University of Tennessee College of Law announced it will name a study space in the Katz Law Library after Spenser Powell, a 2017 graduate who passed away unexpectedly in May of 2018. A petition asking Interim UT Chancellor Wayne Davis to name the room after Powell garnered 553 signatures from the UT Law community, including Law School Dean Melanie Wilson. “We have chosen that particular room because Spenser was a near-permanent fixture there," Dean Wilson wrote in her request for the honor. “He studied there so often that students and faculty began to identify and associate the place and the room with him.” A dedication ceremony is planned for April 15 at 2:30 p.m. EDT. The room is located on the second floor adjacent to the main stairway.

The University of Memphis is looking to hire a new Dean of the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Qualifications for this position include a law degree or other appropriate doctoral degree, a distinguished record of teaching, research and scholarship, a commitment to excellence to all educational programs in the School of Law and more. Initial review of nominations and applications will begin on April 8 and continue until the position is filled.

The TBA’s Mentoring Program is seeking volunteers to mentor attorneys in a variety of practice areas across the state. This is a flexible program designed by the mentor and mentee based on their schedules and availabilities. There is a current need for mentors in Cleveland, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Rockvale and Shelbyville. To become a mentor, fill out this application or contact Kate Prince, 615-277-3202. 

The TBA Leadership Law (TBALL) Class of 2019 kicked off over the weekend with a three-day opening retreat at Montgomery Bell State Park. Now in its 16th year, the six-month program is designed to equip participants with the vision, knowledge and skills necessary to serve as leaders in the profession and in the community as a whole. The select group of 35 lawyers come from across the state, representing diverse practice areas and backgrounds. During the weekend retreat, class members heard presentations from a variety of prominent Tennessee lawyers including Nashville School of Law Dean William Koch, TBA President Jason Pannu, Abby Rubenfeld, Gordon Bonnyman and others. The group's next session, titled "Issues in Policy & Politics," will take place in Nashville in February.

Each year the Tennessee Bar Association recognizes outstanding service by attorneys and law students who have dedicated their time to helping others. The awards given are the Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year, the Ashley T. Wiltshire Public Service Attorney of the Year and the Law Student Volunteer of the Year. Read the stories of those recognized here.

The TBA announced today that 35 attorneys from across the state have been selected for its 2019 Leadership Law program. Now in its 16th year, Leadership Law is designed to equip Tennessee lawyers with the vision, knowledge and skills necessary to serve as leaders in their profession and local communities. The class will meet for its first session in January, and then spend the next six months learning about leadership in the legal profession, issues in the courts, policymaking in state government and the importance of community service. Learn more about the program.