Meigs County General Sessions Judge Casey Stokes was yesterday publicly reprimanded by the Board of Judicial Conduct. According to the reprimand, Stokes called a litigant a “tough guy” during an October hearing and said to the litigant, “I hope you meet someone just like yourself one day.” Stokes also told the litigant’s daughter to “shut up” during court. In his response, Stokes acknowledged saying those things and added that the litigant and his family were being rude to the opposing party and had interrupted Stokes. The board wrote in its reprimand that, no matter how tense a situation, it’s important for a judge to “remain dignified and composed and not be drawn into an escalating situation.”

The TBA Book Club held a successful meeting yesterday to discuss the book “Small Great Things” by Jodi Picoult. Poet and African American literature and cultural history expert Darius Stewart joined the meeting as a special guest providing context and insight into the book. Voting is now underway to help select the third book in the TBA's quarterly book club. Continuing with the theme of race relations and divides, voters will choose between “Black Cake” by Charmaine Wilkerson, “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi or “Memphis” by Tara M. Stringfellow. Cast your vote here.

Knoxville law firm London & Amburn is now accepting applications for two attorney positions. The first opening is for a senior-level attorney with at least six years of litigation experience and the second is for an associate attorney with at least two years of litigation experience. Applicants for both positions should be academically distinguished, possess an aptitude for written and oral advocacy and be able to work with other team members. For more on the positions or to browse additional job openings, visit the TBA’s JobLink page.

The TBA is bringing its award-winning CLE programming to Savannah on March 22. The Court Square program is designed to provide attorneys with the latest developments in multiple areas of the law. Start the afternoon with a lunch and learn networking session with TBA leadership. Other topic areas will be announced soon. The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. CST at the Venue on Main in Savannah.

Former Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis partners Ryan Cochran and Jeb Gerth are joining Epstein Becker Green as members, the Nashville Post reports. Cochran works on health care restructuring, while Gerth’s practice includes employee benefits and employment law. New York-based EBG first came to Nashville in 2017, bringing on then-Waller partner Richard Westling to lead the office. The firm also added four attorneys from Waller earlier this month. The news comes after Waller’s announcement that it will merge with national firm Holland & Knight.

A new bill has been filed that would require governing bodies to make meeting agendas and supplemental documents available at no charge 48 hours prior to a meeting, the Commercial Appeal reports. Supplemental documents would include proposed ordinances, contracts, resolutions − as well as written staff recommendations, reports, and other materials given to members before the meeting. The measure, SB27, was filed by Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, with Rep. Jerome Moon, R-Maryville, sponsoring in the House. “I've got a passion for this type of legislation − to make sure the public knows what's going on and has a chance to react to it,” Gardenhire said.

University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law Professor Demetria Frank has been named a visiting Herff Chair of Excellence. Frank joined law school faculty in 2013 and was named Associate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion in 2021. In her new role, Frank will focus her research on documenting these very same innovative diversity programs implemented at Memphis Law and beyond. She will present a special symposium on Feb. 3 titled “Teaching Bias, Cultural Competency, and Racism in Law Schools,” which will focus on how law schools will meet the requirements set forth by the American Bar Association’s new standard 303(c), the challenges they might encounter implementing the standard, the attacks on critical race theory and more. Read more from the University of Memphis.  

The 113th Tennessee General Assembly is now in session after it was gaveled in today by lawmakers, the Tennessean reports. The workload is expected to be light this month as new lawmakers settle into their offices, with committee work heating up in February. Speaker of the Senate and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, and House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, were today reelected to serve another session "I know we fuss, fight, bicker and argue at times in this building," Sexton said during his acceptance speech. "There is nothing wrong with a good and robust debate."

The 2023 TBA Leadership Law (TBALL) program kicked off last week with an opening retreat at Henry Horton State Park. Class members came together on Thursday to start the three-day event, which featured a lineup of distinguished lawyers and judges who spoke with the class on a variety of leadership-related topics. Speakers included Byron Trauger, Houston Gordon, Dean William Koch, Randy Kinnard and a judicial panel with Chancellor Kasey Culbreath, Judges Alex McVeagh, Danielle Mitchell Sims, Joel Wallace, Juvenile Court Administrator Jennifer Wade and moderator Judge Jeffrey Usman. Emily Heird of Vantage View Coaching wrapped up the event on Saturday with a session on becoming the CEO of your own life. The class will meet again next month when it will explore “Issues in Policy & Politics” in Nashville.

The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis has announced it will debut a new photography exhibit, hold a blood drive and take up food donations in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, the Associated Press reports. Among the museum’s planned events is the launch of “Tarred Healing,” a photographic exhibition by Black photographer Cornell Watson. Musical performances, magic shows, craft activities and other events are also planned. Those who donate blood will receive express entry into the museum on King Day and will receive additional free admission for up to four people on any day in 2023. Visitors also are encouraged to bring items for the annual Mid-South Food Bank food drive. Read more about the celebration on the Civil Rights Museum’s website.