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Judge Revokes Citizenship of Former Rutherford Sheriff’s Major

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Dec 7, 2017
U.S. District Court Judge Roger H. Lawson Jr. revoked the citizenship of former Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office Major Terry McBurney, who falsified documents regarding his citizenship to become an officer, the Daily News Journal reports. McBurney, who immigrated to the U.S. from Ireland as a teenager, pleaded guilty in February to nine federal charges and faces a $100 special assessment fee for each charge. He will spend three years on probation.

Former South Carolina Cop Who Killed Black Motorist Sentenced to 20 Years

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Dec 7, 2017
Michael Slager, a former officer with the North Charleston police department in South Carolina, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of Walter Scott, an unarmed black man in 2015, The Washington Post reports. Slager pleaded guilty to a single federal civil rights charge earlier this year as part of a plea deal that resolved both his murder charges and his federal civil rights charges. Slager could have faced a life sentence without the deal. Scott was killed in April 2015 following a traffic stop. He was shot multiple times in the back while trying to flee from Slager, who placed a Taser near Scott’s body after the shooting. 

Jackson Ethics Roadshow on Dec.14

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Dec 7, 2017
Use your pre-paid credits that come with your TBA Complete Membership and register free for TBA's Ethics Roadshow. Program will be held in Jackson on Dec. 14 and offer 3 hours of Dual/Ethics CLE. This year's program will focus on the 13 reasons why ethics issues are more complicated than ever. 

Forbes Asks ‘What’s a Lawyer Worth?’

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Dec 7, 2017
“Law has operated as a guild – not a competitive market – until recently,” said Mark A. Cohen for Forbes magazine. “And that is the seminal reason why lawyers are so expensive.” In an op-ed, Cohen examines why legal work costs what it does and how consumer demands are changing the market. “Consumers, not lawyers, are now driving the bus,” he said. Cohen separates the legal “profession” from the “business", noting that while lawyers are involved in both, they are two sides that don’t always work towards the same goals.

Federal Judge to SCOTUS: Justice Department Left ‘Incorrect Impression’ in Stay Request

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Dec 7, 2017
U.S. District Judge William Alsup filed a statement with the U.S. Supreme Court that says the Justice Department left an “incorrect impression” in its request for a stay of his order for the disclosure of government records, the ABA Journal reports. The statement was filed in response to the DOJ’s request for the court to block his order to turn over documents regarding the government’s wind-down of the Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrivals program. Alsup said the DOJ failed to include qualifiers when it characterized his remarks on discovery and left the “incorrect impression” that he had “endorsed unfettered discovery.”

Judge Vance Served in 4th Judicial District

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Dec 7, 2017
In yesterday’s obituary for Judge Richard R. Vance, we identified Vance as being from Knoxville. Vance was a native of Knoxville, but as Circuit Court Judge he served the 4th Judicial District and made his home in Sevier County. Services for Vance will be held tomorrow.

Former Gov. Phil Bredesen to Run for U.S. Senate

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Dec 6, 2017

Former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen will officially enter the race for the U.S. Senate seat that Sen. Bob Corker will be vacating after his term ends in 2018, The Tennessean reports. Bredesen is expected to make the official announcement tomorrow morning. He will first face a fellow Democrat, attorney and veteran James Mackler, in the Aug. 2 primary. If victorious, he will move on to the general election in November. Current candidates on the Republican side include U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, former U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher and Dr. Rolando Toyos.

Court Clarifies Law on Ownership of Funds Withdrawn from Joint Account

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Dec 6, 2017

The Tennessee Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that, when one spouse unilaterally withdraws money from a married couple’s joint bank account and places it in a certificate of deposit, the money is no longer joint property and belongs to the spouse to whom the certificate of deposit was issued. The opinion in In Re Estate of Calvert Hugh Fletcher was authored by Justice Sharon G. Lee.

Memphis Council Votes for Instant Election Runoff Referendum

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Dec 6, 2017

The Memphis City Council voted unanimously last night to seek a referendum in 2018 to amend the city charter and repeal instant election runoffs, The Commercial Appeal reports. Instant runoffs were first approved by voters in 2008, but had not yet been enacted because Shelby County Election Commission staffers said they incorrectly thought they lacked the know-how. The runoffs are now planned to go into effect with the 2019 election. A 2018 vote for repeal would change that.

Opening Statements Given in Zaevion Dobson Murder Trial

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Dec 6, 2017

Attorneys presented opening statements in the trial of three man accused of murdering 15-year-old Knoxville football star Zaevion Dobson, during which they examined potential motives and whether motive even matters in the case, Knoxnews reports. The prosecution painted defendants Christopher Drone Bassett, Richard Gregory Williams III and Kipling Colbert Jr. as gang members exacting revenge for a previous shooting, and were controversially also allowed to show images of a YouTube video of the accused lip syncing to a song about gang loyalty. The defense argued that the shooting occurred amidst a dispute over the girlfriend of a fourth man accused of involvement, Brandon Perry.

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