Articles

All Content

5,138 Posts found
Previous • Page 433 of 514 • Next

Judge Allows Jury to Hear Suspect Statement in Zaevion Dobson Case

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 11, 2017
A Knox County judge ruled this week that the jury in the Zaevion Dobson case will get to hear a statement given by one of the accused, despite his claims that the statement was given under duress, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. Fifteen-year-old Zaevion Dobson was killed in 2015 while shielding friends from gunfire. Prosecutors say that the testimony puts Christopher Drone Bassett at the scene of the crime with a gun in his hand.

DA Won’t Charge Officer Who Killed East Nashville Man

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 11, 2017
Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk announced today that the Metro officer who fatally shot Jocques Clemmons will not face criminal charges, the Tennessean reports. Funk said Officer Joshua Lippert was acting in self defense when he fired on the East Nashville man in February. Mayor Megan Barry said that there will still be an administrative review of the case to determine if any disciplinary action is warranted. 

Former Hospital Executive Set to Graduate UT Law School at 73

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 11, 2017
At the age of 73 and after a full career as a hospital executive, Tom Winston is set to graduate the University of Tennessee College of Law on Saturday, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. Winston has retired three times, only to find himself called back to work in one form or another, and on the third try, he enrolled in law school at the age of 70. Winston said he made the choice because he needs purpose in his life. “What better resource is there for the workplace than seniors who say like I did, 'I just don’t have usefulness, let me get trained in whatever turns me on today,’” Winston said. He plans to take the bar exam in July and practice out of Chattanooga upon receiving his license. 

White House Panel to Investigate Voter Fraud

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 11, 2017
President Donald Trump signed an executive order today launching a commission that will review voter fraud, the Washington Post reports. The president’s “Advisory Commission on Election Integrity” would examine allegations of improper voting and fraudulent voter registration. It will be chaired by Vice President Mike Pence. Trump has alleged in the past that 3 to 5 million people voted illegally in the 2016 election. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders criticized the commission, saying it would lead to increased voter suppression into Republican-controlled state governments.  

Tennessee AG Files Suit Against Network of Pain Management Clinics

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 11, 2017

Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III has filed a lawsuit against a network of pain management clinics, alleging $7 million in fraudulent TennCare claims. The suit was filed in Williamson County Circuit Court against MMi Pain Clinics, owner Michael Kestner and business partner Dr. Lisabeth Williams, who operate 18 clinics across the state. According to the suit, the defendants regularly subjected patients to unnecessary medical procedures. Read the full complaint here.

Sessions to Toughen Rules on Prosecuting Drug Crimes

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 11, 2017
In a rollback of Obama-era policies, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is expected to toughen rules on prosecuting drug crimes, the New York Times reports. Sessions has been reviewing memos issued by former AG Eric Holder, who favored prosecutors using their discretion in what criminal charges are filed, particularly when those charges carried mandatory minimums. Sessions could return the Justice Department to George W. Bush-era mandates issued by then-Attorney General John Ashcroft. Those orders called for the nation’s prosecutors to bring the most serious charges possible in the majority of cases.

Hamilton County Circuit Judge Thomas Resigns After 20 Years

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 11, 2017
Hamilton County Circuit Court Judge Neil Thomas III has resigned after 20 years on the bench, the Times Free Press reports. He will step down on Oct. 5. Thomas was originally appointed by Gov. Don Sundquist in 1997 and has presided over about 200 jury trials. "Twenty years serving the community in public service has been an extraordinary honor and one that I'll forever cherish," Thomas said. "Leaving the bench will permit me to invest so much more time in my heart's desire — our great community and my family." Gov. Bill Haslam will now need to appoint his replacement via a judicial selection process that will send three candidates to his desk to choose from.

ABA Launches Study of LGBT, Disability Bias

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 10, 2017
The American Bar Association has launched a nationwide study of biases encountered by LGBT and disabled lawyers in the profession, the ABA Journal reports. The study, a part of the ABA Pathway to the Profession Project, will help develop strategies to fight biases. Statistics from the National Association for Law Placement show differences in employment for LGBT and disabled lawyers, including that LGBT attorneys are more likely to work for public interest groups rather than firms, and that disabled lawyers were less likely to be employed that other law graduates.

Nashville Judge Wants More Info Before Releasing Clemmons TBI Report

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 10, 2017
Before allowing the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations report into the police shooting of Jocques Clemmons to go public, Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle is asking for more information and more time to consider, the Tennessean reports. Specifically, Lyle requested Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk to file an amended request with an affidavit of concrete facts showing why the report should be released. Funk and TBI Director Mark Gwyn previously filed a petition requesting the report be made public. Lyle’s order sets a May 22 hearing for the purpose of deciding whether the report should be released.

Nashville Bar Honors Public Defender, Retired Judge

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on May 10, 2017
The Nashville Bar Association honored members of the legal community who have made an impact at its annual Law Day Luncheon on Friday, Metro Public Defender Dawn Deaner received the Jack Norman Sr. Award, given to an attorney who demonstrations repsect for the rights of all individuals in the criminal justice system. Deaner was the first woman to receive the honor. The Liberty Bell Award, which honors someone who has encouraged greater respect for law and contributes to good government, was presented to recently retired U.S. District Court Judge Todd Campbell. Court of Appeals Judge Frank Clement served as the event’s emcee, and Judge Sheila Calloway delivered the keynote speech. See photos.
Previous • Page 433 of 514 • Next