Experts tell The Tennessean that the state legislature needs a human resources system to hold lawmakers accountable. HR officials who work with lawmakers have no power when it comes to discipline, instead lawmakers’ colleagues are responsible for action. “You have more likelihood that somebody could abuse those systems because there is not a strict course of accountability to keep that in check,” said Allison Duke, associate dean of Lipscomb University’s graduate business program. 

The TBA will begin its fifth mentoring class in February and is currently accepting applications for the class until Jan. 4, 2016. Mentors should be attorneys with at least eight years of legal practice experience and mentees must be within the first three years of legal practice. If you are interested in participating, click here for more information or contact Christy Gibson at 615-383-7421.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has adopted proposed amendments to the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules of Criminal Procedure and Rules of Juvenile Practice. The amendments are set to become effective July 1, 2016, but must first win approval by resolutions of the General Assembly.

Abortion, affirmative action and immigration are among major decisions expected from the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016, according to the Tribune Washington Bureau. “In several cases, conservatives are hoping the high court will shift current law to the right or block President Barack Obama’s policies, while liberals are defending the status quo,” the author writes.

The American Bar Association Journal has compiled the 10 most important legal stories of 2015. Dropping bar exam passage rates, the decline of capital punishment and the landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges are included in the list.

The plaintiff, a nurse, alleged that she sustained a hip injury in the course of her employment. She further alleged that she sustained an injury to the nerves of her leg as a result of treatment for the hip injury. In addition, she alleged a mental injury. Her employer contended that her hip problems were preexisting and that she failed to sustain her burden of proof as to the nerve and mental injuries. The trial court found that the hip and nerve injuries were compensable but the alleged mental injury was not.1 It also awarded certain medical expenses from unauthorized physicians.

The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury announced today that the department uncovered more than $1.1 million in confirmed thefts, questionable costs and shortages in public funds statewide from July 2014 to June 2015, the Nashville Business Journal reports. The comptroller credits anonymous tips to its online and telephone hotline for identifying the misused taxpayer dollars.

A U.S. Court of Appeals ruling that says the government cannot reject trademarks it deems offensive to others could help the Washington Redskins defend the team's own trademark protections. The Federal Circuit court’s ruling comes in a case involving an American-Asian band, The Slants, whose application to trademark its name was rejected by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The court said banning offensive trademarks violates the First Amendment. The Redskins are currently appealing the government’s pending withdrawal of its trademark protection. Read more from The Washington Post.

The Washington County Bar Association is seeking attorneys to fill open positions on its 2016 Board. A vote is required within the next week. Contact the WCBA for more information.