Legal Aid of East Tennessee won the second place award for Legal Aid and Pro Bono Programs in the American Bar Association’s 7th Annual National Celebration of Pro Bono competition. The competition judges programs on the number, quality, diversity and creativity of pro bono events and programs they offered during National Pro Bono Month in October. LAET held a series of events across its 26-county service area.

The Rutherford County Commission appropriated $68.9 million Thursday to build a Judicial Center and parking garage by June 2018. The Daily News Journal reports the new center will replace the existing overcrowded Judicial Building that opened in the early 1980’s. The commission also unanimously approved to request the Tennessee General Assembly to allow the county to double court case fees from $25 to $50 to help fund the Judicial Center.

Tepro Inc., a Tennessee manufacturer of rubber products for the automotive industry, was ordered Thursday to pay $600,000 and provide other relief to settle a class age discrimination lawsuit. The suit, filed by the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission, claims Tepro discriminated against a class of employees when it subjected employees to layoffs because of their age. “This resolution demonstrates EEOC’s continuing effort to ensure that older workers are protected in the workplace,” Faye A. Williams, regional attorney for EEOC’s Memphis District Office, said. Read more from The Chattanoogan. 

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. 

Federal Judge Kevin Sharp ordered on Thursday the release of at least 14 inmates who are being held solely on the basis of a Pathways Community Corrections violation of probation warrant, the Daily News Journal reports. The probation company, formerly Providence Community Corrections, is named in a federal lawsuit filed that claims the company and Rutherford county profited by keeping people on probation for extra time and charging excessive fees. Sharp also ordered PCC to immediately stop violating probationers solely for non-payment of fees. “The ruling mandates significant immediate changes to how all misdemeanor probationers are treated by PCC, Inc. and Rutherford County,” Alec Karakatsanis, attorney for the plaintiffs in a class-action case brought against PCC, said in an update from the DNJ.

Alfred Awonuga, a former Department of Human Services employee accused of attempting to exchange government benefits for sex, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of official misconduct. Awonuga was an eligibility counselor who helped people get benefits like food stamps. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 22. Read more from The Tennessean.

The Tennessee Bar Association will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 24, and Friday, Dec. 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday. The office will reopen on Monday, Dec. 28, at 8 a.m. The TBA will be closed on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016 in observance of New Years Day. The office will reopen on Monday, Jan. 4, at 8 a.m.

The Tennessean highlights the role of the Private Probation Services Council in regulating Tennessee’s 35 private probation companies. The board has the power to suspend or revoke a company's or individual's license or issue civil penalties. The board chair, Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Chris Craft, said he does not like private probation companies "because the motivation to earn a profit by those in positions of authority can create problems." Craft added, "There's so much potential for abuse." 

Two distinguished Tennessee pro bono attorneys and a recent Belmont University Law graduate will be honored with the state’s top pro bono and public service awards at a Nashville ceremony in January. Clarksville attorney Elizabeth “Libby” Sykes, who retired in 2014 from leading the Tennessee Administration Office of the Courts, will receive the Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year Award for commitment to providing free legal advice to low-income Tennesseans through the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services’ statewide legal helpline, HELP4TN. David Yoder, who is set to retire at the end of the year as executive director of Legal Aid of East Tennessee, will receive the Ashley T. Wiltshire Public Service Attorney of the Year Award. Yoder is being recognized for 40 years of commitment to expanding access to justice. And Sara Page, a 2015 graduate from Belmont University College of Law, will be recognized as the Law Student Volunteer of the Year for her work with numerous pro bono organizations including Belmont Legal Aid Society, Justice for Our Neighbors and Magdalene Clinic. Read more about the honorees.

The awards will be presented at the TBA’s 2016 Public Service Luncheon Jan. 23 at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville. Held each year as part of the association’s Leadership Conference, the luncheon also will feature remarks by TBA President Bill Harbison and other leaders from the legal community. 

Wayne R. Kramer was elected president of the Knoxville Bar Association at its annual meeting held last Friday. The following KBA members were elected as officers: Amanda M. Busby as president-elect, Keith Burroughs as treasurer and Wynne Caffey-Knight as secretary. E. Michael Brezina III, Carrie S. O’Rear, Cheryl G. Rice, and Hon. Steven Sword were elected to the four open positions on the Board of Governors.