Michael Barton Brooks was suspended from the practice of law by the Tennessee Supreme Court on Aug. 21 after pleading guilty to aggravated assault and vehicular assault. The Supreme Court ordered the BPR to institute a formal proceeding to determine the extent of final discipline to be imposed as a result of Brooks’s guilty plea. Read the BPR release.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Donald Walter Fisher of Nashville from the practice of law for one year on Aug. 21. Fisher failed to properly supervise non-lawyer employees in a personal injury practice and adequately communicate with clients. Read the BPR notice.

The Supreme Court of Tennessee issued an order removing Keith Lane Edmiston of Knoxville from disability inactive status on Aug. 24. Edmiston’s law license had been moved to disability inactive on Dec. 2, 2013. Read the BPR notice. 

The Law School Admission Council has until early October to revise its disability accommodation policies after a judge upheld a series of changes aimed at making it easier for disabled test takers to obtain accommodations for the LSAT. Changes include reducing the medical documentation most applicants are required to produce and having an outside expert automatically review applications denied by council staff. The council argued the majority of recommendations would harm the credibility of the exam. Read more from the National Law Journal.

Lawyers with the national and Kentucky ACLU weighed in over the weekend on the pending case of a court clerk who refuses to issue same-sex marriage licenses. The team urged the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals to reject Kim Davis’ argument that she would suffer “searing” injury to her religious liberty if forced to issue the licenses. A federal district judge last week ordered her to do so by the end of the month.

No lawsuits have been filed this year following the deaths of a hiker by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone and two young campers by a falling tree limb in Yellowstone. The National Law Journal highlights the difficult nature of lawsuits against national parks, as courts often make judgement calls due to a discretionary feature that immunizes the government. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled last month that the government was not responsible for the death of a hiker after he was killed by mountain goat at Olympic National Park. “It’s a horrible thing to be attacked by animals,” said Paul Figley of the U.S Justice Deparment, “But if the government was going to be liable for these types of cases … there’d be a lot of pressure to get rid of the animals.” 

Nominations for the 2015-2016 Leadership Law class are due by end of day on Sept. 7. Please send your nomination forms by mail, e-mail or fax to the TBA. You may also submit nominations online. Contact Kate Prince at the TBA for more information.

The Knoxville Bar Association Functions Committee is recruiting musical acts for an open mic night Sept. 24, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. The event will showcase the talents of local attorneys and law students. Participants are asked to bring a stuffed animal to donate to a child served by the Knox County Juvenile Court. Contact Rachel Hurt for details.

Attorney Ami Brooks announced plans to run for the Kentucky House of Representatives' 16th District next year against Martha Jane King, who is seeking a fourth term in office. Brooks will run as a Republican. “Frankfort needs more conservative voices, and we must replace the failed leadership in the State House of Representatives,” she said. Brooks is a partner at Brooks and Hendricks, with offices in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Non-violent fugitives who accept responsibility for their actions could appear before a judge and be sent home the same day at the upcoming Fugitive Safe Surrender event Sept. 18-19 in Nashville, Memphis Daily News reports. Galilee Missionary Baptist Church will be turned into a courtroom thanks to volunteers, but police say there are no religious requirements. "It is very important that Nashville's citizens understand that this is a genuine special one-time opportunity for wanted persons to stop looking over their shoulders and clear up outstanding arrest warrants," Chief Steve Anderson said in a statement.