Dwight E. Tarwater was appointed general counsel by Gov. Bill Haslam, the governor's office announced today. Tarwater replaces Herbert Slatery, who left the administration in October to become the state’s attorney general. Tarwater currently practices law in Knoxville in the law firm he helped begin in 1987, Paine, Tarwater and Bickers LLP. His first day in the governor’s office will be Dec. 8.

The Department of Children's Services is exploring the possibility of transferring 12 teenagers who were involved in the recent disturbances at Woodland Hills Youth Development Center to a Texas facility, Fox 17 reports. In September, Woodland Hills had two sets of escapes beyond the perimeter fence. All youth have since been returned to custody, although some had since turned 18 and are being charged as adults. The department said transferring some of the teens would balance community safety and the youths' educational and therapeutic needs. If approved, the first transfer of three teens could begin within two weeks.

The 23rd Judicial District Drug Task Force will no longer use civil forfeiture procedures to seize personal property or assets, like cash, from owner-operated passenger vehicles on the interstate, the Tennessean reports from the Dickson Herald. The practice has come under fire in the national media, which has broadcast and highlighted questionable practices of civil forfeiture by Tennessee law enforcement, especially related to cash seizures "believed" to be drug-related, even when no drugs were found. District Attorney General Ray Crouch and Drug Task Force Director Brian Beasley addressed the allegations in interviews with the Herald. 

The Lawyers’ Association for Women will host a networking event tomorrow from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Blackstone Brewery in Nashville. This event will feature a discussion of pro bono attorney opportunities in the community and presentations on Justice for Our Neighbors, the Tennessee Justice Center, Wills for Heroes, Access to Justice Week 2015 and the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. Visit the LAW website to register.

Michael Lee West was disbarred on Nov. 14 and ordered to pay restitution to four former clients. In April, a petition for discipline was filed against West based upon three complaints of misconduct. Subsequent to the filing, the Board of Professional Responsibility received three additional ethical complaints. View the BPR notice.

Mother appeals the trial court’s termination of her parental rights. She argues that the trial court erred in holding that clear and convincing evidence established that she engaged in conduct exhibiting a wanton disregard for the welfare of the child prior to her incarceration and that termination was in the child’s best interest. We have determined that there is clear and convincing evidence in the record to support both of the trial court’s findings. We affirm.

The appellant, Atosha Dominique Moore, pled guilty in the Davidson County Criminal Court to two counts of aggravated robbery, and the trial court imposed a total effective sentence of ten years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, he challenges the length of the sentences imposed by the trial court. Upon review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

The Petitioner, Steve Carl King, appeals the Giles County Circuit Court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief from his conviction of attempted first degree premeditated murder and resulting twenty-two-year sentence. On appeal, the Petitioner raises numerous claims regarding his receiving the ineffective assistance of counsel. Based upon the oral arguments, the record, and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

The Petitioner, Marty Joe Kelley, appeals the Rutherford County Circuit Court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief from his convictions for five counts of rape of a child, three counts of aggravated sexual battery, nine counts of rape without consent, eighteen counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, and two counts of soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor and resulting effective sentence of thirty-six years to be served at 100%. On appeal, the Petitioner contends that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel at trial.

The defendant, Eric T. Gilbert, appeals the Robertson County Circuit Court’s order revoking his probation and ordering him to serve the balance of his five-year sentence in confinement. Discerning no error, we affirm.