The TBA Leadership Law Class of 2014 just completed all program sessions leading up to graduation on Friday, June 13. The 11th TBALL class maintained tradition by enjoying the Catfish Buffet of Love and Hospitality Suite during the Opening Retreat at Montgomery Bell State Park (Jan. 9-11). They also blazed their own path by being the first class to have all two-day programs. In Nashville (Feb.18-19), Chattanooga (March 31-April 1) and Memphis (May 1-2), class members learned more about policy and politics, the federal courts system, and the importance of community leadership. They heard from amazing, inspirational speakers, such as perennial program favorites Janice Brown, Rep. Jim Cooper, and Mike Cody, just to name a few. Join us at the graduation party to welcome the newest alumni into the fold!

Brad Morgan (2013)
Brad has been busy with all sorts of pro bono projects! He directed the Alternative Spring Break Project for University of Tennessee law students, wherein 60 students worked across five cities on projects that ranged from volunteering at legal service offices, the JAG office at Ft. Campbell, PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) in Atlanta, working with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina, assisting the immigrant population in Chattanooga, and volunteering at a pro se divorce clinic in Knoxville.

Brad also participated in the TBA’s recent Wills for Heroes event. Please read Brad’s short article (below in this newsletter) for more information about serving as a mentor to a law student or participating in other pro bono programs.

David Elliot (2008)
David served as an attorney mentor in UT College of Law’s Naturalization Alternative Spring Break Program. Through this program, four low-income permanent residents were assisted with their naturalization and fee waiver applications by UT law students during their spring break. The project was organized in coordination with La Paz, a Chattanooga based non-profit, and the local Legal Aid of East Tennessee office. What an incredible way to make a difference in the lives of these individuals!

Sean Lewis (2010)
Sean provided pro bono representation to a long-term Mexican immigrant who was not advised by prior criminal counsel that an expunction following judicial diversion would cause dire immigration consequences. Sean took the case to the Tennessee Supreme Court, which held that a guilty plea following an expunction is not a conviction subject to collateral review under the Tennessee Post-Conviction Procedure Act. Stay tuned as the divergence between federal immigration and state law hopefully is clarified.

Scott Sims and Sam Funk (2004)
Scott Sims and Sam Funk, formerly of Walker, Tipps & Malone, PLC and Sherrard & Roe, PLC, respectively, have come together to form the Nashville litigation firm of Sims|Funk, PLC. The firm will focus on business and commercial litigation and a wide range of other types of civil litigation. Sims and Funk were both members of the inaugural TBALL class in 2004.

An editorial from the Jackson Sun denounces Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey’s plan to raise money to influence the Aug. 7 retention election of three Supreme Court Justices.  “An independent judicial system is critical to law and order in our state and in our nation,” the newspaper writes. “We all have seen the consequences of radical political agendas, which can be illogical and even destructive. We love a good political fight, but the courts are not the place to have one. Ramsey is wrong to use politics and big money to oust state judges for political reasons and gain.”

About half of the more than $80 million that has already been spent on political campaign advertising is targeted specifically at women, Nashville Public Radio reports. Both Republicans and Democrats are implementing new techniques to reach women voters, such as appealing to emotions; aiming for tough, but not harsh attack ads; using endorsements by candidates’ wives, mothers and daughters; and using female candidates in macho, attack formats. In a follow-up piece, NPR further discusses how political ad-makers use Internet and television to collect information on women in order to personalize their advertising approach.

Hamilton County Commission members are expected to approve next Wednesday a new credit card system for accepting payments at the Criminal Court clerk's office, the Chattanoogan reports. Officials said the LexisNexis VitalChk Network will allow offices the flexibility to accept credit card payments either in person, over the phone or online. The service will be provided at no cost to Hamilton County as all fees will be absorbed by the credit card holder.

Donna Orr Hargrove announced her candidacy for re-election for public defender of the 17th Judicial District, which covers Bedford, Lincoln, Marshall and Moore counties. Hargrove has served as public defender for 16 years and was an assistant PD for five years prior, the Elk Valley Times reports.

The Chattanooga-Hamilton County NAACP will host the 7th Annual Criminal Justice Seminar Saturday at the Chattanooga-Choo-Choo. According to officials, the seminar will focus on balancing the scales of justice through rehabilitation, reentry and redemption especially for non-violent offenders who compose the mass majority of individuals currently incarcerated or that are on parole and probation. The Chattanoogan has more.

Senior Judge Paul Summers ruled today that Islamic Center of Murfreesboro (ICM) attorney John Green can continue to represent the congregation in a lawsuit about the ICM cemetery. Plaintiffs’ attorney Duncan Cates Cave had objected to Green being involved because the ICM attorney had spoken like a witness before the Rutherford County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) during a public hearing when the BZA approved the cemetery in a 3-2 vote Jan. 8. The judge  said he will return to court on June 19 to rule on whether to dismiss the case or schedule a trial that would start about a month later, the Daily News Journal reports.

Knox County Commissioner Richard Briggs has nearly $158,000 in campaign funds to take on state Sen. Stacey Campfield in the Aug. 7 Republican primary, and he has more fundraisers planned in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashville. Knoxnews reports that in the latest financial disclosures filed in April, Briggs said he raised $13,100 and spent $12,183. He entered the reporting period with $156,543. Campfield raised no money during the period since the legislature was in session. He entered the reporting period with $23,202 and spent $370. Mike Alford, who entered the 7th Senate District race on the last day possible, did not file a report. Knoxnews has more.