Nashville attorney Aaron Wyckoff died Tuesday. He was 71. A memorial service is set for Jan. 3, 2014, at 11:30 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church. The Tennessean reports that additional details will be published over the weekend.

Jackson lawyer and Alamo native Brandon O. Gibson has been appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals by Gov. Bill Haslam. She will replace Judge David R. Farmer when his term expires in August 2014. Gibson, 38, has been in private practice at the Pentecost & Glenn law firm in Jackson since 2003. “Brandon Gibson will be an excellent judge on the Court of Appeals,” Haslam said. “She has vast experience in private practice, and I know she will serve the citizens of the Western Section well in this role.”

State Rep. Brenda Gilmore, D-Nashville, has been elected a state director within Women in Government, a group advocating for women serving in state legislatures. WDEF News 12 reports that Gilmore was elected by her female colleagues in the Tennessee General Assembly to identify key issues, policies and priorities on which the national group should focus. Gilmore said yesterday in a press release that she is humbled to have been chosen, and that she wants to work to ensure more women are elected to public office in Tennessee.

In his latest opinion piece for the Millington Star, attorney David Peel offers five New Year’s legal resolutions that can help families. Peel suggests making a video of all household goods for insurance purposes in case of loss due to tornado, fire, theft or other disaster. He also suggests buying more uninsured and under-insured motorist coverage as well as life insurance. And he encourages families to keep an eye on their credit and finally, to safeguard their houses and land from liability hazards.

Proponents of revamping state education laws cite a recent report by the National Assessment of Education Progress, which shows Tennessee students rank highest in the nation in academic improvement, as proof that recent reforms are working and more should be considered. According to the Memphis Daily News, when the legislative session begins in January, lawmakers are expected to re-introduce several measures, including (1) a so-called "parent trigger" bill that lets parents decide the fate of a struggling school; (2) a proposal to allow the state to authorize charter schools in counties where there are failing schools; and (3) dueling plans to create a school voucher program.

The Tennessee Firearms Association (TFA) is slamming top Republican leaders for displaying insufficient enthusiasm for changing the “guns in parking lots” law enacted earlier this year to address the state attorney general's opinion that the bill does not protect employees from being fired for having guns in their cars. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, and Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, said they expect the issue to come up but do not intend to take the lead in introducing legislation. In a letter to members, TFA Executive Director John Harris called it “shameful” that Republican leaders “continue ignoring the constitutionally protected rights of law-abiding gun owners."

According to a new CNN poll, two-thirds of Americans believe the 113th Congress is the worst ever, with 73 percent of respondents saying it has been a “do-nothing” body. Fewer than 60 bills have been signed into law during the first year of the 113th Congress’s two-year term, making it the least-productive Congress in at least 40 years, CNN predicts. Tennessee Republicans Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, Rep. Scott DesJarlais and Sen. Lamar Alexander weigh in on the story in the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Members of the Chattanooga Chapter of the American Inns of Court presented $14,400 in donations to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. Over $11,000 of the donation was raised at an auction held during the group's annual holiday party, the Hamilton County Herald reports. The remainder came from private donations made by Inns of Court members. "This donation will allow us to provide 56,400 meals,” said food bank president Maeghan Jones, who also is a lawyer. “I’m amazed each year by the generosity the Inns of Court and our local legal community exhibit through their annual donation to help feed the hungry," she said.

The Putnam County Election Commission has been preparing over the last year for a busy 2014 election year, the Herald Citizen reports. In May, commissioners were briefed by Election Administrator Debbie Steidl on updates to Tennessee’s photo ID?law. In November, a new voting precinct was added. And the county’s 88 voting machines recently received software and screen upgrades thanks to a Help America Vote Act grant. The upgrades will improve how officials keep track of votes. County offices up for election include county executive, sheriff, trustee, county clerk, all county commissioners, circuit court clerk and general sessions court judges parts I and II. Also up for election for the first time in eight years?are all 13th Judicial District offices — circuit and criminal court judges parts I and II, chancellor, district attorney general and public defender.

This case is before us once again after remand to the Trial Court for specific findings relative to the Trial Court’s termination of the parental rights of Christopher M. (“Father”) to the minor child Eimile A.M. (“the Child”). Upon remand the Trial Court entered its findings of fact. Father appeals the termination of his parental rights to the Child. We find and hold that clear and convincing evidence was not proven of grounds to terminate Father’s parental rights pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(g)(1) and Tenn. Code Ann.