The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Service (TALS) today announced the recipients of its 2015 Access to Justice Awards. The recipients will be honored on Sept. 2 in conjunction with the Equal Justice University Conference. David Yoder with Legal Aid of East Tennessee will receive the Janice M. Holder Award for his contributions to increasing access to justice in Tennessee, especially in the areas of domestic violence advocacy and medical legal partnerships. Lenny Croce with Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will receive the B. Riney Green Award for his collaborative efforts to promote law reform for the protection of low income Tennesseans. And Robert Downs with Legal Aid of East Tennessee will receive the New Advocate of the Year Award for his creative and effective advocacy efforts on behalf of domestic violence victims in the Knoxville area.

Shelby County lawyer Homer L. Cody was suspended Tuesday (July 28) for 180 days starting on Aug. 7. The court found that Cody filed to represent two plaintiffs, which resulted in a concurrent conflict of interest. Cody previously received a public censure for the same conduct, but despite that warning, continued to represent both plaintiffs. In addition, while this second disciplinary proceeding was pending, Cody filed another suit on behalf of the same two plaintiffs. View the BPR notice.

The TBA Mentoring Program is seeking volunteer mentors with specific practice experience in specific areas of the state. Needs include attorneys with criminal justice, juvenile and general practice experience in Kingsport; civil rights experience in Nashville; environmental law experience in Brentwood; litigation, general practice, real estate and/or probate and trust law experience in Columbia; and intellectual property experience in Memphis. Those participating in the program will commit to a formal mentoring relationship for one year, with a requirement to meet face-to-face at least once a month. For more information, visit the TBA Mentoring Program webpage or contact TBA staff member Christy Gibson, (615) 383-7421.

The Nashville Chapter of NALS raised more than $4,700 in proceeds for the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands during its third annual NALS After Hours Silent Auction held July 16. “We are thrilled with the auction’s success and are thankful for the generosity of NALS, local businesses and the auction attendees,” said Gary Housepian, Legal Aid Society’s executive director

Learn about the new ways lawyers are using video to reach clients during this two-hour ethics CLE webcast available now on the TBA website.

Antcipating an overcapacity crowd, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner is cracking down on access to the House chamber for Pope Francis' speech to a joint meeting of Congress in September, CNN reports. Retired and/or former members of Congress -- many of whom work as lobbyists in Washington -- may not enter the chamber for the event. Only current members of Congress, delegates, the president and vice president, Supreme Court justices, cabinet heads, congressional officials, officers of the House and those specially designated by Boehner will be allowed inside the chamber or in rooms around the House floor. WCYB has the story.

The Tennessee Supreme Court will continue to serve at the same level of operation while the executive and legislative branches work out the details of appointing and confirming a replacement for retiring Justice Gary R. Wade, Chief Justice Sharon Lee said today. The court is slated to hear oral arguments on seven dates in September, October and November, and those sessions will go on as scheduled even if only with four justices. The AOC has more.

Justice Gary Wade's decision to retire from the Tennessee Supreme Court on Sept. 8 will be the first real test of the state's new system for selecting judges, Nashville Public Radio reports. This opening will be the first filled under the new plan that Tennessee voters approved through a constitutional amendment last November. The measure gave state lawmakers the power, for the first time, to review the governor's nominations to the Supreme Court and reject his selection. State law doesn't require Gov. Bill Haslam to move quickly in choosing a replacement but Allan Ramsaur, executive director of the Tennessee Bar Association, says Haslam shouldn't wait long to choose. Ramsaur says he worries about the possibility that a four-judge Supreme Court could split 2-2 on a case, with no one to break the tie. He adds it will be hard for the court to stay on top of its work: with Wade gone, other justices will have to write more opinions and review more cases.

A spokeswoman says Haslam plans to have a nominee in place by January, when state lawmakers reconvene for the 2016 legislative session. The Tennessee Supreme Court, meanwhile, still plans to go ahead with a full slate this fall. No oral arguments have been canceled.

The Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (TACDL) today sent a letter to the Governor’s Task Force on Sentencing and Recidivism regarding its policy recommendations and the lack of input solicited from interested and educated parties. TACDL writes that the task force has not asked the opinion of TACDL, correctional officer organizations, prisoner advocacy organizations or former prisoners whose experiences in correctional facilities might aid in formulating recommendations. “This deficiency impairs the credibility and the efficacy of any recommendations by the task force,” TACDL writes in a press release. “Absent critical input from those with expertise in the criminal justice system, any recommendations run the risk of increasing the length of sentences, incarceration rates, prison costs and recidivism.” The task force's final meeting is set for Aug. 6 in Nashville.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Stewart is critical of reports that Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey "intends to let partisan politics dictate the choice for the next Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court,“ the Chattanoogan reports. “Until now, Tennessee governors of both parties have picked justices of our highest court based on merit, not politics,” Stewart said, citing Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen’s selection of Justice Bill Koch, who had earlier served as legal counsel to Republican Gov. Lamar Alexander.