J. THOMAS CALDWELL of Ripley died on Feb. 5. He was 86. Caldwell was an attorney in Ripley for 53 years, and served as Lauderdale County attorney for more than 40 years. He graduated from law school in 1962 at the University of Mississippi, where he also played football. In 1986 he was inducted as a fellow in the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association. He was a United States Air Force veteran.

Jackson attorney Michelle Greenway Sellers of Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell PLC will take the office of Tennessee Bar Association President in 2020, according to election-qualifying results released today. No other candidate qualified for the vice president position by the Feb. 15 deadline. Sellers, a former YLD President and graduate of the TBA Leadership Law program, currently serves as 7th District Governor on the TBA Board of Governors.

COURT ISSUES ORDERS AMENDING RULES

The Tennessee Supreme Court in early January issued five orders amending rules that will become effective July 1, subject to approval by resolutions of the General Assembly. The court amended the Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 3, appeal as of right: availability; method of initiation; and Rule 4, appeal as of right: time for filing notice of appeal.

JAMES ADAMS BEAN of Crossville died Dec. 26, 2017. He was 86. Bean lived much of his life in Cumberland County, with the exception of his legal studies and his time in the U.S. Air Force. After four years in the military, including one in Korea, he pursued his education, and graduated from the YMCA Night Law School. He was licensed in 1962, and opened Bean and Bean Attorneys with his brother in Crossville. He was appointed city judge in 1978 and was elected to the post of General Sessions, Family and Probate judge in 1982.

"Party With A Purpose" a success for UT Legal Clinic
https://law.utk.edu/2017/11/21/party-purpose-success-ut-legal-clinic/

[Pro Bono Honor Roll]

TBA LEADERSHIP LAW CLASS GETS STARTED

The Tennessee Bar Association announced in December that 30 attorneys from across the state were selected for its 2018 Leadership Law program. Now in its 15th year, Leadership Law is designed to equip Tennessee lawyers with the vision, knowledge and skills necessary to serve as leaders.

The class meets for its first session in January and will spend the next six months learning about leadership in the legal profession, issues in the courts, policymaking in state government and the importance of community service.

Nashville lawyer JACK AKIN BUTLER died on Dec. 7, 2017. He was 80. A native to the city, Butler earned his law degree from the Nashville School of Law while finishing his senior year of undergraduate studies at Vanderbilt University. He spent 20 years in the Tennessee Air National Guard and rose to the rank of major. In 1958, he was the youngest lawyer to be asked to teach at NSL, where he taught 4th year Moot Court for 42 years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Nashville School of Law or Forest Hills Baptist Church.

Supreme Court Soliciting Comments on Proposed Changes to Rule 8

November 22, 2017

The Tennessee Board of Law Examiners (TBLE) is seeking to amend Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7 by adopting the Uniform Bar Examination as the standard for applicants for licensing and admission in the state.

“Lawyers are more mobile than they once were,” TBLE President Jeffrey Ward said in a news release in October. “No longer do lawyers settle in one state and practice in that state until retirement. Multi-jurisdictional, or cross-border, practice is more common, particularly in Tennessee, where we border more states than any other state in the union.”