Eastern District of Arkansas U.S. District Judge D.P. Marshall Jr. on Friday ruled that a lawsuit challenging federal rules entitling workers to time off and other accommodations for abortions lacks standing. The suit was filed in April by 17 states and led by the attorneys general of Arkansas and Tennessee against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The Associated Press reports that the suit argued the additional regulations go beyond the scope of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a 2022 law requiring many employers to make “reasonable accommodations” for pregnant or postpartum employees.

The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference (TNDAGC) will host the South East Prosecutor Job Fair on June 24. The event will feature representatives from a variety of prosecutor offices from Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida and South Carolina. Attendance is free, but participants must register in advance by June 20. For questions, contact Brittany Lavalle at bllavalle@tndagc.org. View a flyer with more information.

Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Felicia Corbin-Johnson has dismissed the lawsuit attempting to oust Wanda Halbert as Shelby County clerk, the Daily Memphian reports. Hamilton County District Attorney General Coty Wamp, who was appointed as special prosecutor in the investigation into the allegations against Halbert, filed the suit in May. Halbert's petition to dismiss said the allegations were "simple negligence," not "willful neglect." Wamp said the cause for dismissal is the first of its kind in the state of Tennessee, and reiterated her findings during the investigation, saying her office discovered both willful neglect and plain incompetence, according to the Commercial Appeal.

Nashville lawyer Lorne Hiller has been selected as the recipient of this year’s Larry Dean Wilks Leadership Award. Hiller was chosen for the award by fellow members of the Tennessee Bar Association’s 2024 Leadership Law class and was honored during the group’s graduation ceremonies in Memphis last week. He is the 12th recipient of the award. Hiller and his Leadership Law classmates have spent the last six months learning about leadership in the legal profession, issues in the courts, policymaking in state government and the importance of community service. The class of 35 attorneys completed the program this month. Read more about Hiller and the Wilks Award in this press release.

During its first meeting of the new bar year last Friday, the TBA Board of Governors selected two lawyers to fill vacancies that occurred when no election petitions were filed for the seats this past spring. Franklin trial attorney David Veile, who recently won the Republican primary for the 21st Judicial District Circuit Court, will serve as middle Tennessee governor. Germantown lawyer Cheryl White Patterson with the Carpenter Law Firm will serve as west Tennessee governor. Both will serve a term of one year. Veile is a graduate of Nashville School of Law and a former Metro Nashville Police officer. He has been active with the TBA, serving on the board previously and holding a range of positions on the Young Lawyers Division Board, including as president from 2012-2013. Patterson graduated from Harvard Law School and has focused her practice on public finance and compliance, serving as vice president and general counsel for Memphis Light, Gas & Water from 2008-2023.

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, said Friday he is in conversations with the state Attorney General’s office to seek the removal of Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy for “dereliction of his office,” according to the Commercial Appeal. Mulroy's recent announcement of a diversion program for nonviolent felons who unlawfully possess a firearm has drawn pushback from state Republican officials including Sexton, who called the DA “soft on criminals” and accused him of “kowtowing to criminals once again.” Mulroy told the newspaper that Sexton's description of the diversion program was "a fundamental misunderstanding."

Gov. Bill Lee has requested a disaster declaration from President Joe Biden for Tennessee counties impacted by the May 8 and 9 tornado outbreak. WSMV reports that the state has requested assistance from two programs: Individual Assistance and Public Assistance. If granted, federal assistance would become available to Cannon, Cheatham, Giles, Hamilton, Jackson, Macon, Maury, Montgomery, Polk, Robertson, Rutherford Smith, Sumner and Warren counties. “Federal disaster assistance will bring much-needed economic relief and resources to help our communities and fellow Tennesseans recover from the devastation of these storms,” Lee said.

At the 2024 Lawyers Luncheon, outgoing TBA President Jim Barry presented a number of awards. Memphis lawyer Miles Mason Sr. received the Justice Joseph W. Henry Award for Outstanding Legal Writing for his article on establishing paternity for unmarried parents in the November/December 2024 issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal. Cookeville attorney Laura Dykes received the Fifth Annual Claudia Jack Award for her work as a public defender in Davidson County and in the 13th Judicial District in Cookeville. Nashville Public Radio reporter Meribah Knight received the Fourth Estate Award to for her four-part podcast "The Kids of Rutherford County," which spotlighted the inhumane treatment of juveniles in Rutherford County. In addition, new TBA Vice President Charlotte Knight Griffin presented Memphis attorney and former TBA President Bill Haltom with the William M. Leech Jr. Public Service Award from the TBA Young Lawyers Division Fellows.

Barry presented his President’s Awards to Ann Pruitt and Linda Seely, for their work as Access to Justice Committee co-chairs; to Kendra Mansur, Laura Brown and Rachel Moses for their work on new TBA initiatives to address safe and stable housing; and to former Assistant Executive Director Barry Kolar for his 23 years of service to TBA, serving twice as interim executive director. See photos from the event.

Nashville lawyer Ed Lanquist Jr. was sworn in today as the 144th president of the Tennessee Bar Association. The oath of office was administered by Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Holly Kirby during the TBA’s Annual Lawyers Lunch. Lanquist is a shareholder in the Nashville office of Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz and has practiced intellectual property law for more than 30 years. During remarks following the swearing in, Lanquist pledged a renewed emphasis on serving members of the association during the coming bar year and an increased focus on educating lawyers about legislative issues important to the legal profession — including elimination of the professional privilege tax and increased funding for indigent representation. He also announced two exciting CLE programs: an Urban Bourbon trip to Louisville, Kentucky, and a return to Cuba in February 2025. Registration for that program is now open. Watch his remarks, as well as the full footage of the Lawyers Lunch, on the TBA's Facebook page. See photos from the lunch.

Save the date for the annual Animal Law Forum on Oct. 4! This unique opportunity will provide updates on trends and advancements in animal law while allowing participants to network and enjoy the fun and activities the Nashville Zoo offers. Zoo admission, breakfast and lunch are included with the program. Don't miss this event; you never know who is going to show up!