Renea Jones has announced that she will run to represent Tennessee's Fourth District, which covers Unicoi County and much of Carter County, to replace outgoing Rep. John Holsclaw, an Elizabethton Republican in his fifth term who has said he does not plan to seek reelection. WJHL reports that Jones served on the Unicoi County School Board for 12 years and was elected president of the state school boards association. She has a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Virginia Tech and a master’s in crop science and integrated pest management from North Carolina State University and serves as chair of Unicoi County’s Farm Bureau. Jones will face Elizabethton Mayor Curt Alexander in the Aug. 4 Republican primary.

Nigel Lewis, an attorney supervisor in the Shelby County Public Defender’s Office, died March 17 at age 49 after a short cancer battle. He received his bachelor’s degree from Saint Leo University in Florida and later attended law school at Southern University and A&M in Louisiana. He also received a master's degree in tax law from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. began his legal career in a private firm where he worked for two years before moving to the public defender’s office. Lewis served there for 14 years until his death and worked in the direct representation unit, which handles clients charged with most serious felonies. Visitation and rosary will be held at Immaculate Conception, 1695 Central Ave., Memphis 38104 on Sunday. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. CDT, and the rosary will start at 6:30 p.m. A funeral and celebration of life will be held Monday at Immaculate Conception at 1 p.m. The Daily Memphian has more.

Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday signed the ELVIS Act at iconic Nashville country music venue Robert's Western World. The Ensuring Likeness, Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act is designed to protect songwriters, performers and other music industry professionals against the potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI). The Associated Press reports that the new law, which takes effect July 1, makes Tennessee, long known as the birthplace of country music and the launchpad for musical legends, the first state in the U.S. to enact such measures. Supporters say the goal is to ensure that AI tools cannot replicate an artist’s voice without their consent.

A nine-page report from Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower’s Local Government Audit Unit, released Thursday, says the Shelby County Clerk’s office has been using different software to record parts of the same transactions and for years has not reconciled conflicting dollar amounts in financial statements. In a press release announcing the findings, the comptroller’s office says that the clerk's office "is not utilizing the software to its full capabilities." The Daily Memphian reports that the clerk’s office also "lacks an understanding of its software system." Auditors also noted issues with reconciliations not being performed, a signature stamp being used on checks, employees deleting their own transactions without authorization, and a failure to properly track how much money the county is owed after bad checks are written by customers. Shelby County Trustee Regina Newman told the news outlet that the county government may hire an auditor to further reconcile the money it gets from County Clerk Wanda Halbert’s office, stating "that’s obviously a longer-term issue." According to the Commercial Appeal, Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp, who was appointed to lead the investigation, told reporters Friday she learned things that give her "great concern" regarding Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert. "It makes sense that there are unhappy citizens and unhappy commissioners and unhappy elected officials, that makes sense to us at this point. There certainly are failures that must be fixed at some point whether that's through removal of office or not, we will make those decisions," Wamp said.

TBA’s Legislative Updates podcast is back with attorney and TBA lobbyist Berkley Schwarz and Adams and Reese attorneys and TBA lobbyists, Brad Lampley and Ashley Harbin. They recap TBA's Day on the Hill, discuss HB2644/SB2633 (adoption clean-up bill), HB2002/SB2517 (Memphis judge bill) and funding for indigent representation. TBA President Jim Barry and Bedford County attorney Garrett Haynes testified before the House Civil Justice Committee during Day on the Hill. You can view their testimony at this link by clicking the Tennessee Bar Association tab. Legislative Updates airs each week on the TBA’s Facebook page. It is also released as a podcast on the same day and can be found on the TBA’s website or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Law Tech 2023 is now available as a 1-Click package. Topics covered include using technology to advance your practice, what role ChatGPT and artificial intelligence will play in legal document creation, a deep dive into remote ADR, and the ever-popular "Bill & Phil Show" with Bill Ramsey and Phillip Hampton. Earn 4.5 dual credit CLE hours with this four-part series.

Attorneys from across the state gathered in Nashville this week for TBA's second annual "Day on the Hill." The day kicked off with remarks from Brandon Gibson, the state's chief operating officer, and House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland. The group was invited to observe a session of the House Civil Justice Committee where TBA President Jim Barry and Bedford County attorney Garrett Haynes gave statements to lawmakers on the urgent need for increased funding for indigent representation. Participants then met with more than 25 legislators to discuss the funding issue. The day concluded with TBA's annual Big Shrimp legislative reception, giving TBA leaders and members a chance to meet with legislators in a casual setting to continue conversations on topics important to the profession. See photos from the events.

Memphis attorney William Michael "Mike" Richards, age 77, died on March 12 after a long illness. Following his graduation with distinction from Rhodes College (then Southwestern), he obtained his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School. He practiced law for 50 years at the Memphis law firm Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz PC. Richards served as vice president of the Tennessee Bar Association and president of the Memphis Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. Services were held March 19 at the Lord’s Chapel, located on the grounds of Elmwood Cemetery, 824 S Dudley St, Memphis 38104. Memorials can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Victims of sexual assault in Tennessee will soon get more time to receive financial compensation, reports WPLN. Current state law allows a victim of sexual assault one year to pursue civil action. A recently passed bill would extend that time frame to three years and is on its way to Gov. Bill Lee for his signature. Two other bills recently passed the Senate. The Parental Accountability Act would allow juvenile court judges to require parents to pay restitution of up to $1,000 for every crime their child commits after being arrested, while the Juvenile Organized Retail Theft Act would allow juveniles 15 years of age or older to be transferred to criminal court for smash and grabs, or for stealing firearms from vehicles. These bills now have been assigned to a House subcommittee. Action News 5 has more.

The Tennessee Journal of Race, Gender and Social Justice, a student-run and edited publication, will host a symposium on March 21 at the University of Tennessee College of Law to explore the impact of recent U.S. legislation affecting health care and education resources for the LGBTQ+ population. Jennifer Levi, senior director of transgender and queer rights at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) and professor of law at Western New England University School of Law, will deliver the keynote address. Get more information and register here.