The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) held its annual meeting today at which Carlos A. Yunsan of the University of Tennessee College of Law was sworn in as president. Executive Director Marsha S. Watson was recognized for her 33-year tenure at the helm of the KBA by the creation of a special lifetime membership for her and the renaming of the KBA’s conference room in her honor. New KBA Executive Director and former TBA President Tasha Blakney will step into the role full-time in mid-January. A press release from the KBA has more information, including new officers for the 2024 bar year and award winners.

The Memphis Law School National Moot Court team of Kelsey McClain, Thomas Fletcher and Derrick Shawver recently won the Region 7 round of the National Moot Court Competition. McClain won the award for Best Oral Advocate in the final round. The team will now advance to the national competition in New York City in January.

Metro Nashville says it will audit its Arts Commission after reports that millions of dollars in operating grants, which should have been distributed to local arts nonprofits, have failed to materialize. The Nashville Banner reports that according to Metro Arts’ own published guidelines, 75 nonprofit organizations with annual revenue ranging from less than $25,000 to upwards of $3 million were slated to receive $3.8 million in grants by Nov. 1. Arts Commission Executive Director Daniel Singh has not publicly given an explanation as to the reason for the delay.

Former Tennessee State Architect Mike Fitts died Nov. 23 at age 88. A graduate of the University of Tennessee Knoxville School of Engineering, the University of Tennessee School of Architecture and the Nashville School of Law, Fitts served as state architect for 39 years. His most noted projects included the Legislative Plaza, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Bicentennial Mall, and restorations at the governor's residence and state capitol. Services will be held Dec. 30 at The Village Church, 7224 Old Burkitt Rd., Nolensville 37013 at 11 a.m. CST with a time of visitation with the family one hour prior to the service. Memorial donations can be made to the scholarship endowment founded in his name at the UT School of Architecture.

The Nashville Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) has announced a transition plan as Executive Director Sara Figal plans to retire in mid-2024 after leading the organization for eight years. NCRC provides free and low-cost mediation to individuals and groups throughout greater Nashville and Middle Tennessee. The Nashville Post reports that under Figal’s leadership, NCRC created a remote mediation program that now serves the courts and communities in 15 counties. Read the full press release from the group.

Eager to get away from it all for an hour (or maybe 12!!)? We see you, friend! Let your family know you need to complete your CLE hours before Dec. 31. View our programs at your convenience on your laptop or mobile device whenever you can sneak away and find some peace on earth with one of our wellness programs! Try our Attorney Wellness Package and earn 5+ hours of CLE or check our individual wellness titles such as Coping Skills that Come From the Ethics Rules, The Positive Psychology Hour and more!

WSMV Investigates last week published a piece highlighting one family’s experience with Tennessee’s current system of court-appointed representation in the juvenile and criminal courts. A shortage of court-appointed attorneys representing the indigent in Tennessee has led to people languishing in jail despite having not been convicted of a crime, the news outlet reports. Part of that shortage is due to the low reimbursement rate for these court-appointed attorneys. Tennessee's rate is the lowest in the country at $50 per hour and has not changed in more than 25 years. The Administrative Office of the Courts announced in October that it would ask the state legislature to increase compensation for court-appointed attorneys in the juvenile and criminal courts.

WSMV Investigates yesterday published a piece highlighting one family’s experience with Tennessee’s current system of court-appointed representation in the juvenile and criminal courts. A shortage of court-appointed attorneys representing the indigent in Tennessee has led to people languishing in jail despite having not been convicted of a crime, the news outlet reports. Part of that shortage is due to the low reimbursement rate for these court-appointed attorneys. Tennessee's rate is the lowest in the country at $50 per hour and has not changed in more than 25 years. The Administrative Office of the Courts announced in October that it would ask the state legislature to increase compensation for court-appointed attorneys in the juvenile and criminal courts.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) today announced that Tennessee’s decades-old aggravated prostitution statute violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Associated Press reports that Tennessee is the only state in the nation that imposes a lifetime registration requirement on a “violent sex offender” convicted of engaging in sex work while living with HIV, regardless of whether the person knew they could transmit the disease. The DOJ is calling on Tennessee to not only stop enforcing the law, but also remove those convicted under the statute from the sex offender registry and expunge their convictions. In October, several groups — including the ACLU of Tennessee, Transgender Law Center, OUTMemphis and several Jane Does —also filed suit over the law.

It's time for TBA's Year End CLE event! This annual tradition brings you quick and easy content, right from the comfort of your own home or office, whether you need one hour of CLE or 15. There is a quality mix of packages based on hours needed or topic, live webcasts and on-demand video — all offered virtually. And our excellent customer support at cle@tnbar.org will get you through the finish line for your 2023 CLE requirements. Select packages by hour or topic, or choose your own CLE options anytime by visiting cle.tba.org to access over 200 on-demand programs. Topical packages include attorney wellness, Convention 2023 programming and law practice management, as well as packages from each of our 33 different practice areas!