Barbara Kingsolver's novel Demon Copperhead yesterday was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Strawberry Plains attorney Dawn Coppock reviewed this powerful story focusing on the child welfare system in the March/April issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal.

Failure to show up for court has serious consequences for individuals and the court system as a whole, and the reasons may be as mundane as lack of transportation, family obligations or simply forgetting to appear. Jurisdictions throughout the country are seeking ways to get more people through the courthouse doors. The North Carolina Court Appearance Project was created by court stakeholders in New Hanover, Robeson and Orange counties, with technical assistance support from The Pew Charitable Trusts and the University of North Carolina School of Government Criminal Justice Innovation Lab. In August 2021, each county convened a group of judges, prosecutors, public defenders, clerks and members of law enforcement to study nonappearance rates and root causes and to propose solutions. Pew Trusts has published a summary of the findings.

Gov. Bill Lee has announced that the Tennessee General Assembly will convene for a special legislative session focused on public safety on Aug. 21. A press release from Lee's office states, in part, “There is broad agreement that action is needed, and in the weeks ahead, we’ll continue to listen to Tennesseans and pursue thoughtful, practical measures that strengthen the safety of Tennesseans, preserve Second Amendment rights, prioritize due process protections, support law enforcement and address mental health.” Tennesseans are encouraged to share their feedback using this form.

LexisNexis has released a new platform for case research and document drafting called Lexis+ AI. Like ChatGPT, the AI responds in a matter of seconds to prompts and can draft summaries, legal documents and communications. The platform also provides citations, including relevant caselaw, authorities and guidance, and allows users to copy and save generated text entries into separate folders. The ABA Journal reports that Thomson Reuters, parent company of Westlaw, pledges to invest $100 million per year in new technology and will integrate generative AI into its products later this year.

Rep. Ron Gant, R-Rossville, has undergone surgery following a heart attack, according the House Republican Caucus. Gant, who is still recovering from injuries to his arms and hip sustained in a car wreck in October, had a stent placed in a blocked artery. Updates on his condition are available via his Facebook page.

An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has resulted in the indictment of Monica Bridges, who served as the full-time coordinator of the Gibson County Recovery Court from October 2019 until her resignation in September 2022. The investigation began after citizens reported questionable time-reporting practices and other concerns about the court’s operations. The court allows non-violent offenders with substance abuse issues to obtain treatment while under close legal and clinical supervision. Investigators determined that Bridges received at least $25,425.25 in improper wages and payroll benefits. This includes at least $20,760.22 in unearned compensation for 1,156.24 hours she did not work; $1,665.04 in prorated matching benefits and payments for Medicare and Social Security costs incurred by the county; and $2,999.99 in supplemental pay that she did not earn.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is working to clear a backlog of 230,000 court case dispositions that have not yet been linked to criminal records in the state’s background check system, which is used for prospective gun buyers, officials said. The gap means some individuals could potentially have a criminal conviction that would disqualify them from buying a gun, but the case may not show up in a background check. According to the Tennessean, while many states solely use the federal background check system, Tennessee is one of 13 states that conduct their own background checks using state and federal records.

Chancellor John C. Rambo of Jonesborough will be honored next month at the TBA Annual Convention with the Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award from the Tennessee Bar Association and the Tennessee American Inns of Court. The award is named in honor of the late Judge Reeves, who was also the first recipient of the award in 2020. Chancellor of the First Judicial District, Rambo practiced law in Northeast Tennessee for 19 years before assuming the chancery court bench in 2013. Attorneys who have practiced in his court note that Rambo is dedicated to the highest standards of the rule of law and of the legal profession in Tennessee. His nominator, Mark W. McFall, says that “Chancellor Rambo possesses the ideal judicial temperament, patience with lawyers and litigants, and a true desire to mete out equity and justice in his rulings and opinions.”

The TBA International Law Section will host the second half of its annual forum live in Nashville on June 2 at 1212 Germantown from 1:30-3:45 p.m. CDT. Participants can earn two general CLE hours. The first session will feature attorney Larry Harrington discussing international business practices in South America, while the second session will focus on foreign direct investment with Jim Hollingshad, senior advisor for economic and business affairs with the Consulate-General of Japan. A networking reception will immediately follow the forum from 3:45-5 p.m., which is open to all International Law Section members in addition to forum registrants. Register here.

The 27th Annual Labor & Employment Forum is tomorrow in Nashville. Bonus? It's not downtown, so if you're not a Swiftie, you can avoid the traffic! This is a terrific opportunity to learn from some of the top professionals and judges in the labor and employment arena who will provide practical insight on emerging trends and critical issues. This year’s program features topics such as the new NLRB, FLSA case law update, a judicial panel of both state and federal judges, the ins and outs of effective mediations, and an ethics presentation on interviewing witnesses within the workplace.