Joseph Griffin Cook of Knoxville died at age 85 on Jan. 21. He received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Alabama. Cook had planned to enter law practice, but an interview with the University of Tennessee College of Law (now Winston College of Law) marked a change of direction. He was the youngest member of the law faculty when he accepted the position of assistant professor in 1965, which he held for 51 years. In 1972, he was promoted to professor of law and in 1979, he was named the Williford Gragg Distinguished Professor of Law. He held that position until his retirement in 2016 as professor emeritus. The highest honor the university can give to a member of the faculty is the University of Tennessee Macebearer. Cook received that honor for the 2004-2005 academic year. A celebration of life will be held Aug. 16 at 1 p.m. EDT at the Winston College of Law. To attend, please RSVP by Aug. 8.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on July 28 issued a censure to Davidson County attorney Terry Renease Clayton. The court found that Clayton engaged in the unauthorized practice of law between Jan. 22, 2024, and Feb. 22, 2024, while his license was suspended for failure to timely pay his annual registration fees and/or submit certification that all eligible funds are held in an IOLTA account. Clayton entered a conditional guilty plea admitting his conduct violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 5.5 and 8.4(a). He is responsible for board costs and Tennessee Supreme Court fees.

Shelby County lawyer Ashley Satterfield Patterson received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on July 29. The court found that when Patterson testified in court on April 22, 2022, concerning a personal matter relating to a parenting plan, she lied under oath. Her actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 3.3 and 8.4.

Knoxville attorney Mark Steven Graham was censured by the Tennessee Supreme Court on July 29 for writing a check from his trust account to pay an office expense. The court also found that five months later, three automated withdrawals were attempted from the trust account, one of which was successful. Graham’s law license was suspended in 2022 and the court denied his petition to dissolve the suspension in 2024. Despite the suspension, Graham failed to deactivate his office website for at least 20 months and his social media incorrectly indicated for at least 34 months that his law license was active. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15, 7.1, 3.4 and 8.4(g).

The Trump administration has announced that federal employees are allowed to discuss and promote their religious beliefs at work, citing constitutional protections and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Reuters reports that a memo from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) states that workers can attempt to persuade others of their faith and organize prayer groups outside work hours, as long as their actions are not harassing. Supervisors also may share their religious views with employees, provided the conduct is not coercive. While the memo is not legally binding, it reflects the administration’s broader push to expand religious expression in federal workplaces, following a February presidential action targeting perceived hostility to Christianity in government.

Rheubin Taylor, who retired from the position of Hamilton County attorney July 1 after more than 30 years of service, has opened a new practice in Chattanooga. The new office is at 1502 A & B, McCallie Ave., Chattanooga 37404, and can be reached at 423-595-6898. Taylor was the city's first Black attorney when he began practicing in 1973. He worked for many years at the Crutchfield firm, where the politically active culture influenced his own involvement in politics. He was on the first County Commission in 1978 after serving in the state Constitutional Convention. Read more about his career from Chattanoogan.com.

The University of Tennessee Winston College of Law advocacy teams finished the spring semester with national and regional victories in moot court, mock trial and transactional law. Virginia Pirkle, Taylor Roswall and Alyssa Ward — all 2025 law graduates — won the national championship at the 2025 L. Edward Bryant, Jr. National Health Law Transactional Competition at Loyola University School of Law. Competing against 20 schools from across the country, the team secured first place in what is widely regarded as the nation’s premier transactional health law competition. In addition, law students Jordyn Dickey, Elizabeth Landin, Jhed Manalo and Tyrese Perry earned second place honors in the 2025 Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition and 2025 graduate Kameron Johnson and current student Jaleigh Rogan finished second in the 2025 Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition. Both competitions were hosted by the Southern Region of the Black Law Students Association. Finally Joshua Rojas, a 2025 graduate, was named champion of Baylor Law School’s The Closer, one of the nation’s most rigorous transactional law competitions. Read more and see photos in this press release from the law school.

On June 30, Judge Mike Spitzer retired from the 32nd Judicial District Circuit Court. Spitzer joined the bench in 2018, when the 21st Judicial District — which at the time included Hickman, Lewis, Perry and Williamson counties — created a new judicial position to help with the caseload due to Williamson county's rapid growth. In 2022, for the first time in 45 years, a new district was created, and Hickman, Lewis and Perry counties became the 32nd Judicial District, which Spitzer was elected to serve. Spitzer says what he has enjoyed most about his judicial career is finding ways to help people. “There was a guy who came up and said, ‘Judge Spitzer’ and gave me a hug. He said, ‘I’m here because of you.’ He went through our drug court program. Things like that are very helpful in making you feel good about what you do.” Read more about Spitzer's career in this profile from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Lawyers now have more free resources to share with clients who are incarcerated in Middle Tennessee area prisons. The Family Reconciliation Center (FRC), a nonprofit hospitality house, provides overnight stays for friends and loved ones visiting incarcerated individuals from out of town. FRC also offers an online guide to help navigate the sometimes-complicated visitation system. Supported through the generosity of individuals, faith communities and foundations (including a recent grant from the Tennessee Bar Foundation), FRC ensures that visitors can stay in a comfortable and safe environment. Founded in 1984, FRC is the only organization in Tennessee providing free lodging of this type, and one of just a few similar facilities in the country.

Recorded at TBA's Annual Convention in June, Russell Fowler, with Legal Aid of East Tennessee and "History's Verdict" columnist for the Tennessee Bar Journal, will take participants through an entertaining presentation to countdown the landmark court cases that shaped Tennessee’s legal landscape. Tune in July 31 at noon CDT and earn 0.75 hours of general credit. Register here. Can't make that time? The program also is available on demand.