Law Day, nationally recognized on May 1, will be celebrated at events across the state in the coming weeks. Belmont College of Law Dean Alberto Gonzalez will speak at the Nashville Bar Association's event on April 23 and at the Knoxville Bar Association's program on April 29. The Memphis Bar Association will host a barbecue on May 1, and the Chattanooga Bar Association has planned a luncheon for May 6, featuring keynote speaker Jean Becker, former chief of staff to former President George H. W. Bush. Finally, West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS) and the Jackson-Madison County Bar Association will host their annual Law Day Celebration on May 1 with Joel Ebert and Erik Schelzig, authors of "Welcome to Capitol Hill: Fifty Years of Scandal in Tennessee Politics." The 2026 Law Day theme is “The Rule of Law and the American Dream.” The rule of law — the idea that no person is above the law — is what ensures the rights of the people to live their lives as freely as possible and to pursue their dreams, according to national event planners.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is currently accepting applications to fill a vacancy in the 1st Judicial District Criminal Court following the appointment of Judge Stacy Street to the appellate bench. Applicants must be Tennessee-licensed attorneys who are at least 30 years old and have been residents of the state for at least five years and residents of the judicial district, which covers Carter, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties. The public hearing for this position will be held June 4 at 9 a.m. EDT at the George P. Jaynes Justice Center, 108 West Jackson Blvd., Jonesborough 37659. More information, including application requirements, may be accessed on the Administrative Office of the Courts' (AOC) website. Applications must be received by noon CDT on May 6. Contact John Jefferson at the AOC at John.Jefferson@tncourts.gov or 615-741-2687 with questions.

The TBA International Law Section's annual forum will provide an overview of the trade and investment landscape as it concerns Tennessee in 2026 and beyond. Programming will focus on Tennessee's foreign direct investment, global health perspectives and partnerships, international financing, global sales and supply chains, and more. Participants will have the opportunity for direct interactive discussions with speakers, and the chance to network, learn about best practices and chart a path to increase capacity for internationalization. Make plans now to join colleagues on May 29 in the TBA's newly renovated CLE classroom. Get more information and register here.

J.E. "Buddy" Stockwell will retire from his position as executive director of the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) effective April 15. Appointed in 2020 by the Tennessee Supreme Court, Stockwell has worked to transform the program into the "sustainable, gold-standard program it is today" according to TLAP Commission Chair Judge Michael Spitzer. Over the years, TLAP has expanded from assistance with alcoholism and drug use to all other mental health issues such as depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar issues, burnout and compassion fatigue. “The profession with all its pressures and the speed of information these days, and just how tough it can be to practice law, it has ushered in a new era for LAPs. Substance use disorder cases are still significant, but TLAP is comprehensive now. We have a professional clinical staff that can help address any type of mental health issue,” Stockwell said. “It’s become very complex, but our program works really well, and we cover all of those bases.” Read more in this profile from the Administrative Office of the Courts. Stockwell has written "The Buddy System" column for the Tennessee Bar Journal since 2021. His final installment will be published in the July/August 2026 issue.

On April 13, the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court censured Cumberland County attorney Margaret Jane Powers. Powers agreed to represent a client in probating an estate. Her usual practice was to charge a security retainer and obtain the client’s signature on a fee agreement confirming that the retainer was nonrefundable. Due to an inadvertent office error, no fee agreement was signed by the client. After undertaking the representation, Powers delayed in taking action for the client. After being discharged, she declined to refund the unearned portion of her security retainer despite being aware that no fee agreement had been signed by the client providing that the fee was nonrefundable. Powers also delayed in returning prepaid litigation expenses to the client. The court found that Powers violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.5(f), 1.15 and 1.16(d).

Davidson County attorney Zachary Ty Carden on April 13 received a censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court. In the first complaint, Carden represented a criminal defendant in connection with adjustment of jail credits and seeking a furlough. He delayed in taking action for the client and failed to respond to the client’s communications. In the second complaint, Carden represented a client in pursuing a custody matter. He completed limited investigation of the client’s legal claims but did not file a petition or take other legal action, and he failed to respond to his client’s communications, which ultimately resulted in the client discharging Carden. Following his discharge, Carden did not refund an appropriate portion of the client’s fee. In the third complaint, Carden represented a client in pursuing contempt sanctions in a post-divorce matter. He prepared a draft petition but did not complete any other work for the client. Carden also failed to respond to the client’s requests for information about the status of the representation. Carden was found to have violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 and 1.16(d).

The Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville is hosting a free legal clinic for artists May 6 at the Country Music Association. The clinic offers 30-minute consultations with volunteer attorneys for income-qualified creatives across Tennessee. A tax lawyer from the Legal Aid Society’s Tennessee Taxpayer Project will also be on-site to answer questions related to federal income tax problems. Volunteer attorneys can expect questions on contracts and licensing, copyright concerns, business formation and nonprofit governance. Email vlpa@abcnashville.org for more information or to volunteer.

Tennessee Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti on Monday sent a letter to Acting U.S. AG Todd Blanche, asking the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reconsider its proposed rule that any ethics complaints made against DOJ attorneys would be reviewed by the department before a state, territory or District of Columbia disciplinary investigation could occur. The letter reads, in part, "While the Proposed Rule responds to a real problem, it unconstitutionally infringes on the prerogatives of the state judiciary contrary to the Tenth Amendment and black-letter federal law," and that the proposal "risks eroding key structural components of our constitutional order by intruding on the States' authority to regulate the legal profession and Congress's choice to reinforce that traditional role for the States with respect to attorneys for the federal government." Read the letter here. In related news, the American Bar Association and a group of 20 attorneys general also filed comments opposing the rule. Reuters reports on the state group.

The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance on March 31 dismissed a complaint against Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, ruling that her use of federal campaign funds falls under Federal Election Commission (FEC) jurisdiction rather than state authority. The complaint, filed by Knoxville Republican Gary Loe, alleged Blackburn improperly used her U.S. Senate campaign account to fund her gubernatorial run. According to Knox News, state officials found she did not violate state law because her governor's campaign account was not yet open when the disputed spending occurred, and because Tennessee's ban on using federal funds for state purposes only applies to direct transfers between accounts. Blackburn, who announced her gubernatorial bid in August, is running in the Aug. 5 Republican primary against state Rep. Monty Fritts and U.S. Rep. John Rose.

The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) released the results of a member poll regarding judicial candidates in the May 5 primary. The survey included candidates for the offices of Knox County Criminal Court judge; Knox County General Sessions Court judge; Knox County Circuit, Civil Sessions and Juvenile Court clerk; and Knox County Criminal Court clerk. The KBA’s nonpartisan Judicial Committee oversaw the survey. Local attorneys — 363 in this case — anonymously rated candidates as strongly recommended, recommended, not recommended, strongly not recommended or no knowledge. Read more and view results here.