The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments met in Jackson on Dec. 10 to select nominees for an upcoming vacancy on the Court of Appeals Western Section, which will occur with the retirement of Judge Kenny Armstrong on Feb. 9, 2026. After holding a public hearing and conducting interviews, the council selected three nominees to forward to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. They are: Eileen Kuo, Steven Wayne Maroney and Gadson William Perry. View the nominees’ applications on the Administrative Office of the Courts website.

Blount County Juvenile Court recently announced the appointment of Richard H. Robinson as magistrate judge for Blount County. The oath of office was administered by General Sessions Court Judge Kenlyn Foster. Robinson previously served as as a special master for Knox County's 4th Circuit Court. He is a 2005 graduate of the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law. “We are pleased to welcome Magistrate Judge Robinson to Blount County Juvenile Court,” said Foster. “He brings vast legal knowledge and experience to his new role, and more important, he is a genuinely kind person who shows great compassion for the children and families who appear before him.” Read more in a press release from the court. See photos from the swearing in ceremony.

Curated for general, solo and small firm attorneys, the TBA's year-end 15-hour CLE package includes a mix of popular ethics, law practice management and hot topics programming. Check out the specific courses included on the TBA CLE website. Looking for something else? TBA also has six, eight, 10, 12 and 15-hour packages based on specific topics or practice areas, live webcasts and on-demand video all month long. Explore all the Year End options to complete your CLE requirement by Dec. 31.

The TBA Pro Bono Portal provides a centralized source for lawyers and law students to find pro bono opportunities across Tennessee, like this one through Memphis Area Legal Services. In this case, a senior citizen needs help with an affidavit of heirship to receive a deceased sibling's settlement. Get more information about the requirements associated with this opportunity and browse other pro bono needs.

In the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Sept. 16 order soliciting comments from the legal community, the court asks whether there are "less costly alternatives to the traditional three-year law school curriculum that would adequately prepare individuals for the practice of law" and (2) whether the court "should consider adopting alternative pathways for admission to the Tennessee Bar — for example, by allowing applicants to satisfy the minimum educational requirements and/or examination requirement in part by completing an apprenticeship or serving with a legal aid organization.” California, Vermont, Virginia and Washington all have variations of legal apprenticeship programs. Utah offers a program that requires 240 hours of supervised work and assessments. Wisconsin has taken a different approach with its “diploma privilege” system. Graduates of that state’s two ABA-accredited law schools may become licensed attorneys without taking either the traditional bar exam or the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE). Students must satisfactorily complete a designated curriculum, which tracks traditional first-year requirements and offers numerous options for upper-level courses.

Feedback on Tennessee's potential modification of education requirements and pathways to attorney licensure may be sent to TBA's newly formed Legal Access & Regulatory Reform Task Force at townhall@tnbar.org as well as directly to the court. Watch TBA Today through the month of December to learn more about the seven points in the Supreme Court’s order and specific ways to engage with the task force. Visit TBA's Legal Access & Regulatory Reform resource page for more information.

Mark your calendars for the 2026 Estate Planning & Probate Forum, scheduled for March 6, 2026 in Franklin. This annual event will provide seven hours of CLE credit and include sessions on litigation and estate planning, public receivership, a probate panel, and a legislative update. Section members receive discounted registration. Get more information and register on the TBA's website.

The TBA's Year End CLE Event includes a three-hour "Attorney Wellness" package designed to help Tennessee lawyers quickly earn dual credit. The package includes courses on combating burnout through mentorship, compassionate lawyering and addressing bias, providing a focused path for attorneys seeking well-being–centered programming.  Check out the specific courses included in the package on the TBA website. Looking for something else? TBA also has six, eight, 10, 12 and 15-hour packages, packages based on specific topics or practice areas, live webcasts and on-demand video all month long. Explore all the Year End options to complete your CLE requirement by Dec. 31.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has held that the defendants in a legal malpractice and fraud action were not entitled to dismissal of the lawsuits under the Tennessee Public Participation Act (TPPA) because the lawsuits were not filed in response to the defendants’ exercise of the right to petition. Access the press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The judges of the Davidson County General Sessions Court announced that they have directed Justice A.A. Birch Courthouse security to heighten security measures following remarks by Congressman Andy Ogles that "appeared intended to incite violence against elected officials in Davidson County." In a joint statement, the judges said, "We stand united in condemning any language or actions that target judges — or any elected officials — with threats of violence as a means of expressing political disagreement. In light of the numerous acts of political violence witnessed in recent years, the statements made by Mr. Ogles are unacceptable." Read the full statement. The judges also sent a formal request to Gov. Bill Lee requesting that the state take "immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of the public in and around" the courthouse.

Former Memphis Police Office Patric J. Ferguson pleaded guilty in August to civil rights, firearms, kidnapping and obstruction charges connected with the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Robert Howard. Ferguson was sentenced last week to 38 years in prison. The Tennessee Lookout reports that in 2021, Ferguson used a police database to search for Howard, who at the time was in a relationship with a woman who previously dated Ferguson. Ferguson was charged with kidnapping Howard, killing him in the back of his patrol car and dumping the body in the Wolf River.