TBA's "Raising the Bar" program will be held Nov. 19 at Baker Donelson in Nashville. Breakfast will begin at 9:15 a.m. with programming from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A networking reception will follow from 4:30 to 6 p.m. All times CST. Stay tuned for updates on this annual favorite produced by the Women in the Profession Committee.

Do you want to read a Tennessee Bar Journal article from 30 years ago? Did you miss an issue of TBA Today or a section Connect newsletter? You can access the archives of all TBA publications online. Journal issues going back to 1965 are available as PDFs; TBJ Select, which was launched in 2020, can be viewed as an online publication; nearly 20 years of TBA Today issues are available for viewing; and section Connect newsletter archives are available on each section's homepage in the right hand column under "Group Menu." Log in to your MyTBA account for full access to all of these great publications.

The TBA's Estate Planning Tee-Off is returning on Sept. 12 to Nashville's Topgolf. Produced by the Estate Planning & Probate Section, this annual favorite will feature three hours of CLE programming designed for attorneys new to the estate planning practice as well as those interested in adding this field to their portfolio. Don't miss this unique opportunity to build practice knowledge and fine-tune your drive game all in one day! Registration includes breakfast, lunch and two hours of Topgolf following the presentations. Get more information and register here. Section members enjoy discounted registration. Not a section member? Join now for additional savings and benefits. Thanks to our lunch sponsor Pinnacle Financial Partners, golf experience sponsor Southeastern Trust Company and breakfast sponsor Diversified Trust.

The Knoxville Municipal Court and the Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) will host a reception and portrait unveiling honoring City of Knoxville Municipal Judge John R. Rosson Jr., who served in the role for 37 years. The event will be Aug. 6 from 5 to 6 p.m. EDT at the City of Knoxville Municipal Court, located at 1650 Huron St., Knoxville 37917. Members of the local legal community are invited and should register on the KBA's website.

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.