Save the date for this year's Elder Law Forum, the premier event for Tennessee senior-centric lawyers. Join speakers Amy Bryant, Barbara Moss, Beverly Sharpe and Jon Toy on July 17 at the Nashville School of Law for sessions on conservatorships, fraud concerns, guardians ad litem, special needs trusts, ethics and more. For more information and to register, visit the TBA's website.

West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS) is in urgent need of volunteer attorneys to take on conservatorship cases for low-income clients across the region. There are currently a number of cases awaiting representation. Volunteer lawyers can make a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable Tennesseans who have no other avenue for legal assistance. Cases are available to fit a variety of schedules and preferences — some require in-person appearances in Memphis, while others can be handled entirely virtually, making it easy to give back. Experienced probate attorneys or those willing to learn are welcome to volunteer. WTLS will provide the support and resources needed to succeed. To take a case or learn more visit the TBA Pro Bono Portal and select the "Guardianship & Juvenile" section.

Greeneville attorney Curt Collins has been appointed Greene County Juvenile Court magistrate by Greene County General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge Kenneth Bailey, replacing David Leonard, who died in January. A part-time appointment, Collins will hold court on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Collins said, “I am humbled and honored to serve in the position previously held by my mentors, Magistrate Dave Leonard and Judge Bailey. I cannot fill the void left by the passing of Judge Leonard, but I pledge to seek justice and deal respectfully with all who are before me." Collins is a founding partner at Collins Shelton Blair & Wright PLLC in Greeneville. The Greeneville Sun has more.

FBT Gibbons, formerly Frost Brown Todd, will undergo a major office renovation, expanding its footprint to include the full 19th floor and a part of the 18th floor for a collective 35,876 feet. The Nashville Post reports that the firm has extended its lease through October 2037 at SoBro’s Symphony Place, 150 Third Ave. S., where it has operated since 2012. “Over the years, we’ve had a front‑row seat to Nashville’s remarkable growth, and this extension reflects our decision to double down on the market with space that allows us to grow significantly from here,” Brian Masterson, partner-in-charge, said in a press release.

Rogersville attorney Mark Stapleton was sworn in as 3rd Judicial District Circuit Court judge last Thursday. Judge John Dugger Jr. administered the oath. Stapleton was appointed by Gov. Bill Lee to fill a vacancy created by the elevation of Judge William Phillips to the Court of Appeals. The Citizen Tribune reports that Stapleton pledged to his future litigants that he will come to court every day ready to be fair, honest and respectful. “We’re gonna demand the same thing in our court rooms,” he said. “It’s a professional place to be and we’re going to treat it as such.” Stapleton has said he plans to run for the bench in the August primary and serve at least through the November general election.

This week brings the final installment of the Legislative Updates podcast for the regular session of the 114th Tennessee General Assembly. TBA lobbyists and attorneys Berkley Schwarz of Pier Strategies LLC and Brad Lampley and Ashley Harbin of Adams & Reese discuss the 2026 legislative session winding down, the possibility of a special session to redistrict the state's congressional map and a look forward to the 2026 election cycle. Tune in on the TBA website or through this link. Attorneys interested in supporting the TBA’s lobbying efforts may do so by contributing to LAWPAC. Late Friday afternoon, Gov. Bill Lee officially called for a special legislative session to review the state's congressional map. Read more in a press release.

Nashville lawyers Erik Halvorson and J. Hunter Robinson, both with Bradley, will receive the TBA's prestigious Justice Joseph W. Henry Award for Outstanding Legal Writing on June 12 during the association's Annual Convention in Knoxville. The award, which will be presented at the Lawyers Luncheon, was established more than 40 years ago and is given each year to the lawyer who writes the most outstanding article published in the Tennessee Bar Journal for the preceding year. Halvorson and Robinson are being honored for their article One Domino Falls: Tennessee Supreme Court Reshapes Foreclosure Claims, which appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of the Journal.

In announcing the selection of Halvorson and Robinson, TBA President Heidi Barcus. said, “This winning article took a complex ruling from the Tennessee Supreme Court and, in straightforward and concise language, explained the consequences for both mortgage-related and non-mortgage-related litigation in Tennessee. This is the kind of writing the Joe Henry Award was created to recognize.” The award is named for Joseph W. Henry, a former chief justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court, who was known for his forthright and clear writing. Read more in a press release from the TBA.

The annual Robert Ballow Excellence in Writing Awards were presented to Nashville School of Law (NSL) 4L students on March 25. Eight students were recognized for their performance in the Rigorous Writing Exercise (RWE) program. The RWE is a project all NSL students embark on as a requirement of graduation. Working with a volunteer mentor from the legal community, students research and write a 15-20 page paper on the topic of their choice. See the list of winners and read their work. The school also named NSL alumna Kate Nyquist as the 2025 Mentor of the Year. The honor is conferred in recognition of a mentor’s exceptional service to the program.

Knox County lawyer Robert Brian DeBusk received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on April 28. While working as an assistant district attorney, DeBusk discovered an email sent from a jailed defendant to his attorney. This intercepted email then became part of the basis for a motion to disqualify the district attorney’s office. DeBusk was subpoenaed to testify at a hearing on the motion. While in the hallway prior to testifying, DeBusk discussed the facts with an attorney not related to this matter, who then was called to testify. When asked about the facts, DeBusk stated “I don’t recall,” which was contrary to what he had discussed in the hallway. When further pressed on his recollection, DeBusk refused to answer by pleading the “Fifth.” Finally, DeBusk testified substantively about the facts of the matter. The court found that these actions violated Rules of Professional 8.4(c) and 8.4(d).

Madison County has received $10 million through the General Assembly's approved budget as an initial investment toward building a West Tennessee Regional Juvenile Justice Center that would serve all West Tennessee counties outside of Shelby County. The planned pre-adjudication facility aims to house and support justice-involved youth in a structured environment emphasizing dignity, early intervention and wraparound rehabilitation services. Local and state leaders celebrated the milestone while acknowledging that the $10 million is just a starting point. Full development will require additional state and regional funding to be secured. WBBJ has the story.