Internal data from the Shelby County District Attorney's Office shows that more than 100 employees have left since Steve Mulroy's election in 2022. The Daily Memphian reports that between Aug. 31, 2022, the day Mulroy was officially sworn into office, and Dec. 30, 2022, 42 people left the office, according to a spreadsheet that was inadvertently distributed by email last month to current employees of the office. Erica Williams, spokesperson for the office, said the amount of transition is common, especially during leadership changes. Mulroy replaced Amy Weirich, who held the position since 2011. “In comparison, the previous administration experienced the transition of about 80 employees within a similar time period,” Williams said.

Former Davidson County Medical Examiner (ME) Dr. Bruce Levy has recanted his testimony in the 2000 death of Bryan Alexander Maze. Russell Maze, father of "Baby Alex," was convicted of shaking his son and causing the injuries that led to his death. Levy now says that after reviewing medical records that were not previously made available to him, as well as recent reports from medical experts who have studied the case, "If called to testify now, I would assert Bryan Maze’s brain, at the time of his death, showed no indication, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, of prior trauma or abuse. Instead, the residual brain lesions viewed at autopsy more likely than not resulted from a natural disease process." The Nashville Banner interviewed multiple attorneys who said that they had never seen a medical examiner change a conclusion in a homicide case.

State health officials recently approved a project by Cedar Recovery to build a $2.5 million methadone clinic in Putnam County outside Cookeville. The project has met with sharp criticism from community members who testified before the Health Services Commission, which determines whether to grant a certificate of need to a health services provider. The commission's attorney reminded members when deciding how to vote that the body does not oversee zoning, and federal law protects substance use treatment centers from discrimination. “You can’t treat this any differently than you would treat [another medical provider] applicant. Otherwise, we would end up in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.” Nashville Public Radio has more on the story.

Stuart Teicher, the CLE Performer, is back with three new sessions. Join him on Nov. 7 for one, two or all three of these webcasts! From 9-10 a.m., Teicher will look at a host of grammar and punctuation rules that don’t make sense and are in some cases are not even rules in "Legal Writing Rules You SHOULD Be Breaking." From 10:15-11:15 a.m., Teicher will connect the cast of "Friends" to a number of ethics rules in "Friends ... An Ethical Sitcom?" To wrap up the series, Teicher will look at the worst criminals in history and the ethics lessons they teach us. "From Bonnie and Clyde to Bernie Madoff: What the Biggest Thieves in History Teach About Attorney Ethics" will run from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All times in central time zone.

Womble Bond Dickinson and Lewis Roca have announced that the two large, multi-practice law firms will merge, creating a firm of more than 1,300 attorneys in 37 offices in the United States and United Kingdom. The merger, which will give Womble Bond Dickinson additional locations in the southwest and mountain west, will be effective on Jan. 1, 2025. The resulting firm will continue to operate as Womble Bond Dickinson under the leadership of CEO Merrick Benn and Vice Chair Kenneth Van Winkle. Womble Bond Dickinson opened an office in Nashville in 2022. It is run by managing partner Joshua A. Mullen.

The Nashville Bar Association (NBA) has announced the members of the 2025 Nashville Bar Foundation (NBF) Leadership Forum class. Of the new class, NBA President Erin Palmer Polly said, "This very select and diverse class will have the opportunity to develop exceptional leadership skills and foster strong professional relationships. We look forward to the positive impact that they will have in our profession and our community." The NBF established the Leadership Forum — a nine-month leadership program for lawyers with three to eight years of experience — in 2014 to bring together emerging leaders who participate in monthly workshops designed to help them realize their potential to benefit the legal profession and the local community.

Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Mary L. Wagner received a warm welcome to the bench as family, friends, colleagues, elected officials and the judiciary joined her in Germantown for a ceremonial investiture by Gov. Bill Lee. “Justice Wagner is highly qualified and brings significant experience to the Tennessee Supreme Court,” Lee said. “Her understanding and respect for the rule of law and commitment to the conservative principles of judicial restraint make her well-suited for the state’s highest court, and I am proud to celebrate her investiture.” Wagner was confirmed by the Tennessee legislature in March and her term began Sept. 1. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder and her law degree at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Wagner fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Roger A. Page. Read more in a press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts and see photos from the event.

The Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) announces that Clinical Case Manager Erin Lynch has received licensure by the state of Tennessee as a professional counselor, temporary (LPC-temp) and she now will complete her remaining LPC supervision hours as a licensed therapist. Lynch joined TLAP in October 2023. Her experience includes providing comprehensive clinical services to clients struggling with mood disorders and substance use disorders. Lynch has also worked in the realms of public policy, criminal prosecution and domestic violence litigation, and she understands the mental health challenges of working in the legal profession.

The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) on Thursday hosted its annual Bench & Bar Celebration. The KBA’s Diversity in the Profession Committee presented the 2024 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award to Legal Aid of East Tennessee, and attendees heard about the organization's innovative efforts to be accessible to clients and provide a meaningful and welcoming workplace for all employees. See photos from the event.

Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Rob Philyaw has been elected president of the Tennessee Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (TCFCJ) by its members from across the state. He will serve a term of two years. He previously served in the roles of treasurer and vice-president, as well as a member of TCFCJ's Executive and Legislative committees. Reflecting on his selection Philyaw said, “This kind of service was engrained in me in my first year of practicing law and has never left me. I look forward to the opportunities that the next two years will bring to further our work locally and across Tennessee. We have the best professional staff in Hamilton County and the broader work helps me do a better job for our families here every day.” Chattanoogan.com has the story.