Lang Wiseman in November will join Memphis-based First Horizon from Baker Donelson's Memphis office. Law.com reports that Wiseman will come onboard as deputy general counsel and then transition to general counsel in January, on the retirement of current General Counsel Charles Tuggle. Wiseman served as deputy governor and general counsel to Gov. Bill Lee for three years. He previously was a founding partner of Wiseman Bray, counsel to the U.S. Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and a law clerk for Harry W. Wellford of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. He currently serves as chair of the Governor's Council for Judicial Appointments. Read more in a release from the company.

Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway is urging parents to talk to their children about the seriousness of school threats. WKRN reports that dozens of teens have been arrested for threatening Metro Nashville schools just since school started. “They absolutely don’t understand what they’re doing,” Calloway said in an interview with the news outlet. “They don’t understand how serious that can be. They’re not really thinking about all of the trauma our community has suffered from true school violence.” She said that when teens are in her courtroom, she has heard myriad reasons why students make threats. “It’s anything from ‘I was being bullied and didn’t know how to respond,' to 'I didn’t want to take a test’, ‘I wasn’t ready for my homework’, or ‘I was not wanting to go to school today.'”

Amy Willoughby Bryant, director of the Metro Nashville Office of Conservatorship Management and a member of TBA's Board of Governors, last week was elected as National Guardianship Association (NGA) president at the group's national conference. She will take office in January 2025. NGA represents more than 1000 guardians, conservators and fiduciaries from across the United States. It seeks to protect adults by ensuring that their guardians receive quality education and access to resources. The NGA also partners with other organizations such as the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the American Bar Association, the National College of Probate Judges and the AARP to affect positive change in guardianship and conservatorship policy.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider five applicants when it meets Nov. 12 in Sevierville to select nominees for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 4th Judicial District, which includes Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties. The applicants are Jeremy D. Ball, Lu Ann H. Ballew, Susan Joanne Sheldon, Luke A. Shipley and S. Lane Wolfenbarger. The public hearing will be held in the third-floor courtroom of the Sevier County Courthouse, 125 Court Ave., Sevierville 37862 at 9 a.m. EST. The commission is expected to vote immediately following the interviews and forward three names to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. A vacancy on the court was created following the death of Judge O. Duane Slone on Aug. 24. Learn more about the candidates in a press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

One of the most important responsibilities of the TBA is to advocate for the legal profession and our system of justice with Tennessee policymakers. TBA’s Government Affairs team is committed to affecting positive change on behalf of Tennessee attorneys and we want your help! Through our Grassroots Advocacy Initiative, the TBA is building a network of lawyers who are informed and engaged about issues relevant to the practice of law in our state. Please complete this form if you are interested in learning more, including opportunities to advocate. Learn more about TBA's ongoing advocacy efforts related to indigent representation.

Twenty members of the TBA recently gathered at Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park in Manchester to participate in the Young Lawyers Division's (YLD) inaugural Exploration CLE. Attendees heard a presentation on ethical pitfalls for new lawyers as well as two presentations focused on health and wellness. A highlight of the day was a ranger-led hike through the park and lunch at a picnic pavilion. The Exploration series is produced in collaboration with the TBA Attorney Well Being Committee. Stay tuned for information on the next state park visit. See photos from the event.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee today announced the launch of "Operation Bond Watch" to prosecute individuals previously charged with murder and attempted murder who unlawfully possess firearms while on bond. The initiative aims to deter violent crime and protect the community. The program will focus on individuals released on bond for serious violent crimes and seek federal charges if they are found to have illegally possessed firearms. According to a press release, the office says the program will help prevent gun violence and hold violent criminals accountable. In April, a Nashville man out on bond for murder was arrested for another murder, highlighting the need for the initiative, the office says. The program is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a broader effort to reduce violent crime and gun violence in communities.

Nashville and Davidson County Metro Council member Delishia Porterfield, who chairs the council's Budget Committee, plans to prioritize investments in youth programs to address recent gun violence in Nashville, including funding a new Office of Youth Safety, Axios Nashville reports. The news outlet says that two recent shootings have underscored the urgency of this issue. Last week, a 14-year-old was fatally shot during an attempted robbery in East Nashville. Earlier this month, mass shooting killed one person and injured nine others, including children. Porterfield's alternative budget earmarked $750,000 for the Office of Youth Safety and $250,000 for increased community center programming. She believes that empowering youth with conflict resolution skills and restorative justice practices can help break the cycle of violence, “The recent tragedy has highlighted the urgent need for effective solutions that not only address conflicts but also promote healing and understanding," Porterfield said in a statement.

Two representatives from the Davidson County Election Commission will facilitate early voting for incarcerated individuals in five jail facilities run by the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 29, a week ahead of the general election on Nov. 5. With approximately 70 people expected to participate, the effort marks a significant increase in engagement compared to past elections, the Nashville Banner reports. People in Nashville's jails are legally allowed to vote unless they have a felony conviction, though logistical challenges have historically hindered participation. Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall collaborated with community advocates to identify those eligible to vote, which resulted in 172 absentee ballot requests.

Cleveland resident Chad Hedgcock has pleaded guilty to two of four misdemeanor counts he was charged with in May, Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. Hedgcock was originally charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, picketing or demonstrating in a Capitol building. In the plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, picketing or demonstrating in a Capitol building. A number of Tennesseans have been charged with crimes stemming from the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.