Chattanooga-based law firm Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers made a $1 million pledge to the University of Tennessee College of Law to support scholarships for students interested in pursuing legal careers in advocacy and the Douglas A. Blaze Leadership Scholarship. “Robust scholarships are essential to attracting the best students nationwide," Dean Lonnie T. Brown Jr. said after the gift announcement. “We are deeply grateful for the firm’s continued support, which profoundly influences the lives of our graduates and the clients they represent.” Read more in a press release from the school.

Henry Leventis, the former, U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee has joined Holland & Knight’s Nashville Office. He will serve as a partner in the firm’s Healthcare Regulatory & Enforcement Practice, where he will focus on representing health care companies, executives and providers in government and internal investigations. Leventis announced earlier this month that he would resign from the federal post. Leventis served as the district’s top federal prosecutor since 2022. He previously was the assistant U.S. attorney in Nashville and a trial attorney at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Read more in a release from the firm.

The Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission is seeking applications to fill vacancies in two state courts. Applicants are sought for the 4th Judicial District Circuit Court, which serves Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties. Those interested should apply no later than noon CDT on Oct. 23. A public hearing of applicants will be held on Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. EDT at the Sevier County Courthouse. In addition, the Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is accepting applications for a vacancy on the Court of Criminal Appeals. Applicants should be residents of the state's Eastern Grand Division. Those interested in this position should apply by noon CST on Nov. 13. A public hearing for this position will be Dec. 5 at 10:30 a.m. EST at the Tennessee Supreme Court Building in Knoxville. Both applications can be found on the Administrative Office of the Courts website.

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts is celebrating the appointment of Judge Adrienne Waters Ogle to the Fourth Judicial District Circuit Court, noting in a press release that she is the first woman to hold that position. Ogle was appointed to the court by Gov. Bill Lee in September. She fills a new position that was created by the Tennessee legislature to address a backlog of civil cases in Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson, and Sevier counties. Prior to joining the court, Ogle served as a juvenile magistrate in Sevier County for 10 years and as a partner at Green, Waters Ogle and the McCarter Law Firm. Of her new post Ogles says, “I am honored. I also think it’s a big responsibility. I want to do a great job. I’m sure all judges do, but maybe even more so because I’m the first female. I feel like there’s a responsibility to do not just a good job, but a great job."

U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III in the Eastern District of Tennessee has announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded more than $5.1 million in grants to help reentry programs in the district. Funding from the department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) will provide services in a number of jurisdictions including Bedford County, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Johnson City and Knoxville. Chattanoogan.com has more.

The July 2024 bar exam is shaping up to be a strong one for test takers, with pass rates largely trending up, according to Reuters. More than half of U.S. states had reported exam results as of Friday morning with 18 of the 26 posting higher overall pass rates than in July 2023. Ten states saw improvements of five percentage points or more, two states had the same pass rate as last year, while six were down by small margins. Officials with the National Conference of Bar Examiners attributed some of the gains to the large size and strong academic credentials of the entering class of 2021. Applicants to law school increased 13% that year due to the pandemic.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has activated a limited disaster plan for trial courts in four judicial districts impacted by severe flooding from Hurricane Helene. The order extends deadlines for filings, statutes of limitation and certain court orders by 45 days, from Sept. 26 to Nov. 12. Orders of protection and temporary injunctions that would otherwise expire between those dates are now extended until Nov. 12. This action follows emergency declarations by Gov. Bill Lee and President Joe Biden that an emergency exists in the state of Tennessee, including parts of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Judicial Districts, according to a press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The TBA’s Animal Law Section held its annual forum today at the Nashville Zoo. Attendees heard from experts on issues affecting veterinary clinics and topics related to pet and animal liability, regulations and oversight in animal research, the veterinary client-patient relationship, pet trusts and more. Attendees also had the opportunity to explore the zoo during lunch and get to know two of the zoo’s residents — a python and anteater. See photos from the event.

Hurricane Helene has become one of the deadliest storms in the U.S., with over 200 deaths and hundreds still missing across six states, according to the Washington Post. The American Bar Association shared updates and ways to help across the entire region. The TBA continues to work closely with Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS), other partner organizations and government agencies on the provision of free civil legal services for those affected by Helene, including legal clinics. In Tennessee, the TALS website Help4TN and helpline 844-HELP4TN are always available and have specific resources and legal support for storm survivors. Lawyers from across the state are invited to complete this online form to volunteer to help disaster survivors. The TBA Disaster Resources page offers general information for those impacted by disasters, as well as those seeking to provide assistance. The TBA's Helene Disaster Response page has information and resources specific to this disaster.

A federal jury in Memphis late yesterday found three former Memphis Police Department (MPD) officers guilty of various federal felonies related to the beating and subsequent death of Tyre Nichols, the Associated Press reports. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith were all convicted of witness tampering related to a cover-up of the beating, but Bean and Smith were acquitted of civil rights charges. Haley was acquitted of violating Nichols’ civil rights causing death, but he was convicted of the lesser charge of violating his civil rights causing bodily injury. All three were taken into custody. A hearing will be held Monday to determine if they should be released on bond prior to sentencing. A sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 22, 2025, the Commercial Appeal reports. According to a press release from the Department of Justice, the defendants’ supervising lieutenant as well as MPD officers who trained the defendants on use of force all testified that Nichols posed little or no threat to officers and that the use of force was inconsistent with MPD training and policy.