The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law Alumni Chapter honored seven lawyers for their careers and contributions to the legal profession and community during its annual Pillars of Excellence Awards ceremony this past Saturday. One of the recipients, state Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, who represents District 12 in East Tennessee, received an award for his outstanding public service. The other honorees included Dorothy J. Pounders, Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr., Leland McNabb, Mark R. Allen, Richard Murrell Carter, David Pickler and Barbara Kritchevsky. The event is the chapter's largest fundraiser and will provide scholarships to law students. The Daily Memphian has the story.

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts announced this week that 4th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge O. Duane Slone died in a traffic accident over the weekend in Jefferson County. He was 61 years old. Slone was first elected to the court in 1998, and in 2009, co-founded the district’s Drug Recovery Court. According to the AOC, he was recognized nationally as an innovator in his efforts to address the opioid-driven addiction crisis. He served as chair of the eight-state Appalachian-Midwest Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative, the Substance Misuse & Addiction Resources for Tennessee “SMART” Justice Network, and the Tennessee Judicial Conference Problem Solving Court Committee, and was a steering committee member of the National Rural Justice Collaborative and “SMART” Policy Network. Prior to taking the bench, he was in private practice in Dandridge and Sevierville and served as assistant district attorney for the 4th Judicial District. WBIR has details on the accident while WVLT 8 has reflections from the community.

Several state leaders are threatening to withhold state sales tax revenue from Memphis and Shelby County if local officials proceed with a ballot referendum addressing gun-related issues, the Commercial Appeal reports. House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, issued a joint statement that the localities would pay a heavy financial penalty if the ballot measure goes through. Memphis is preparing to vote on measures that would impose stricter gun control within the city, which contradict state laws aimed at easing gun access and preventing local "red flag" laws, the article reports. In related news, Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett says his office will not approve the Nov. 5 ballot for Shelby County if it includes a city referendum on gun-control measures, setting up a potential legal showdown with the Memphis City Council. The Daily Memphian has that story.

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell on Friday introduced four pieces of legislation in response to recent racist activities in Nashville, The Tennessean reports. The bills would clarify the city’s mask ordinance, ban the hanging of banners over highways, prohibit distributing flyers after dark on private property and create a buffer zone around public buildings. “When political violence prevents government functions or creates public safety issues, we must have the tools in our toolkit to respond effectively,” O’Connell said.

Newly elected family court Judge Stephanie Williams made history Sunday, becoming the first Black woman to preside over a Davidson County circuit court. She was sworn in at a ceremony on the campus of Trevecca Nazarene University, which was one of the stops on her educational path. Shaped by personal experience as an attorney and a petitioner in family court, Williams says she aims to make family court proceedings more “relational” and less “transactional” whenever possible, while making process more accessible for all. “I hope that they walk away feeling like there is a future, and that they have a hope in that future,” she said of her courtroom, according to the Nashville Banner. 

Tennessee has joined a federal antitrust lawsuit against RealPage, a software company that helps its clients set apartment rental prices. The complaint, filed Friday on behalf of the federal government and seven states, accuses RealPage of hindering fair competition by providing a price-sharing software that suggests monthly rent prices to real estate companies based on vacancies and other participants’ rent charges. The lawsuit alleges that the company "subverts competition and the competitive process ... openly and directly."  The company came under scrutiny in 2022 after ProPublica published an investigation featuring RealPage leadership boasting about rent increases in Nashville. In addition to fair market complaints from small landlords, renters’ rights groups have criticized the company for driving rental costs up amid a nationwide affordable housing crisis. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said in a press release Friday that his office has been looking into RealPage since 2023 and was “glad to be part of this bipartisan effort to protect consumers and hold RealPage accountable.” Axios has the story.

Gov. Bill Lee issued a proclamation last month designating August as “Justice Roger A. Page” month in honor of the 26 years of service given by Justice Page, who is retiring at the end of the month. Page is a Chester County native who graduated from the University of Memphis School of Law  in 1984. He served as an assistant state attorney general in Jackson and was later sworn in as circuit court judge in the 26th Judicial District, where he presided over both civil and criminal trials in Chester, Henderson and Madison counties. Page joined the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2106 after being unanimously confirmed by the Tennessee General Assembly, the first justice to receive that level of support. “Justice Page leaves a legacy of dedicated and tireless work as a trial judge, as an intermediate appellate judge and as Justice and Chief Justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court, with his innate intelligence reflected in his decisions,” the proclamation states. Chester County Independent has the story.

Gov. Bill Lee has responded to news of a federal investigation at the Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, saying the facility operator, CoreCivic, is an important state partner and has made significant efforts to reduce staff turnover, according to The Tennessean. Lee also noted that Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada has spent quite a bit of time at the facility to make sure "that if there are deficiencies that we work to meet them." The Tennessee Lookout also reports that the Lee touted the facility's reduction of the inmate population from 2,480 to 2,068 and increased pay for state correctional officers as gradual improvements, while acknowledging that substantial penalties have been assessed for not meeting contractual requirements.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division provided essential documents to 16 Sumner County firefighters today. Seven attorneys participated and provided approximately $7,500 of legal services free of charge. With the help of two Belmont Law students, these important community members received documents pertaining to powers of attorney, advanced healthcare directives and last wills and testaments. The clinic was organized by YLD District 8 Representative Grace Benitone Burnett.

Judge Joe D. Duncan, a retired presiding judge of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, died Aug. 20 at age 100. Duncan, who grew up in Scott County and received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law, was known for his contributions to the legal profession and his strong family ties. He served in the military, practiced law with his brother, Congressman John James Duncan, and held various judicial positions. Duncan also was involved in community service and family gatherings throughout his life. While funeral arrangements are pending, Duncan will be buried at the family cemetery on S.R. 63 in Huntsville. The Independent Herald has this remembrance.