Former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kateri Dahl is suing Johnson City Police Chief Karl Turner and the city in federal court, alleging the chief eliminated funding for her job after she pressed the agency to build a case against an individual she believes has raped at least 10 women. She also claims the department ignored or downplayed repeated allegations of rape, mocked the complaining women, and tipped the alleged suspect off to a pending federal indictment, allowing him to escape arrest. Dahl’s suit accuses the department and city of civil conspiracy to violate her First Amendment free speech rights and 14th Amendment due process rights. Tennessee Lookout has an in-depth look at the case.

International firm Womble Bond Dickinson has opened a Nashville office and hired Masami Izumida Tyson as a global business and international trade partner, the Nashville Post reports. Tyson previously was global director of foreign direct investment and trade for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. In that role, she oversaw efforts to recruit international companies to Tennessee. Before that, Tyson served as senior counsel for Nissan North America and held positions at Neal & Harwell and Mentor Graphics. Three of the firm’s partners — Alan Enslen, Josh Mullen and John Scannapieco — also will be splitting their time between the Washington, D.C., and Nashville offices. Jamie Francis, head of the Corporate & Securities Practice, cited Nashville’s growth as an international business center and technology hub as motivating the decision to establish a presence here. The new office is located at 1222 Demonbreun, Nashville, TN 37203.

The Legal Aid Society will host three in-person clinics in Davidson County this month, and lawyers are needed to volunteer one hour of their time to provide civil law advice to walk-in patrons. Topics typically include family law, housing, employment and probate matters. The first clinic will take place tomorrow from 8:30-10:30 a.m. CDT at the Belmont Ministry Center. A second clinic will take place at the Nashville Library on July 13 from 4-6 p.m. CDT. The third clinic will be held July 23 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. CDT at the Belmont Ministry Center. Volunteer lawyers are fully covered by malpractice insurance and supporting materials will be provided. Please email Kendra Cheek if you are interested in volunteering for any of these clinics. See all clinics being offered this month in the broader Middle Tennessee area.

Shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Shinn v. Ramirez, the ABA Death Penalty Representation Project put out a call for more pro bono attorneys to help represent people on death row. In the recent decision, the court found that two men convicted of murder in Arizona could not introduce new evidence in federal court to prove claims of ineffective counsel in their trials, the ABA Journal reports. Emily Olson-Gault, director of the project, says the decision means prisoners now need the best possible pro bono counsel to help them develop postconviction “ineffective assistance of counsel” claims in state court so the foundation is laid for consideration in federal court. For more information on how to get involved, visit the project’s website or email deathpenaltyproject@americanbar.org.

Gov. Bill Lee yesterday named Troy Haley the new administrator of the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. He will take office on Sept. 1, replacing Abbie Hudgens, who is retiring. Haley currently serves as the bureau’s legal services director. He has been with the bureau since 2007 in various roles. Also yesterday, Lee reappointed Timothy W. Conner as presiding judge on the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. Conner has served on the board since 2014 and became presiding judge in January 2020. Read more about the appointments. The bureau also has announced that it will hold a retirement luncheon for Hudgens on Aug. 17.

President Joe Biden signed an executive order today aimed at preserving some access to abortion services, but said that Congress has ultimate control over the issue, Politico reports. “The fastest way to restore Roe is to pass a national law codifying Roe, which I will sign immediately ... ”, he said. Among its provisions, the order instructs the government to protect and expand access to contraception and abortion medication, beef up enforcement of Obamacare’s birth control coverage mandate, consider ways to shore up privacy rights for patients using digital apps that could be targeted, and consider strengthening protections for doctors who perform abortions. The order also directs the Department of Justice to convene private pro-bono lawyers and public interest groups to defend women targeted for prosecution if they travel out of state for abortions. Read more about the effort from the White House.

Womble Bond Dickinson is seeking a junior to mid-level associate to join its growing government contracts practice. Opportunities are available in the firm’s Nashville, Washington, D.C., or northern Virginia office. The ideal candidate should have two to four years of relevant law firm or federal government experience, and have experience with protests, investigations, claims and disputes. Experience with export control issues is a plus. Get the full job description and instructions for applying on the TBA’s JobLink page.

The TBA’s International Law and Practice Section will host an in-person CLE and meet-and-greet today, July 14 at 2:30 p.m. The event will be held at Spencer Fane Bone McAllester, 511 Union St., Ste. 1000, Nashville, TN 37219. The event brings together leaders and attendees from the legal industry, government and business for insightful discussions and presentations about major issues in international law and business. This year’s speaker is Martin Chen, director of the Economic Division of the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Atlanta. The discussion will be moderated by Ronette Adams-Taylor, associate general counsel/director of compliance and risk management at Meharry Medical College. Following the program, there will be a networking reception with light hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and soft drinks. Non-attorneys interested in attending should RSVP here.

A celebration of life for former Davidson County General Sessions and Circuit Court Judge Barbara Haynes has been set for July 16 at 1:30 p.m. CDT at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3900 West End Ave., Nashville. Haynes passed away in January after a long illness. She was 84. Haynes was the first woman elected general sessions judge in the county and was later elected to the circuit court. Guests are asked to consider wearing orange in honor of Haynes’ love for the UT Vols or red as she was proud to wear a red robe on the bench. Guests are also invited to join the family at the Hillwood Country Club afterwards and toast to Haynes. The Tennessean has more on the ceremony and Haynes’ life.

Five attorneys have applied to fill a vacancy on the Sixth Judicial District Criminal Court, which includes Knox County. The vacancy was created after Judge Kyle A. Hixon was confirmed to the Criminal Court of Appeals – Eastern Section. Emily Faye Abbott, Ashley McDermott, Nathaniel R. Ogle, Hector I. Sanchez and Wesley D. Stone will appear before the Trial Court Vacancy Commission public hearing on Aug. 2 for interviews. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. EDT and will result in the commission forwarding three names to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more information on the applicants.