The Tennessee Bar Association's 2021-2022 membership year is just finished, and it was a busy one. Along with moving from offices in Downtown Nashville to new facilities in the city's West End, TBA members launched new programs to serve lawyers across the state, put in place an outreach program to introduce law students to the profession, bolstered efforts to make the profession more open to diversity, committed to helping lawyers become healthier and more. This graphic provides a quick summary.

Nashville lawyers strongly recommend retaining all appellate court judges up for election this year, a new survey from the Nashville Bar Association shows. Results of the member poll released today also recommend the reelection of General Sessions Judge Lynda F. Jones. NBA President Martesha L. Johnson said the group regularly polls its members regarding judicial elections because they “have firsthand knowledge of the candidates and issues facing Nashville’s legal system” and their assessment “will be useful to the public and help to ensure that the Nashville judiciary is highly qualified and dedicated to a fair and equitable legal system.” Four hundred eighteen responses were received.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division, Belmont University College of Law and Legal Aid Society are teaming up for an expungement clinic July 16 in Nashville. The clinic will be held at 10 a.m. CDT at the law school. The Davidson County Clerk's Office will be on site to screen clients for eligibility and print out paperwork. Volunteer lawyers are needed to give advice on re-entry issues and to fill out expungement paperwork. RSVP by email to Belmont Law Public Interest Coordinator Alix Rogers. Firms interested in sponsoring donuts and coffee are also needed and can contact Rogers for more information. Access an event flyer.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue today released information about three sales tax holidays approved by the General Assembly for this year. The first, offered July 29-31, will include clothing under $100, school supplies under $100 and computers under $1,500. The second, which will run from Aug. 1-31, will include food and food ingredients. The third, which began on July 1, will run through June 30, 2023, and includes gun safes and safety equipment. Learn more about these state sales tax holidays online, by email or by phone at 615-253-0600.

From the Communications Team, meet Director of Access to Justice & Special Projects Liz Slagle Todaro! Liz has worn a variety of hats in her 10 years with the TBA, but has consistently worked with the TBA Access to Justice Committee. Liz also supports special projects including implementing TBA’s updated website and association management platform. As a native Nashvillian, Liz loves live music and admits her musical tastes are heavily influenced by her 15-year-old twins, Bella and Evie! She’s also been involved with policy debate for more than 30 years including working with urban debate leagues across the country. She even met her husband Corey on Emory’s Barkley Forum debate team!

The #TeamTBA series offers members a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the TBA and how each staff members makes the association run. Check back every Wednesday for a new staff profile in TBA Today and on the TBA's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Knoxville lawyer Patty Wheeler, 81, died at home surrounded by her family on June 24. After earning a doctorate degree and law degree from the University of Southern California, Wheeler moved to Knoxville, where she worked at McCampbell & Young, Lewis King, and Wimberly Lawson. During her career, Wheeler served on the Knoxville Bar Association Board of Governors, on the Tennessee Justice Center Board of Governors and as an adjunct professor of research and writing at the University of Tennessee College of Law. She also was a founding member of the East Tennessee Law Association for Women. Following her retirement, she volunteered at the Family Justice Center. Memorial donations may be made to Discover Life in America, 1316 Cherokee Rd., Gatlinburg, TN 37738.

The TBA is hosting a new book club that will meet quarterly over the next 12 months, and we want your input in choosing the first book. The first series of books involves a theme of racial relations and disparities through personal, societal and legal perspectives. We have created a webpage featuring three suggested books to kick off this initiative. Learn more and vote on the first book by July 11, then watch for more details to participate in this virtual book club.

The July/August 2022 issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal features several articles on different aspects of family law. The cover story from Miles Mason Sr. is a step-by-step guide to the warning signs, testing and monitoring of alcoholism as it pertains to custody cases; Marlene Moses' column weighs the merits of joint custody and the child's best interest; and Matt and Kelly Frère offer guidance on what to do when your elderly client has no one to rely on for help with personal affairs. John P. Williams continues his etymological exploration with the history of the word "filibuster" and Stroud Vaughn explains the details of working with IT experts on software contracts. Also get a recap of the 141st Annual TBA Convention and read new President Tasha C. Blakney's goals for the year. Read the issue here.

Concerned that longtime Community Corrections providers were pushed out of the bidding process by Gov. Bill Lee’s administration, lawmakers are set to hold hearings to look into the issue, Tennessee Lookout reports. State Sen. Todd Gardenhire, a Chattanooga Republican who co-chairs the Fiscal Review Committee, confirmed he will schedule meetings later this summer to learn more about why the Tennessee Department of Correction modified the bid process for contracts on Community Corrections services, which he says were working well. State Sen. Ed Jackson, R-Jackson, echoes those concerns and says multiple matters need to be resolved in the state’s decision to shift offenders to state probation. He questioned whether offenders would be treated fairly and if the department would have enough staff to handle new cases.

In addition to honoring civil rights attorney Fred Gray, President Joe Biden will present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Nashville civil rights icon Diane Nash at a ceremony tomorrow, WKRN reports. Nash came to Nashville in 1959 to study at Fisk University and became a leader in nonviolent protests that desegregated the city's lunch counters. She helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and participated in the Freedom Rides. Nash also worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr., who described her as the “driving spirit in the nonviolent assault on segregation at lunch counters.”