The TBA BarBuzz podcast closes out its second season with special co-host Julia Wilburn, the new editor of the Tennessee Bar Journal. Tune in for important legal news, upcoming events and a brief recap of the TBA Annual Convention. BarBuzz is part of the TBA Podcast Network and can be found on the TBA’s website or anywhere you listen to podcasts. 

The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference (TNDAGC) last week announced it has elected new members to its executive committee. The state’s 31 district attorneys general have chosen 9th District Attorney General Russell Johnson to serve as the committee’s president. Russell, who serves Loudon, Meigs, Morgan and Roane counties, will lead the committee in managing a budget of more than $130 million and 1,100 employees. Other elected officers include 26th District Attorney General Jody Pickens, who will serve as vice president, and 13th District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway, who will serve as secretary. Newly elected committee members include: 7th District Attorney General Dave Clark; 8th District Attorney General Jared Effler; 14th District Attorney General Craig Northcott; 18th District Attorney General Ray Whitley; 28th District Attorney General Frederick Hardy Agee; and 30th District Attorney General Amy Weirich. Read more from the TNDAGC.

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) recently presented a number of awards during its commencement celebration. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Suzanne Bauknight delivered the commencement address, telling the 75 graduates the importance of focusing on their character as they enter the legal profession. Also during the ceremony, Victoria Ungos was presented with the Lincoln Lawyer Award for Leadership, Dustin Young was selected for the Lincoln Lawyer Award for Character, and Nicole Human received the Lincoln Lawyer Award for Service. Finally, Associate Professor of Law Stevie Swanson was awarded Professor of the Year Award, which is voted on by the entire law school student body. Read more about the awards.

Those who can own up to their mistakes will be better leaders and will improve their work environment, Bigspeak Executive Vice President Ken Sterling writes in Inc. Most people do not like to admit to mistakes. From an early age we are taught that mistakes are bad so we learn to deny, minimize and deflect them. But this creates a culture of distrust and blame. The irony, Sterling says, is that admitting mistakes has the best rewards in the long term — especially for your own leadership, building trust with those around you and creating a work culture of accountability. Learn more about being honest about mistakes in his article “Why Taking Ownership of Your Errors Improves Work Culture and Leadership."

Two individuals from East Tennessee have been accused of fraud in the federal Paycheck Protection Loan Program, Tennessee Lookout reports. Leslie Danielle Bethea of Surgionsville has been indicted on wire fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors argue she fabricated a fake business and used the funds instead to get plastic surgery in Florida. She also allegedly lied on her application by failing to note she was previously convicted of fraud. In addition, Antonio Dewayne Menifee of Chattanooga has been accused of submitting fake forms to garner a loan for a nonexistent construction firm. When law enforcement searched his home they found cocaine and a stolen gun. He previously was convicted of conspiracy to sell cocaine and guns. Both Bethea and Menifee are behind bars. Federal officials say the cases are typical of the “epic swindle” they are finding in the loan program.

The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down a Maine education policy that made K-12 schools with religious instruction ineligible for taxpayer-backed tuition aid, continuing the conservative majority court’s general trend of ruling for religious interests, The Hill reports. Though the case does not affect Tennessee, some observers says it bolsters that state’s arguments for a robust school choice program. The court also ruled that non-citizens can be detained indefinitely under federal immigration law without bond hearings and that federal judges lack the authority to order the government to release immigrants who have been detained without hearings on a class-wide basis. Read more about that decision from Reuters.

Tennessee voters will decide whether to make "Right to Work" a permanent part of the state Constitution this fall, the Johnson City Press reports. Amendment 1, supported by Republican members of the General Assembly and Gov. Bill Lee, will appear on the Nov. 8 statewide ballot. Tennessee is among 27 states with a “Right to Work” law that prohibits the hiring or firing of workers “based on their membership in, affiliation with, resignation from or refusal to join or affiliate with any labor union or employee organization.” It has been the law since 1947 but some believe it should be enshrined in the state Constitution. The paper looks at the arguments for and against the ballot initiative.

The Nashville law firm formerly known as Collins & Hunter, has changed its name to HMC Civil Rights Law to reflect new management and ownership. The firm, which focuses on employment discrimination cases, was founded by Heather Moore Collins. In a release announcing the name change, she says she is excited for this next chapter of growth. “We have a lot of strategic initiatives planned and I am thrilled to be walking through this with our team." Associate attorneys Ashley Walter and Caroline Drinnon, office manager and trial paralegal Erica Runnels and EEOC & discovery paralegal Shanisha Cooper remain with the firm, which now can be found online at hmccivilrights.com.

The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) is accepting nominations for its three annual Access to Justice Awards: Janice M. Holder Award, B. Riney Green Award and New Advocate of the Year Award. Nominations and any supporting documents must be submitted by July 8. The awards will be presented at the 2022 Equal Justice University Conference Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. Learn more about the awards process or contact Judy Fazi with any questions.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will host a free webinar today to discuss sales tax issues for headquarters, data centers and call centers. Participants will learn about credits and other tax advantages for headquartering a business in Tennessee or establishing a data center or call center in our state. Register here. Participants will learn when contractors are subject to sales tax and exemptions for certain special situations. The program is part of a series offered by the department each month. The Department of Revenue has more on upcoming webinars.