Only four races on Montgomery County’s May 3 primary ballot are contested, including the race for county mayor, district attorney, Circuit Court Part I, and General Sessions & Juvenile Court Division II. Candidates in the race for 19th Judicial District include incumbent District Attorney Robert Nash, 23rd District Assistant DA Steve Powers and Assistant City Attorney Neil Stauffer, all running for the Republican nomination. Appearing on the ballot for judge in circuit court is incumbent Judge Amy Fry and attorney John Holt, both running for the Republican nomination. Attorneys Reid Poland and Eric Yow will vie to be the Republican nominee for judge on the General Sessions & Juvenile Court. Finally, Wes Golden will face Wallace Redd for the Republican nomination for county mayor. The county primary will take place May 3, with early voting running from April 13-28. Read more from Clarksville Now.  

Germantown law firm Dowden, Worley, Jewell & Olswing PLLC is seeking an attorney to take referrals from firm on a fee split arrangement. According to the posting on the TBA’s JobLink page, the attorney would be considered an independent contractor with the firm providing legal assistance. To apply, send a resume to kwallace@dwjlawfirm.com. See all job postings on TBA JobLink.  

Nashville activist and divinity student Justin Jones has announced he is running for the state’s District 52 House seat, the Nashville Post reports. Jones will run as a Democrat, joining Metro Councilmember Delishia Porterfield in the race. If elected, Jones says he would focus on fighting extremism, including extremism related to immigration. “People want to know how we are resisting these extreme bills,” Jones said. “It’s the same concerns, and I think people are united in that conversation.” Jones has frequently protested at the state legislature on behalf of voting rights, racial justice and other issues. He seeks to replace outgoing Rep. Mike Stewart.

Knoxville attorney Thomas G. Slaughter died Sunday. He was 64. Originally from New Jersey, Slaughter stayed in Knoxville after earning his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. He entered private practice in 1988, concentrating primarily in criminal defense. Slaughter joined the Anderson County Public Defender’s Office in 2020. Visitation will take place on Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. EDT at Click Funeral Home, 9020 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923. Mass will be Thursday at 1:30 p.m. EDT at All Saints, 620 N. Cedar Bluff Rd., Knoxville, TN 37923. A reception will follow.

The Coalition for Mediation Awareness in Tennessee (CMAT) has announced that Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee is this year’s recipient of the Grayfred Gray Public Service in Mediation Award. According to a CMAT press release, Lee was chosen for the honor based on her “innovative and lasting contributions to the field of mediation.” Those contributions include her leadership in implementing the Supreme Court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Plan, which aimed to help reduce case backlogs by encouraging the courts to refer cases to mediation. “I am honored to receive this award,” Lee said. “Mediation is an integral and valuable part of our system of justice which allows people to resolve disputes efficiently and effectively.” Lee will receive the award during the Tennessee Association of Professional Mediators annual meeting on April 8. Gov. Bill Lee proclaimed April 2022 as Mediation Month in Tennessee to recognize the contributions of mediation and to encourage its further growth in the state.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will present its 2022 Breakfast of Champions program virtually on April 6 at 8 a.m. CDT. Hosted by NewsChannel 5’s Jennifer Kraus and featuring a keynote address from former Titans football player Eddie George, the program will celebrate LAS clients, staff and donors who are champions in their communities. Attendance is free, but registration is required. Register here.

Hamilton County District Attorney Neal Pinkston, the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference (TNDAGC) and Tennessee Voices for Victims will soon launch a statewide virtual support group for those affected by homicide, the Chattanoogan reports. The groups, which will be led by trained counselors, aim to provide connectivity and understanding and give attendees the tools they need to create a “new normal” in their lives. There is no cost to participate. “We hope these support groups can be beneficial for members of our district and go the extra step to build an even stronger sense of community,” Pinkston said of the support groups. The public can sign up for a group on the TNDAGC’s website. 

The TBA is hitting the road and coming to a city near you during its 2022 Court Square series. The series of three-hour programs is designed to provide attorneys with the latest developments in multiple areas of the law and to focus on the legal communities, needs and interests of each city. Each session will begin with lunch, a networking opportunity with TBA leadership and a wellness discussion with the TBA Attorney Well Being Committee. An ethics update also will be included. The series will kick off in Columbia on April 21, followed by programs in Murfreesboro on May 17, Cookeville on May 19 and Chattanooga on June 3.

The Board of Professional Responsibility yesterday issued a public censure to Anderson County lawyer Brian Jamie Hunt. After taking military inactive status in 2012, Hunt failed to apply for reinstatement and failed to pay attorney registration fees when he returned to private practice. He practiced law while his license status was military inactive in violation of Rule of Professional Conduct 5.5 dealing with unauthorized practice.

The cost of the “truth-in-sentencing” bill working its way through the Tennessee General Assembly depends on who you ask, according to the Commercial Appeal. In fact, the Tennessee General Assembly staff estimate the cost to be $40 million annually while the Tennessee Department of Corrections estimates it will cost the state $77 million annually 10 years after enacted. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bill, which would require certain felons to serve 100% of their sentence. David Raybin with the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers spoke against the bill saying it would effectively double or triple some sentences. The bill is backed by Senate leadership and has strong support among Republicans but Gov. Bill Lee has not endorsed it. His criminal justice reforms passed last year were designed to reduce sentences.