Metro Nashville Councilmember Larry Hagar this week picked up a petition to run as a Democrat for Davidson County Division 7 Circuit Court, the Nashville Post reports. Hagar has served Metro’s District 11, which includes Old Hickory and other neighborhoods near Old Hickory Lake, since 2015. “I pretty well accomplished everything I set out to do in the district,” he told the Post. In his law practice, Hagar handles probate matters like those heard by Division 7. He seeks to fill the seat held by retiring Judge Randy Kennedy, whose legacy Hagar says he hopes to continue.  

Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee this month honored three state employees for their years of service in the Tennessee Appellate Court’s Eastern Division. Becky Doyle (20 years), Francesa Kraft (10 years) and Andy Whaley (10 years) were presented with awards at the celebration, which also included Jim Hivner, Clerk of the Appellate Courts, and members of the Knoxville Appellate Court Clerk’s Office. Doyle and Kraft work in the Appellate Court Clerk’s Office in Knoxville. Whaley is senior clerk to Court of Appeals Chief Judge D. Michael Swiney. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more on the ceremony.

The upcoming webcast, Essential Law Firm Technology - The Best of What's Out There, will define and explain the technologies that can help any lawyer solve problems, improve client service and make life easier. The program, set for Dec. 23 from 3 to 4 p.m. CST, will teach the essential software and hardware tools to protect client confidentiality, organize case information, manage a practice more efficiently and improve profitability. It is part of the TBA’s annual Year End CLE Event, which offers a variety of live virtual or on-demand programs, CLE packages and much more to help meet your last minute CLE needs. 

Learn practical solutions to take back to your firm in the TBA CLE webcast Driving Profitability in Your Firm, playing at 3 p.m. CST tomorrow. The seminar will show how to track and measure the impact of change, demonstrate real-life examples of productivity tips, deliver tools to transfer to your firm to build a plan for maximum efficiency and more. This program is part of the TBA’s annual Year End CLE Event, which offers a variety of live virtual or on-demand programs, CLE packages and much more to help meet your last minute CLE needs. 

Former Chattanooga City Court Judge Walter Williams was honored over the weekend by the Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity for his lifelong achievements, Chattanoogan.com reports. Judge Williams first won a seat on the bench in 1991. His “no-nonsense approach” gained him national attention and is credited with helping to reduce repeat offenders in city court by 50% during his tenure, fraternity officials said. Williams retired in 2003 after serving 12 years on the bench.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will hold its next free webinar on state tax issues on Dec. 28 at 9 a.m. CST. This second December session will focus on reporting out-of-state sales by delivery destination as well as a number of important changes that have been made to the filing process for these sales. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions of department staff.

The Knox County General Sessions Division V (civil) has announced that effective Jan. 4, 2022, all business will be conducted in the third floor courtroom of the Old Knox County Courthouse, 300 Main Ave., Knoxville 37902. Attorneys and litigants should enter the courthouse through the main security portal and proceed upstairs to the courtroom.

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts has announced that 24th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Donald E. Parish will retire in August 2022. Parish was elected to the bench in 2006 after nearly 25 years in private practice and part-time service as municipal court judge in his hometown of Huntingdon. He earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law and has been involved in a range of bar associations and legal groups over the years, including serving as president of the Carroll County Bar Association. As he prepares to leave office, Parish has recommendations for the court system and anyone interested in replacing him. Read more in this profile of his career. The 24th Judicial District Circuit Court serves Henry, Carroll, Benton, Decatur and Hardin counties.

Montgomery County General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge Sharon Massey Grimes has announced her candidacy for re-election, Clarksville Now reports. Massey Grimes has held the position since January, when she was appointed by the Montgomery County Commission to complete the unexpired term of her late husband, Judge Ray Grimes, who passed away from COVID in November 2020. She oversees adult and juvenile criminal and civil cases, juvenile truancy cases, orders of protection and the county Recovery Court. Massey Grimes earned her law degree from the Nashville School of Law. She was a practicing attorney for 23 years prior to being appointed judge.

Late Friday afternoon, a three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to reinstate the Biden administration's vaccine-or-test mandate for businesses with at least 100 employees, The Hill reports. In its ruling, the court said the administration was justified in imposing the mandate to protect workers, especially those who are unvaccinated, from “grave danger in the workplace.” The decision also dissolved a stay issued by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in November. Within hours, opponents of the mandate appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, SCOTUSBlog reports. To give businesses more time to respond, the administration said it would delay for up to six days any citations for failure to comply with the mandate. The original deadline was Jan. 4. 2022.