The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee will hold a portrait unveiling and Memorial Garden dedication for former Chief Judge Pamela L. Reeves on Aug. 27. The portrait unveiling will take place at 1:30 p.m. EDT at the Church Street United Methodist Church, 900 Henley at Main, Knoxville 37902. The garden dedication will be held afterward at the Howard M. Baker Jr. United States Courthouse, 800 Market St., Knoxville 37902. Reeves, a former TBA president, died Sept. 10, 2020, following a battle with cancer.

Shelby County lawyer Melanie Renee Yelder died July 19. Yelder maintained a solo practice in Tennessee for over 17 years, and was also licensed and practiced in Arkansas and Missouri. She graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. Yelder’s practice included family law, tort and collections matters. She was also a strong supporter of pro bono work. Most recently, she dedicated her time and energy to housing stabilization efforts through the Eviction Settlement and Emergency Rental Assistance Programs, helping to prevent the eviction of Shelby County residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She was awarded the Memphis Bar Association’s W. J. Michael Cody Access to Justice Award in 2020. The Memphis Bar Association announced her passing today.

Make plans now to join the TBA Bankruptcy Section for the 17th Annual Bankruptcy Law Forum Sept. 24-26 in Gatlinburg. Ten hours of CLE credit are available for this program, including three hours of ethics credit. Registration is limited for this in-person program, so don't delay in reserving your spot for this unique program in a wonderful and relaxing setting.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today appointed Judge Thomas J. Wright as a senior judge for a term of four years, effective Sept. 1. Wright is currently a circuit court judge in the state’s Third Judicial District, which includes Greene, Hancock, Hamblen and Hawkins counties. He will retire on Aug. 31. Wright joined the court in 2006. He previously served as Greene County General Sessions and Juvenile Court judge for eight years.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission today voted to send three candidates to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration in filling a seat on the 25th Judicial District Circuit Court, which covers Fayette, Hardeman, Lauderdale, McNairy and Tipton counties. After conducting a public hearing and interviews of five candidates, the commission voted to recommend James Walter Freeland Jr. of Covington, Rachel J. Jackson of Ripley and Anthony Blake Neill of Somerville. The vacancy was created by the July 2 retirement of Judge Joe H. Walker III. Read more about the three candidates on the Administrative Office of the Court’s website.

The State Building Commission voted 5-2 today to concur with earlier recommendations to move the busts of KKK leader Nathan Bedford Forrest and admirals David Farragut and Albert Gleaves from the state Capitol to the Tennessee State Museum. Gov. Bill Lee voted for the removal, which is slated to happen tomorrow. Tennessee House of Representatives Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and Senate Speaker Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, were the two commission members to vote against removal. Both have repeatedly tried to stop any effort to take down the Forrest bust, Nashville Post reports.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue is hosting another free webinar on July 27 beginning at 9 a.m. CDT. Participants will learn about tax law changes considered during the last General Assembly session and be able to ask questions of department personnel. Register for the upcoming event or check out past webinars on the department’s website.

The Tennessee legislature’s Joint Government Operations Committee met yesterday to discuss the recent firing of the state’s chief immunization officer and efforts to vaccinate children against COVID-19. At the center of the discussion was a statement drafted by committee co-chairs Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield, and Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, that prior to her firing, Dr. Michelle “Shelley” Fiscus had confirmed it is not the policy of the state or county health departments to vaccinate children without parental consent. Fiscus also had detailed steps to stop marketing vaccinations to minors, according to the statement. The co-chairs also urged health departments and schools not to “bully,” “cajole” or “coerce” individuals to be vaccinated, and suggested that failing to disclose potential risks of vaccines could violate federal law. Democrats on the committee objected to the statement, Tennessee Lookout reports.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case later this year on Nashville’s rules for home businesses, Mainstreet Nashville reports. In 1998, the city imposed a ban on home businesses serving clients on site. A new ordinance in 2020 repealed the ban, but some residents say the stipulations are still unfair. Raynor and Lij Shaw sued the city in 2017 after they were told to shut down a home recording studio in 2015. The Institute of Justice, which is working with the Shaws, says the rules are enforced inconsistency. The chancery court had dismissed the case arguing that the 2020 ordinance made it moot.

Williamson County General Sessions Division II Judge Murrey Thomas “Tom” Taylor has announced he will seek another term as a Republican in the 2022 election, the Williamson Herald reports. A graduate of the University of Memphis School of Law, Taylor began his legal career with the county attorney’s office. He later launched a private practice in Franklin. In 1987, he was appointed as city court judge, serving both Fairview and Franklin. In 2014, he ran for his current position. Since taking office, Taylor has helped start a veteran’s treatment court and a mental health court.