The TBA Criminal Justice Section will host Criminal Law Basics 2021 on July 7 from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. CDT. This year’s program will focus on sentencing practices and procedures, including an intro to sentencing, alternative sentencing measures and a diverse panel of judges, prosecutors and defense lawyers discussing different perspectives on these important issues. Among those panelists is Cyntoia Brown, a juvenile offender ordered to serve life in prison for murder before ultimately being granted clemency by former Gov. Bill Haslam. Register for the program here.

The final day of the TBA Convention featured two panels focused on legislative issues, the presentation of awards to members of the legal profession and the swearing in of new leaders. This morning, attendees heard from a bipartisan panel of state legislators talking about key legislation considered this past session, and an update on bills the TBA tracked in the last session with Berkley Etheridge Schwarz, director of public policy and government affairs for the TBA, and Adams and Reese attorney and TBA lobbyist Brad Lampley. The Lawyers Lunch followed with a celebration of Michelle Greenway Sellers’ year as president, the presentation of awards to Tennessee lawyers for their service to the profession and the public, and the swearing in of new TBA President Sherie Edwards. Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Bivins administered the oath of office. Edwards announced a number of initiatives for the year including a continued focus on attorney wellness and diversity, new programs to help lawyers “work smarter, not harder” and a renewed look at the TBA’s Glass Ceiling Initiative, a program that addressed issues unique to women in the profession 10 years ago.

The Community Legal Center (CLC) of Memphis has named Butler Snow partner Diana M. Comes as its new executive director. Comes assumes the role following the retirement of previous director Anne Mathes in March. Jerri Green has been serving as interim executive director since then. Comes joins the center from the Memphis office of Butler Snow, where she focused on commercial and appellate litigation. Prior to joining Butler Snow, she was a law clerk for Judge Ronald Gilman on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and Judge Jon P. McCalla on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. She earned her law degree from the University of Memphis. The CLC was incorporated in 1994 and provides civil legal services to those with limited means and those at risk. Read more in a release from the organization.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee yesterday unveiled three limited-edition posters highlighting each of the state’s grand divisions as part of the state's celebration of 225 years of statehood, Chattanoogan.com reports. “From the Mississippi River to the Great Smoky Mountains, our grand divisions reflect their own unique character and represent the best of Tennessee,” Lee said. The limited-edition posters, designed by Knoxville artist Justin Helton, highlight the culture and beauty of each grand division. Learn more about the 225th celebration and find out how to request a poster at www.Tennessee225.com.

During the Tennessee Judicial Conference meeting this week in Memphis — held in conjunction with the TBA’s Annual Convention — judges from across the state paid tribute to Tennessee Supreme Chief Justice Jeff Bivins for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, the court has issued 10 orders related to the pandemic and has provided guidance to courts at all levels about holding remote proceedings. More recently, as the state began to open back up, Bivins reviewed reopening plans for courts in all 31 judicial districts. Bivins thanked his colleagues for the honor and a commemorative t-shirt they gave him that read, ”People, please mute your phones” — a nod to the unexpected interruptions and candid moments that occurred during remote hearings. Bivins also thanked Administrative Office of the Courts General Counsel Rachel Harmon, who fielded thousands of emails, calls and texts from judges seeking guidance on holding proceedings during the pandemic.

The Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission has forwarded two applications to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration to fill a vacancy on the 26th District Chancery Court. After the deadline to apply passed yesterday, only Jackson lawyers Lisa A. Houston and Steven Wayne Maroney had applied. Houston practices with Seiler & Houston. Maroney serves with Teel & Maroney. Because the commission was unable to send the governor three qualified individuals, he may now fill the vacancy with the candidate of his choice. This vacancy will be created by the retirement of Chancellor James F. Butler on July 1. The district covers Chester, Henderson and Madison counties.

Among the many initiatives announced today by newly-installed TBA President Sherie Edwards is a new four-month program for entrepreneurial lawyers, solo practitioners or newly formed solo/small firms looking to strategically and sustainably scale and modernize their law practice. Focused on business education and development, the Scaling Small Law program will cover issues such as business planning, marketing, finance and budgeting, client service and experience, ethical considerations, and outsourcing and leveraging technology. The program, which offers 15 hours of dual CLE credit, will run from mid-August to mid-December. Applications are due by Aug. 2.

State Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, has reportedly asked the state attorney general for a formal opinion on whether Davidson County District Attorney General Glenn Funk’s public statements that he will not enforce a new law are grounds for disciplinary action or removal. In May, Gov. Bill Lee signed into a law a new requirement that businesses and government facilities open to the public post a sign if they let transgender people use multi-person bathrooms, locker rooms or changing rooms associated with their gender identity. Funk has been vocal that his office will not pursue charges against anyone who refuses to hang the sign. Ragan says he understands prosecutors have discretion with regard to the cases they bring but takes issue with Funk announcing such decisions in the media, the Tennessean reports.

Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich announced yesterday there would be no charges filed against three Germantown police officers who fatally shot a man last year while responding to a domestic disturbance, the Commercial Appeal reports. Weirich brought in the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to look into the shooting. The Violent Crime Response Team found that the shooting was justified based on witness interviews, videos, crime scene photos, ballistics and autopsy results. The police were responding to a 911 call from Brian Cooper’s wife who said he had assaulted her and fired gunshots. The officers found Cooper in the backyard with an AR-style rifle and a handgun in his front pocket. When ordered to drop the weapons, Cooper refused to cooperate and instead began raising a weapon.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the city of Philadelphia violated the free exercise clause when it refused to contract with a Catholic foster care agency that does not place children with same-sex couples or unmarried couples. The decision was unanimous, although three justices concurred in the judgment rather than joining the opinion by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., the ABA Journal reports. In the majority opinion, Roberts wrote that Catholic Social Services, “seeks only an accommodation that will allow it to continue serving the children of Philadelphia in a manner consistent with its religious beliefs; it does not seek to impose those beliefs on anyone else.”