Eddie Weeks, the legislative librarian to the Tennessee General Assembly, has authored a new book that documents the progression of the Tennessee Code. “A History of Tennessee Statutory Law: Compilations, Codifications, and Complications” was published by and is available from Lexis Nexis. The publisher calls the book “a must read for those interested in the legal process.” Weeks has served as librarian since 1996. He is a 1991 graduate of the University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies. He previously authored “The Recording of the Tennessee General Assembly by the Tennessee State Library and Archives: One State’s History of Legislative History.”

Make plans now to join the Federal Practice Section for its 2021 Annual Forum on July 23. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear speakers on a variety of topics including federal judicial selection, use of evidence in federal courts, the role of the Senate Judiciary Committee and concepts of originalism and textualism. The virtual program will run from 9 a.m. to noon and offer four general CLE credits. Section members receive a discount for this program. Not a Federal Practice Section member? Join here for additional savings and benefits.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will host three legal advice clinics this week for members of the public with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, and SNAP and unemployment benefits. An in-person clinic will take place Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Operation Stand Down Nashville, 1125 12th Ave. S. Phone clinics will be held Tuesday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. CDT. To help answer questions, contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131.

A historical marker will be dedicated June 25 at 3 p.m. in Yorkville, Tennessee, to honor the work of state lawmaker Banks Turner, a Gibson County native who played a key role in the ratification of women's suffrage in the United States. The public is invited to attend. During a 1920 session of the legislature, Turner — who had initially opposed ratification — suddenly switched his vote, preventing passage of a motion to kill the debate on the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. State lawmakers then went on to ratify the measure, making Tennessee the 36th state to do so, and the one whose approval made the amendment law across the country. Contact Gwen McReynolds for more information. 

Gov. Bill Lee today announced he has appointed Michael Jenne to the 10th Judicial District Circuit Court and Gadson “Will” Perry to 30th Judicial District Chancery Court. Bradley County lawyer Jenne is a partner at the Jenne Law Firm and formerly practiced at Baker Donelson. He earned his law degree from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law. His appointment will take effect July 1, following the retirement of Judge Lawrence H. Puckett. Shelby County lawyer Perry is a partner at Butler Snow and previously served as a law clerk for the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. Perry will fill the seat of former judge Walter L. Evans effective immediately.

Bass, Berry & Sims has appointed Nashville lawyer Lillian M. Blackshear to its executive committee, The Ledger reports. The seven-member committee includes attorneys from the firm’s Memphis, Nashville and Washington, D.C., offices. Committee members oversee strategic priorities of the firm, including client service, diversity and inclusion, growth and pro bono initiatives. Blackshear practices in the public finance  group and has represented clients in public finance transactions since 2010. She also counsels governments and banks to secure financing for development projects and debt refinancing. She is a member of Nashville’s Metropolitan Planning Commission, serves as secretary of the Women in Public Finance Tennessee Chapter, and is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers.

Hamilton County District Attorney Neal Pinkston announced Wednesday that his Cold Case Unit has solved a murder going back 42 years in a case he says has ties to the Gov. Ray Blanton administration. The Chattanoogan.com reports that the Hamilton County Grand Jury ruled it would have indicted Chattanooga crime figure Ed Alley for the first-degree premeditated murder of liquor store operator and alleged mob associate Samuel Pettyjohn, except for the fact that Alley died in 2005. With that, Pinkston said, the case will be considered closed. Pettyjohn and an accomplice allegedly solicited payments from prisoners and passed the funds to the Blanton administration in exchange for those prisoners’ early paroles. When federal authorities began looking into the cash for pardon scheme, Pettyjohn cooperated with the investigation. He was later killed in an execution-style hit inside his store. Others who cooperated with the investigation reported that Alley said he murdered Pettyjohn because he knew too much about the scheme.

A total of 16 sponsors have signed up to help underwrite the costs of this year’s annual convention. Thank you to Fastcase, presenting sponsor of the event; premier sponsors Clio, Geico, L Squared Insurance Agency, TBA Member Insurance Solutions and The Bar Plan; and event partners ABA Retirement Funds, Elite-Brentwood Reporting Services, Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin, HealthCare Appraisers, LawPay, Midwest Special Needs Trust, MyCase, Patterson Intellectual Property Law, Tabs3 Software and Time Miner. Check out their virtual exhibit halls anytime!

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will hold an in-person legal advice clinic tomorrow for members of the public with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, SNAP benefits and unemployment benefits. The clinic will take place from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. CDT at the Belmont Ministry Center, 2005 12th Ave. S., Nashville 37204.  To help answer questions, contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131.

Davidson County General Sessions Court Judge Lynda Jones has received Nashville Cable’s Spirit of Leadership award, which recognizes a Cable member who exemplifies leadership through personal and professional accomplishments. Judge Jones was elected to the bench in August 2014 and served as presiding judge of the court from 2019 to 2020. She also presides over the Nashville Homeless Court. Jones is president of the Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference and chair of the Nashville Bar Association’s General Sessions Court Committee. She previously practiced law in Middle Tennessee.