Nashville lawyer Phillip Miller has joined with attorneys in Philadelphia to file suit against Lorin Ashton, an electronic dance music DJ known as Bassnectar, on behalf of two clients who allege he sexually abused them while minors. According to Rolling Stone magazine, some of the alleged conduct occurred in a Memphis hotel. The suit also accuses Bassnectar of manufacturing and possessing child pornography, and names a number of his management companies that are accused of engaging in a human trafficking venture. According to the legal team, dozens of young and underage women have detailed the ways in which they were victimized by Bassnectar. Those with information about the case or who have been victimized can call 855-382-3385.

The news item on Jerry Morgan’s lawsuit against the Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR) in yesterday’s issue incorrectly stated Morgan's length of employment with the BPR. Morgan had worked at the BPR since 2019.

The Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee has approved legislation that would reduce the amount of time a person must serve before becoming eligible for parole, the Nashville Scene reports. Bill author Sen. Janice Bowling, R-Tullahoma, said that a person convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life with the possibility of parole must serve 51 years in prison before being considered for release. That is double the national average and means most will die before they get a chance at parole, she argued. The bipartisan bill, also sponsored by Rep. London Lamar, D-Memphis, would reduce that time to 25 years. The committee advanced the bill with seven senators voting for it, one not voting and one opposing. It now goes to the Calendar Committee to be scheduled for a floor vote.

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, on Monday reinstated fellow Republican Rep. Bruce Griffey, R-Paris, to his committee assignments, less than two weeks after stripping them from him. The dispute between Griffey and House leadership seemingly stemmed from Griffey’s unsuccessful effort to call a vote on an immigration bill that had previously failed in a subcommittee, the Nashville Post reports. “I’ve got a little bit of a temper,” Griffey reportedly said after apologizing to leadership. “If I got upset and said something to any members out of frustration or unhappiness, I told everybody I’m sorry if I offended anybody. I didn’t mean to offend anybody.” The speaker’s decision to strip him of his committees raised the ire of his home county Republican Party, which approved a resolution calling on Sexton to resign. Griffey said he was “grateful” for the support but did not coordinate with the group.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today transferred the law license of Shelby County lawyer Kathleen Laird Caldwell to disability inactive status. Caldwell may not practice law while on inactive status. She may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by the court after showing that her disability has been removed.

A portrait of former Court of Appeals Chief Judge Charles D. Susano Jr. was unveiled recently in the Knoxville Supreme Court building where he heard countless cases over the course of his 25-year judicial career. Among those who spoke at the ceremony was Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee, who praised Susano for his generosity as a mentor to young lawyers and judges (including herself when she joined the court in 2004), for the more than 1,000 opinions he authored and for the many awards he received — including the Justice Frank F. Drowota III Outstanding Judicial Service Award from the TBA in 2017. She also referenced the physical challenges he has dealt with and how his perseverance has been an inspiration to others. Susano was appointed to the bench in 1994 after having served in private practice for 30 years. He served as presiding judge of the court from 2012 to 2014. At the time of his retirement in April 2020, Susano was the longest serving appellate judge in the state.

Retired Judge James Kenneth Porter, who served as a circuit court judge in the 4th Judicial District, died Monday in Newport, one day shy of his 87th birthday, the Administrative Office of the Courts announced today. Judge Porter retired from the bench in 1993. He was first elected as a circuit court judge in 1974 after having served as a state senator for one term and a state representative for four terms representing Cocke County. Porter graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1957. A private family graveside service will be held in Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Spring Hill and Franklin Municipal Court Judge Deana Hood has been appointed to the Judicial Ethics Committee by the Tennessee Supreme Court, the Williamson Herald reports. She replaces Judge Paul Plant and will serve through Dec. 31, 2024. Hood has served as a municipal court judge in Spring Hill since 2018 and in Franklin since 2014. She also maintains a full-time law practice in Franklin. Hood studied political science at Middle Tennessee State University and received her law degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. The committee issues formal ethics opinions requested by judges.

The Memphis City Council unanimously confirmed the nomination of Carolyn Watkins to Memphis Municipal Court, Division One, the Daily Memphian reports. Watkins was appointed by Mayor Jim Strickland to fill a vacancy on the court created by the death of Judge Teresa Jones in January. She has been a lawyer for more than 30 years with Shelby County government, working as the equal opportunity compliance administrator and at the public defender’s office.

For years, then NYU School of Law Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Arthur Fama offered regular yoga sessions for law students, believing it would make them better lawyers. In an article written for NYU News, Fama, who is now a mindfulness instructor, says that yoga offers five benefits for lawyers: (1) yoga helps develop the skill of listening mindfully, staying in the moment and staying focused; (2) yoga creates a balance between the different sides of the brain, allowing practioners to engage the analytical side with creative openness; (3) yoga helps develop sensitivities that are needed to understand clients, including discerning what clients really are saying and what they really need; (4) yoga slows everything down, a good habit to practice to create the space needed to properly assess problems; and (5) yoga helps filter out thoughts that don’t need attention, helping to develop the skill of being aware of thoughts without becoming preoccupied by them.