The TBA Young Lawyers Division today announced its leadership for the 2021-2022 bar year. All will take office in June at the TBA Convention. Officers will be: Billy Leslie, president; Brittany Faith, president-elect; Quinton Thompson, vice president; John Carrerras, secretary; and Justin Faith, treasurer. Other elected positions include the YLD’s three grand division governors — West Tennessee Governor Kortney Simmons, East Tennessee Governor Alex McVeagh and Middle Tennessee Governor Sean Aiello — and representatives to the TBA House of Delegates — East Tennessee YLD Delegate Justin Faith, Middle Tennessee YLD Delegate Mike Tackeff and West Tennessee YLD Delegate Will Gibbons. District representatives in odd-numbered districts also have been named. They are: Hunter Shelton, District 1; Charles Sharrett, District 3; Logan Threadgill, District 5; Kelly Gray, District 7; Rachel Bishop, District 9; Charles Ferguson, District 11; and Austin Stokes, District 13.

Shelby County lawyer Elbert Everett Edwards received a censure today from the Supreme Court of Tennessee. The court conditioned the censure on Edwards attending the next Board of Professional Responsibility Ethics Workshop. The court found that while working as a contract attorney for a debt collection company, Edwards failed to contact a client, who was unaware of the representation. The client later objected to the contingency fee charged by Edwards after collecting the debt. Edwards agreed to a conditional guilty plea admitting his conduct violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2, 1.4 and 8.4.

Vanderbilt University Assistant Professor of History Brandon R. Byrd will deliver the next lecture in Vanderbilt Law School’s Dean’s Lecture Series on Race and Discrimination. He will speak on “The Unfinished Revolution: Race, Law, and the Struggle for Haitian Sovereignty.” The online event will take place tomorrow beginning at noon CDT. The event is free and open to the public. The annual lecture series convenes scholars and thought leaders to discuss race, civil rights, discrimination and critical historical milestones. Learn more and register here.

The TBA Litigation Law Ethics Forum is just around the corner. Make plans now to join colleagues on March 30 from 9 a.m. until noon CDT. The program will feature commentary and analysis of litigation and other concerns about vaccines and COVID-related issues in the workplace, a discussion on access to justice issues exacerbated by the pandemic and an examination of the tricky ethical issues that arise when mixing jurors, jury selection and social media. Members of the Litigation Section can purchase the program at a discounted price. Not a section member? Join today!

The Associated Press reported today that State Election Coordinator Mark Goins helped lay the groundwork for HR 23, a state House resolution that would have set in motion a proceeding to remove Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle from office. A five-page memo from Goins to Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro, lays out a number of complaints against Lyle’s decision to expand the approved reasons for absentee voting during the November 2020 election. He also reportedly takes issue with Lyle’s “tone” and comments she made related to the decision. According to Goins, Rudd asked him to provide the information. Rudd sponsored HR23 and obtained quite a few cosponsors but the resolution was defeated in the House Civil Justice Subcommittee last week.

With Daylight Savings in place for most of us for the next eight months, maybe we should think about how we will spend that extra hour of daylight. Colleen Brannan with BRANSTORM PR recently shared 10 ideas. Her suggestions include treating each day like the first day of the rest of your life; resetting any New Year's resolutions that have stalled; finding virtual volunteer opportunities; giving yourself a break if you don’t get through your to-do list at the end of the day; making a sunny day playlist; and lightening up the dinner menu with lighter fare. But most important, she says, is to make the extra time meaningful.

The ABA Judicial Division is presenting “Judicial Milestones in the Quest for Women’s Equality” on March 26 at 11 a.m. CDT. The program will feature a diverse panel of female judges who will discuss challenges on the bench and offer insights on their achievements and more. The program is free of charge. Register online

The Knoxville Bar Association will host a Faith and Justice Legal Advice Clinic April 13-15. The Faith and Justice Alliance seeks to build a coalition of faith leaders in the Knoxville area and to host legal advice clinics to give people a less intimidating environment to talk to a lawyer. This is a general advice clinic with volunteers prepared to advise on a wide variety of legal issues, including family law, landlord/tenant, bankruptcy, criminal defense, consumer protection, contract disputes, child support and personal injury, among other issues. Participants have until April 7 to register for the clinic.

After 44 years as district attorney general of the 15th Judicial District, Tommy Thompson has announced his retirement, the Tennessean reports. Thompson, 78, was considered the dean of district attorneys general in the state, according to Guy Jones, executive director of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. Jason Lawson has been appointed pro tem district attorney general by Judge Brody Kane and Gov. Bill Lee is expected to appoint a district attorney general to finish out the term that will be up for election in August 2022. Thompson was first appointed to the position in 1977. The 15th Judicial District covers Wilson, Smith, Macon, Trousdale and Jackson counties.

Organize Tennessee, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to voter protection and education, will host a poll watching training on March 27 from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. The training will provide information on up-to-date election laws, common poll watching incidents and details on how to become a poll watcher. Register by signing up on Organize Tennessee’s website or registering through Zoom. For help with registration, email Executive Director Kayla Parker.