The Lawyer Well-Being Tool Kit, a project of the American Bar Association and the Harvard School of Law Center on the Legal Profession, highlights the importance of lawyer well-being and offers suggestions for improving well-being from lawyers and legal employers. Topics include creating a healthy workplace, policies and practices to adopt, educational resources, finding a well-being partner and book recommendations. Check it out here.

FordHarrison LLP recently announced that Russell W. Jackson has been named managing partner of the firm’s Memphis office. Jackson represents management in employment-related matters, including claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, restrictive covenants and wage and hour violations. With licenses in Tennessee and Mississippi, Russell regularly handles matters throughout the Mid-South as well as on a national basis. The firm also announced that Florida-based attorney Tracey K. Jaensch has been named to its executive committee.

Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III has joined a bipartisan coalition of 50 states, territories and the District of Columbia, in sending a letter to Acting U.S. Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen condemning the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol and stating such actions cannot be allowed to go unchecked. “What occurred January sixth was an assault on the very foundation of our republic. It threatened the rule of law and how we all, Republicans, Democrats and Independents, should be able to peacefully engage in government,” Slatery said. In related news, NBC News reports that Adam Piper, executive director of the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA), has resigned after news broke of the group’s involvement in a rally that took place earlier in the day last Wednesday.

Lisa Montgomery, the only woman on federal death row, died by lethal injection early this morning after the U.S. Supreme Court vacated several rulings that had halted the move, National Public Radio reports. Earlier this week, a federal judge had granted a stay of execution citing the need to determine whether Montgomery was too mentally ill to be executed, while an appeals court said time was needed to determine whether the Justice Department had given sufficient notice of the execution date. With the Supreme Court’s action, Montgomery is now the first female prisoner to be put to death by the U.S. government since 1953. Just ahead of the execution, Montgomery’s attorney, Kelley Henry, said her client's death by lethal injection was far from justice, as no other woman who had committed a similar crime had faced the death penalty.

The Nashville Metro Public Health Department has announced a new initiative to ensure no doses of COVID-19 vaccine are wasted, WSMV reports. The department currently offers vaccines by appointment only to those who fall into the current vaccine phase. The list has been created to ensure no doses are wasted. Just before the end of each day, nurses will determine if any doses will remain. If so, those doses will be distributed at random to individuals on the list. To add your name to the list, email COVID19VaccineStandby@nashville.gov each day you want to be considered. The Standby List began operations yesterday.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings has launched a new legal clinic in Nashville designed to assist black-owned small businesses and nonprofits. The first clinic will take place virtually next Monday on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Clients will be assisted by appointment only from noon to 1 p.m. CST. Subsequent clinics will be held on the third Thursday of each month. The clinic, a joint project with the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville and its Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts (VLPA) Program, will provide accessible and affordable business-oriented legal services, including corporate governance, review of contracts and guidance navigating local ordinances and state regulations. In announcing the initiative, the firm’s managing partner Jonathan M. Skeeters said the clinic is an “opportunity for Bradley to join the cause for racial equity and to make a lasting impact in the Nashville community.”

The Tennessee Judiciary is mourning the loss of Ellen Lee Abbott, director of the Office of Criminal Justice Services at the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS), who died Monday at age 56. The Administrative Office of the Courts said today that Abbott played a vital role in the development and success of the state's recovery courts, including drug courts, Veterans courts, mental health courts and safe baby courts. Abbott joined TDMHSAS in 2006 and worked closely with many judges and court staff in nearly every Tennessee county over the years. She also played an essential role in both the Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative and the Tennessee Judicial Opioid Initiative, now known as the Tennessee SMART Justice Network. A celebration of life service for family and close friends will be held Friday at noon CST at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will take place prior to the service beginning at 10 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to any veteran organization. Read more about Abbott’s career and remembrances from colleagues on the AOC website. Post a remembrance here.

Tennessee lawmakers officially started the new legislative session Tuesday, with members of the state Senate and House of Representatives re-electing Senate Speaker Randy McNally and House Speaker Cameron Sexton, respectively, WPLN reports. Today, lawmakers elected three constitutional officers: the secretary of state, treasurer and comptroller. Democratic leaders from both chambers called for a no-confidence vote on Secretary of State Tre Hargett during the proceedings but he was reappointed, according to the Nashville Post. David Lillard was re-elected treasurer without opposition. The comptroller election was the only position seeing a change with retiring Comptroller Justin Wilson being replaced by his top deputy Jason Mumpower.

Senate Speaker McNally, R-Oak Ridge, also named new chairs of two committees. Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, will take over as chair of the Education Committee following the retirement of Dolores Gresham. Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville, will take over as chair of the State and Local Government Committee following the electoral defeat of Steve Dickerson. Committee assignments have yet to be made in the House, but draft rules signal a change in the overall makeup of the committees, the Tennessee Journal reports. Speaker Sexton is expected to once again split the Judiciary Committee into two standing panels: Civil Justice and Criminal Justice. He also reportedly plans to turn the Education panel into separate Education Administration and Education Instruction committees. Finally, he is expected to sunset the Consumer and Human Resources Committee.

The TBA LGBT Section will host a roundtable videoconference on Jan. 27. The event will feature ethics considerations for attorneys when working from home, an open discussion of issues affecting LGBT lawyers and staying sane in a pandemic. The event is free and open to all TBA members but registration is required. Connection info will be sent the week of the meeting.

This program has been postponed due to ongoing concerns about gathering in person. It will be rescheduled when it is safe to do so. The TBA’s annual Animal Law Forum will take place April 9 at the Nashville Zoo and will provide updates on trends and advancements in animal law. The zoo’s president and chief executive officer will be on hand to discuss conservation efforts, laws affecting procurement, care for zoo animals and more. Five other speakers will cover topics such as ethical considerations for animals and the law, legislative updates and laws governing farm animals. Programming will run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. Zoo admission, breakfast and lunch are included.