Nashville attorney and former federal judge Kevin Sharp is leading the push to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier, who admits to being involved in a shootout with FBI agents at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in 1975. How the shooting began and who fired the first shot, however, is unclear. After the incident, Peltier fled to Canada, but was arrested there based on sworn statements that were later recanted. At his trial, information about the conduct of the agents and a bullet ballistics test that could have exonerated him were not introduced. Politicians, prison reform activists, religious leaders, celebrities and even some of the government officials who helped put him behind bars, now support clemency for Peltier, who remains incarcerated at a federal prison in Florida. Tennessee Lookout recently interviewed Sharp about the case.

Brandon Bernard became the ninth person to be put to death by the federal government this year, National Public Radio reports. Bernard was executed late Thursday after failed appeals from criminal justice advocates and celebrities to spare his life. Bernard, age 40, was convicted in 1999 for his involvement in the murder of youth ministers Todd and Stacie Bagley. Bernard's attorney had argued that trial prosecutors withheld evidence that showed his client had a low-level position in the gang that committed the murders. Jurors involved in the case have come forward in recent weeks to say knowing about his level of involvement would have impacted their decision. In his final comments, Bernard apologized to the family of the couple.

Brentwood-based Tractor Supply has recruited the general counsel of an Atlanta dental technology equipment company to take over from retiring general counsel Ben Parrish, the Nashville Post reports. Noni Ellison will join the company on Jan. 11 as a senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. She will oversee legal, risk management, government relations, licensing and quality assurance/customs compliance work, as well as environmental, social and governance efforts. Ellison previously was general counsel of Carestream Dental, the former Kodak Health now owned by Canadian conglomerate Onex. She also held posts at Grainger and Turner Broadcasting System. 

The Leo Bearman Sr. American Inn of Court in Memphis is hosting a “drive by” food drive on Dec. 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. CST. Non-perishable foods or financial donations may be dropped off in the parking lot of the Galloway Golf Course, 3815 Walnut Grove Rd., Memphis, TN 38111, or The Landers Firm, 65 Union Ave., 9th Floor, Memphis, TN 38103. Contact Josh Wallis at the firm for more information or to coordinate your drop off.

The Memphis Bar Association and the Nashville Bar Association recently held virtual annual meetings for their members. Both meetings involved the installation of new officers and presentation of awards. At the MBA meeting, Peter Gee took office as president, while Tannera Gibson assumed the office of vice president and Jennifer Sink was named secretary/treasurer. Six new board members also were installed. Award recipients included: Melanie Yelder, W. J. Michael Cody Access to Justice Award; Nicole Grida, Sam A. Myar Jr. Memorial Award; Bruce McMullen, Judge Jerome Turner Lawyer's Lawyer Award; and Cindy MacAulay and Michelle McLaughlin, President’s Award. At the NBA meeting, Mike Abelow took office as president while Martesha Johnson was named president-elect; Lynne Ingram, first vice president; Dan Berexa, second vice president; Josh Burgener, secretary; and Justin Campbell, treasurer. Awards were presented to Henry Martin, John C. Tune Public Service Award; Pat McNally, Jack Norman Sr. Award; and Margaret Behm, Juli Mosley and Jeanie Nelson, Liberty Bell Award. Other awards presented included the Nashville Bar Journal Contributor of the Year, Nashville Bar Journal Article of the Year, CLE Excellence Award, YLD Enterprise Award and YLD President’s Award. Watch a replay of the meeting.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has approved a plan developed by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission to assist courts facing a backlog of civil cases due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The commission has partnered with three community mediation centers across the state to make mediation more available to litigants. The service will be available to all pending civil actions in general sessions, juvenile, chancery and circuit courts. Judges are encouraged to review their dockets and refer to mediation any cases that could benefit from the service, giving priority to cases involving self-represented litigants. Indigent parties not represented by an attorney will receive the service at no cost. To help courts implement the plan, the commission has developed a Plan Toolbox, which includes sample documents and calendars of applicable deadlines. Learn more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today suspended the law license of Shelby County lawyer TeShaun David Moore for six years retroactive to March 7, 2018, with four years to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The court also ordered Moore to obtain an evaluation with the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program, engage the services of a practice monitor and pay restitution to multiple clients. Moore admitted he failed to distribute settlement funds to clients, failed to distribute funds to insurance companies with liens, missed scheduled court dates, failed to communicate with clients, and failed to notify clients he had been suspended. Moore agreed to a conditional guilty plea acknowledging his conduct violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.15, 1.16, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 8.1 and 8.4.

Due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, the Knoxville Bar Association office will close Monday until further notice. The association reports it has taken extensive steps to ensure all staff can work from home without any disruption to normal business operations. The Lawyer Referral & Information Service also will continue to provide access to appropriate legal services with team members responding to calls and online requests. Get contact information for staff on the KBA website.

The TBA announced today that Daniel Street, county attorney for Sullivan County, has been selected as the Week 2 CLE Blast prize winner! The Year End Blast is underway and to make this season a little merrier, the TBA is offering weekly prizes and one overall prize at the end of the month thanks to presenting sponsor Clio. Those who purchase a CLE program in December will automatically be entered in the drawings. Others also may enter without purchase. Need CLE before the end of the year? Check out new packages and individual programs being offered each day.

Baker Donelson has implemented a Diversity & Inclusion Compact, a multi-year plan to drastically increase the number of diverse attorneys within its ranks, as well as committing to provide additional support and remove barriers to advancement. The plan outlines the firm's commitment to be an industry-leading law firm in diversity and inclusion by Dec. 31, 2025. To achieve this, it commits to meet specific benchmarks, including having at least 20% diverse attorneys, 10% diverse shareholders, 8% diverse equity shareholders, and a 10% diverse management team.