Memphis Judge Dan H. Michael has been elected president of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ). Michael, who serves on the Memphis and Shelby County Juvenile Court, has been a member of the council since 2003 and a board director since 2016. Michael was elected to the bench in 2014. His work in Memphis includes creating a trauma-responsive court and eliminating juvenile court fees for children and families. He is a past magistrate, Juvenile Court referee, CASA attorney and executive director of CASA of Memphis and Shelby County. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Judge Michael talks about his years on the bench, the work of the National Council and his goals for juvenile and family courts.

In need of some positive and uplifting content in your life? The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley has released a list of 12 firms from 2019 that exemplify human strengths and virtues. According to the center, these movies challenge who we are and what we want to become. From films that showcase the power of forgiveness, to those that spotlight reconciliation, to those that shine a light on justice, these films provide uplifting stories during these challenging times.

A new blog post from Lawline looks at the benefits of diversity for the legal profession. The author highlights four specific benefits: (1) attracting more clients and spurring economic growth — when law firms reflect the diverse reality of the world at large they are able to acquire a larger pool of clients; (2) increased innovation — diverse backgrounds and perspectives lead to improved problem-solving skills and more rigorous debate; (3) more successful teams — obtaining and sustaining a diverse workforce means employers must widen the pool of qualified candidates, but by hiring the most qualified candidates ensure higher-quality work and more successful outcomes; and (4) happier employees and higher retention rates.

The COVID-19 threat did not scare away Knox citizens summoned for the first masked jury trial in the county since the pandemic impacted court operations across the state. The first day “went off without a hitch,” Knoxnews reports. Of the 63 citizens summoned for jury duty, only one did not show and most arrived already donning masks. No one raised health concerns when Criminal Court Judge Kyle Hixson made his initial remarks to prospective jurors. Responding to concerns about public access to proceedings, Hixson designated one seat in the courtroom for the public and had a video feed set up outside the courtroom during jury selection. Once the jury was chosen, he allowed members of the public and the media to be in the courtroom so long as social distancing guidelines were met.

The TBA’s 2020 Summer FastTrack program will be held as a virtual program with sessions specifically designed for practitioners in  the Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville areas. The Nashville program will take place on Aug. 14. Don’t miss the opportunity to join area judges and attorneys for four one-hour presentations and an optional lunchtime Zoom mixer. Attendees will hear from Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Cornelia Clark, Timothy Chinaris with Belmont University College of Law and Sean Martin with Martin Heller Potempa & Sheppard. Registrants also will receive eight hours of prepaid credit to use on any of the TBA’s online or virtual CLE offerings and three hours of exclusive online videos designed specifically for general practitioners on topics such as working from home, law practice management and tips for growing your practice. Sign up now and get 15 hours of CLE credit through this one program!

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law has announced that "An Evening with John Meacham" has been postponed until 2021. The event, co-hosted by the East Tennessee Historical Society, will now take place April 22 at 8 p.m. EDT at the Bijou Theatre. Presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham will discuss his bestselling presidential biography Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush. Tickets previously purchased will be honored and refunds will be available for anyone who has a conflict with the new date. Tickets may be purchased online.

The largest study of discrimination faced by disabled or LGBTQ+ lawyers finds that both subtle and overt forms of discrimination are prevalent in the workplace. The study, conducted by the American Bar Association in collaboration with the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, collected responses from 3,590 lawyers representing every state and the District of Columbia. It also looked at the experiences of lawyers with multiple identities that intersect, such as those with differing gender identities who also have disabilities. Read more about the findings.

Memphis bars have filed suit in federal court to challenge city and county regulations requiring the closure of limited-service restaurants. Two groups of plaintiffs are arguing that the rules are arbitrary and irrational, the Daily Memphian reports. U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr. heard from one group on Monday. U.S. District Court Judge Jon P. McCalla is scheduled to hear another case on July 27. The cases arise from the July 8 closing of limited-service restaurants, which are restaurants where 50% or more of revenue is generated from the sale of alcohol. Plaintiffs also are questioning why bars on Beale Street have been allowed to stay open. Health officials say a state law adopted 30 years ago deems those establishments to be in a historic district and therefore exempt from the criteria to obtain a full restaurant license.

Criminal Court Judge Kyle Hixson today opened the first jury trial in Knox County since the state Supreme Court suspended proceedings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Knoxnews reports. Hixson and Knox County Health Department officials had gone back and forth on the layout of the courtroom because the original plan did not meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention social distancing guidelines. Those plans were later changed to allow jurors and others to be six feet apart. “The criminal justice system is absolutely essential," Hixson said. "We must continue to hold jury trials in a way that honors the Constitution and protects the safety (of the public).” The Knox County Public Defender’s office had filed an emergency motion to stop the proceedings, but the Court of Criminal Appeals denied the motion Monday night.

Registration is now open for the Equal Justice University 2020, which will be held virtually Sept. 9-10. Organized by the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, the theme of this year’s conference is “Resilient Justice: Building Resilience, Ensuring Justice.” Attendees will enjoy more than 10 pre-recorded and 14 live sessions on substantive law, ethics and paraprofessional skills; key note addresses; presentation of the 2020 Access to Justice Awards; and a trivia night competition. Register here.