The American Bar Association has issued a new report on the experiences and challenges faced by women lawyers of color. “Left Out and Left Behind: The Hurdles, Hassles, and Heartaches of Achieving Long-Term Legal Careers for Women of Color,” found that women lawyers of color were more likely to (1) want to leave the profession; (2) be subjected to both implicit and explicit bias; and (3) report factors that blocked “access to success,” such as business development opportunities, being perceived as less committed to career and being denied or overlooked for promotions. The report also found that although women of color comprise 14% of all associates, the percentage of those making partner has remained stuck below 3.5%. In addition to presenting new research, the report outlines a number of recommendations for law firms to create a more inclusion culture.

The Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women has issued a statement urging its members to “confront and combat” racism. The statement comes in response to the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, as well as the killings of Ahmad Arbery, Breonna Taylor and others. “As officers of the courts and defenders of the rule of law, we stand uniquely positioned to support all our Black colleagues in the pursuit of justice and equity,” the statement reads. “We urge all of our members to confront and combat all forms of racism, whenever and wherever we see it, to speak out against racism in institutions that are not proactive in preventing it and against individuals who perpetrate it.” Read the full statement on TLAW’s Facebook page.

The Tennessee Supreme Court earlier this month declined to take up an emergency request to consider suppressing evidence seized in the double killings and dismemberment of a West Knox County couple, WBIR News reports. Lawyers for Joel M. Guy Jr., 32, sought to appeal a Knox County judge's decision that would allow jurors to see key evidence, including a notebook and receipts for chemicals that could suggest Guy had been planning the killings before he drove up from Louisiana to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with Joel Guy Sr. and Lisa Guy.

The University of Tennessee College of Law has hired Charisse Heath to serve as the director of its Academic Success Program, the law school’s website reports. Heath will be responsible for providing instruction, counseling and providing assistance to students throughout the course of their academic careers at the College of Law. She’ll also offer guidance for students preparing for the bar exam. Heath earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Yale University and her law degree from Yale Law School. Most recently, she was assistant dean at the University of Detroit Mercy and has previously taught courses in contracts, sales law, secured transactions, commercial transactions and food and drug law.  

The Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill last week requiring jails and prisons to provide healthy meals and medical care to women both before and after they give birth, WPLN reports. The legislation, SB1839/HB1651, passed unanimously through the House and Senate. The Tennessee Department of Correction already has policies in place to provide special diets for pregnant inmates, but pregnancy-related care is not uniformly administered in the correctional system, especially among the dozens of county jails. The bill is meant to standardize access at both prisons and jails.

Susan “Sue” Reeves Gregory of Memphis died on June 14 at 82. Gregory earned her law degree from the University of Memphis Law School and practiced law for over 40 years, most recently at Gregory & Gregory PC. Gregory was a past president of the Memphis Bar Foundation, an avid runner and served two terms as president of the Girl Scouts Tenn-Ark-Miss Council. Memorials can be sent to St. George’s Episcopal Church in Germantown or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

House Republican Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, and Gov. Bill Lee today confirmed that, while a special session is still possible, it is unlikely to happen before the August mid-term election, the Tennessean reports. Lee said last week he was considering calling lawmakers back for a special session after a bill aimed at providing businesses, schools and others protections from litigation related to COVID-19 failed. Faison and Lee both said today that a special session could not occur until the House and Senate reach an agreement. A special session could be called either by the governor ordering lawmakers to return for a specific reason, or the legislature signing on to an effort, which would require two-thirds of the members in both chambers, or 88 of the General Assembly’s 132 seats, to sign on to a petition for a special session.

Atlanta-based public defender organization Gideon’s Promise will host a virtual event titled “Public Defenders on the Frontlines” on Thursday at 5 p.m. CDT  or 6 p.m. EDT. Four public defenders from Louisiana, Kentucky, Texas and New York will speak on organizing rallies, COVID-19-related challenges they face while being on the frontlines of the pandemic and bridging the gap between the criminal justice system and communities around the nation. Register online or email advancement@gideonspromise.org for more information.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will host three legal phone clinics this week for members of the public with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, applying for SNAP benefits and applying for unemployment benefits. Phone clinics will be held tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 to 11 a.m. CDT. Those needing assistance may call 800-238-1443. To volunteer for a clinic, contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131. 

The Supreme Court of Tennessee yesterday suspended Davidson County lawyer Andrew Harrison Maloney for 18 months, with 10 months active and the remainder on probation. Maloney improperly used funds held in escrow for his business and personal use, failed to timely disburse funds owed to third-parties and failed to escheat certain funds to the State of Tennessee as required. During his probation, Maloney must engage the services of a practice monitor who will assess his case load and progress in disbursing funds to third parties. He must also reimburse the Board the costs and expenses of this proceeding.