The Tennessee Supreme Court transferred the law license of Williamson County lawyer John Ewing Brandon to disability inactive status today. He may not practice law while on disability inactive status but may petition the court for reinstatement by showing by clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed, and he is fit to resume the practice of law.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee will hold an advice clinic in Blount County on Feb. 5 from 4 to 6 p.m. The clinic will be held at the Branch House Family Justice Center, 313 Foothills Dr., Blountville 37617.

The TBA Business Law Section will hold its annual forum on April 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tennessee Bar Center in Nashville. The course will focus on a number of key tax matters relevant to business law practice in Tennessee, including choice of entity, taxation of LLCs, hot topics in entity-based transactional tax planning, state tax incentives and federal opportunity zones. Come join us and earn five general credits and one dual credit.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today amended Rule 12, sections 1 and 2, and the First-Degree Murder Report that is appended to Rule 12. The court had solicited public comments last summer, and received one comment from the Office of the Post-Conviction Defender, as well as a letter from the Tennessee Bar Association.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has adopted amendments to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, sections 8, 12 and 30, regarding Types of Discipline. Under the amended rules, individuals disbarred on or after July 1, 2020, are not eligible for reinstatement. The court had entered an order soliciting public comments on Sept. 8, 2019, with a deadline of  Dec. 17, 2019. The court received written comments during that period from the Tennessee Bar Association, the Knoxville Bar Association, the Board of Professional Responsibility, David Steele and Elliott J. Schuchardt. The amendments take effect immediately.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is now accepting applications for the Court of Appeals vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Charles D. Susano Jr., effective April 30. Any interested applicant must be a licensed attorney who is at least 30, a resident of the state for five years, and a resident of the Eastern Tennessee Grand Division. The deadline is Feb. 4 at noon Central time. Candidates will be interviewed and take part in a public hearing in the Eastern Grand Division at a later date. Learn more or apply.

Don't miss this week's Legislative Updates podcast, hosted by the TBA’s director of public policy and government affairs, Berkley Schwarz. Clay Byrd of Adams and Reese joins the show to give a rundown of important deadlines, upcoming events and other news from the Tennessee General Assembly. The show livestreams on the TBA’s Facebook page every Thursday. Legislative Updates is part of the Tennessee Bar Association Podcast Network and can be found on the TBA's website or wherever you listen to podcasts, simply by searching "TBA Legislative Updates."

The University of Memphis School of Law Office of Diversity & Inclusion will host its annual Diversity & Pre-Law Day on Feb. 22. This year's program will feature information about the school's diversity programming, a mock trial demonstration and a keynote luncheon from Memphis Law alum Tomeka Hart, who is senior program officer for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

There will be a Legal Clinic at Reaching Out Lifting Up (RIFA) Soup Kitchen on Jan. 28, from 8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. The event, sponsored by West Tennessee Legal Services, happens every month on the fourth Tuesday. The Soup Kitchen is at 133 Airways Blvd., Jackson 38301. Contact wtls@wtls.org for more information or to volunteer.

Former House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin, will not attempt to return to leadership, the Nashville Post reports. Earlier this month, Casada said he was considering a bid for the open House majority whip spot, which Republicans will fill next week. But on Thursday he told the Post that he was sitting out the caucus election “after much prayer.” House GOP staff confirmed that Mark Hall of Cleveland and Johnny Garrett of Goodlettsville, both freshman, were seeking the whip post. More nominations could come on the floor.