Legal Services Corporation (LSC) President James J. Sandman said today he will step down from his position after more than nine years of service, Bob Ambrogi reports in his Lawsites Blog. During his tenure, Sandman championed innovation in the delivery of legal services and the use of technology to enhance access to justice, delivering several widely cited reports, including 2017’s The Justice Gap: Measuring the Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-Income Americans. In an email to executive directors of LSC grantee organizations, Sandman wrote of wanting to speak, write and teach before his retirement. “I don’t know exactly what I will be doing,” he wrote, “but I am certain that I will continue to be actively involved in, and a voice for, improving access to justice.” The LSC’s current vice president for legal affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary will step in as interim president after Sandman’s departure on Feb. 19.

As part of Gov. Bill Lee’s broader push for criminal justice reform, his administration has made a series of small changes to the state’s clemency process, the Tennessean reports. Changes were made to all three forms of executive clemency — pardons, commutations and exonerations — in an effort to make the clemency checklist less burdensome for defendants. Lee’s chief counsel Lang Wiseman says the changes may not necessarily lead to more clemency grants, but would give the parole board more leeway to send cases to the governor for consideration.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands has two free legal clinics planned for Tuesday. The Oak Ridge office will hold a clinic at its office at 575 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge 37830 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Prospective clients can call 865-483-8454 for an appointment. In Clarksville, a clinic will take place from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Operation Stand Down, 400 Madison St., Clarksville 37040. Contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131 for more information.

A retirement celebration is planned for Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Charles D. Susano Jr. on Feb. 28 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the East Tennessee History Center, 601 South Gay St. Knoxville 37902. After more than 25 years of service, Tennessee’s longest-serving state appellate judge announced earlier this month that he would retire from the bench effective April 30.

U.S. Senate Democrats are wading into the open Tennessee Senate race, backing Nashville attorney James Mackler over other announced Democrats, the Nashville Post reports. The endorsement from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee favors Mackler over Marquita Bradshaw, a Memphis environmentalist, and Diana Onyejiaka, a Nashville-based consultant and professor. All three are seeking the Democratic nomination to vie for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander.

Lawrence County lawyer and an assistant district attorney general Christi Leigh Thompson was censured by the Tennessee Supreme Court today. The court imposed the censure after determining that she made several inappropriate comments during an opening statement and closing argument that “were clearly impermissible and prejudicial to the defendant.” The court found that her conduct negated the defendant’s right to a fair trial and that the case was reversed on appeal for prosecutorial misconduct. These actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 3.4(e)(3) and 8.4(d).

The Supreme Court of Tennessee today suspended Sullivan County lawyer Steven Carl Frazier from the practice of law after finding that he failed to respond to the Board of Professional Conduct regarding a complaint of misconduct.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today suspended Williamson County lawyer Bradley Michael Carter after finding that misappropriated funds and posed a threat of substantial harm to the public. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court.

State Rep. London Lamar, D-Memphis, filed legislation this week that would remove Nathan Bedford Forrest Day as a day of special observance in Tennessee, the Nashville Scene reports. Governors dating back nearly a century have been required to declare the day a special observation. In 2019, Gov. Bill Lee drew national attention when he signed the proclamation. Lamar’s push comes amid growing attention to the state’s celebration of Forrest. Many have sought the removal of a bust honoring Forrest from a prominent place just outside the House and Senate chambers for years to no avail.

Atrium, a company that launched in 2017 with the promise of transforming the delivery of legal services, has laid off most of its legal staff in a restructuring, the ABA Journal reports. The company says it will keep a small group of partners to serve clients with strategic services and work with its network of law firms to deliver general corporate legal services, but will now focus on building a professional services network that supports startups. Atrium launched in 2017 as two companies: Atrium Legal Technology Services, which was created to develop technology to automate repetitive tasks, and Atrium LLP, which was to provide legal services to startups.