The TBA’s Estate Planning & Probate Forum 2020 is set for Feb. 21 in Franklin at the Embassy Suites Cool Springs. This year’s program offers seven hours of CLE, including an hour of dual credit. Programming will focus on timely, relevant topics to help you stay on top of trends in this practice area and will include the ever-popular legislative update and probate panel sessions. TBA has also secured a block of rooms at a discounted rate at the Embassy Suites for those who would like to stay at the hotel.

This month's episode of the TBA BarBuzz podcast is now available. BarBuzz is a monthly show from the TBA Podcast Network that recaps legal happenings from across Tennessee, upcoming events at the bar, attorney shout outs and more. Other shows in the network include Sidebar, a podcast featuring human interest stories from Tennessee attorneys, HealthyBar, which focuses on attorney well being, and TBA YLD Presents: War Stories. All shows are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn and the TBA's website. Simply search the show's title or "Tennessee Bar Association" wherever you listen to podcasts.

Memphis City Court Clerk Myron Lowery has abandoned plans to have his daughter-in-law, Chonisa Lowery, be considered by the Memphis City Council as deputy city clerk, the Commercial Appeal reports. The paper says Lowery withdrew her name from consideration after it questioned the propriety of the arrangement and others suggested the city charter prohibited the hiring. Chonisa Lowery is the wife of Shelby County Commissioner Mickell Lowery.

Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich today announced that her office will not bring charges against Memphis Police Department Detective Eric Kelly, but will create a new unit charged with investigating cases involving officers who violate police policy. The unit will be led by Assistant District Attorney General Paul Goodman, the Daily Memphian reports. Kelly, who has since retired, admitted to a sexual relationship with a woman who was part of a homicide investigation. Weirich said her office found no evidence of laws being broken in his case.

Coffee County could see a new judge in place sooner than expected, Tullahoma News reports. To fill a vacancy created by the sudden death of General Sessions Judge Tim Brock, the county commission says it would like to immediately appoint the winner of the March Republican primary since there are no Democrats or Independents running. The commission will consider a resolution authorizing such a move on Jan. 14. The candidates in the Republican primary are Jason Huskey, Stacy Lynch, Greg Perry and Jess Stockwell. If the resolution fails, commissioners say they will appoint an interim judge. In November, Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeffrey Bivins assigned Judge John Damron as a special judge to preside over the court until a replacement is selected.

The lawyer for a conservative advocacy organization says Tennessee county clerks are violating the state constitution by issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, the Times Free Press reports. In a letter to all clerks and the governor, David Fowler, general counsel for the Family Action Council of Tennessee’s Constitutional Government Defense Fund, said the granting of same-sex marriage licenses violates Title XI Section 8 of the state constitution. That provision of the constitution states that “the relationship of one (1) man and one (1) woman shall be the only legally recognized marital contract …” in Tennessee. After the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing gay marriage nationwide, former Gov. Bill Haslam announced the state would follow the federal decision. State Attorney General Herbert Slatery also said Tennessee must follow the decision in spite of the apparent contradiction with its constitution.

Franklin-based Community Health Systems executives have settled a securities fraud class action lawsuit for $53 million, according to a brief filed Tuesday in federal court, the Nashville Post reports. The suit was filed in 2011 by shareholders after another health care company accused CHS of multiple counts of fraud. Investors claimed the practices artificially inflated CHS’ stock prices.

An open house is scheduled to celebrate the opening of the new Monroe County Justice Center in Madisonville this weekend, the Advocate & Democrat reports. The center will be open for visitors on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. The center is located at 4500 New Hwy 68, Madisonville 37354.

Sixth Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Kyle A. Hixson was sworn into office today. The investiture included Gov. Bill Lee, Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeff Bivins, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee and others. Hixson was appointed by Lee on Dec. 10 to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Bob McGee. Watch the ceremony here.

The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) announced this week that its 2020 Equal Justice University conference will take place Sept. 9-11 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Murfreesboro. Watch for more details to come. If you missed last year's event, photos from it are now available.