There are six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) law schools in the U.S., established because Black students were denied access to law school, and each is struggling due to underfunding. “We carry the weight of diversifying the profession," Howard University School of Law Dean Danielle Holley-Walker told Law.com, adding, “In the last few years, there is a heightened look at diversity in this profession. HBCU deans are under a lot of focus and scrutiny because of who we’re training.” But because of the underfunding, there is the challenge of having enough people to do the work, Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law Dean Joan R.M. Bullock said. 

The Tennessee Supreme Court censured Robertson County lawyer Travis Randall Duffer today for failure to complete a client’s case. The court found that Duffer left the employment of a law firm in December 2020 and took some clients with him. For three clients, Duffer failed to respond to requests for information and failed to complete the matters for which he was hired. The court also determined that Duffer falsely stated to the Board of Law Examiners that the representations had been “completed.” His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.16, 8.1 and 8.4(d). The court also directed Duffer to refund his former client $900 within 90 days.

The second installment in the TBA Young Lawyers Division’s special Juneteenth podcast series features an interview with Senior U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee Curtis Collier and Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge John McClarty. Chattanooga attorney and YLD member Martin Trimiew talks with Collier and McClarty about the trials and tribulations they faced on their paths to becoming lawyers, how diversity in the law has changed since they were new attorneys and how it could be bettered. A new episode of the Juneteenth series will be released each day of the TBA’s Annual Convention and can be found on the TBA YLD’s podcast page or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

The fourth and final episode of the TBA Young Lawyers Division Diversity Committee’s Juneteenth podcast series premiered on Saturday, the final day of TBA’s Annual Convention. The episode features a discussion with TBA YLD President Billy Leslie, YLD Diversity Committee Co-chair Ariel Anthony, YLD Diversity Leadership Institute (DLI) Chair Dominique Winfrey and former DLI class member Anthony Adewumi on the DLI program and its many benefits. The four-part series consists of interviews with attorneys and judges from across the state who share their wisdom in the journey towards professional success through a diversity lens. All episodes can be found on the TBA YLD podcast page or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division’s special Juneteenth podcast series continues today with the release of its third episode featuring Shelby County Chancellor Will Perry. Incoming YLD President Elect Quinton Thompson talks with Perry about challenges Black attorneys face in the legal profession, his advice for young attorneys getting involved in the community and advice for lawyers who are considering making a move from their firm or in their career. The final episode in the Juneteenth series will premiere Saturday. It will feature a conversation between outgoing TBA YLD President Billy Leslie, YLD Diversity Committee Co-Chair Ariel Anthony, YLD Diversity Leadership Institute (DLI) Chair Dominique Winfrey and former DLI class member Anthony Adewumi on the DLI program and its many benefits. The Juneteenth series can be found on the TBA YLD’s podcast page or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

The first day of the 2022 Convention got underway today in downtown Nashville. The Tennessee Bar Association House of Delegates met for its quarterly meeting, while law students participated in programming designed specifically for them. Members of the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program board also met and all convention attendees gathered for a Welcome Reception where TBA President Sherie Edwards offered opening remarks. See pictures from the event. Tomorrow, the day begins with law school alumni breakfasts, followed by the Bench Bar Program and Luncheon, Legislative Update CLE and joint social event at the Assembly Food Hall. Online registration has closed but walk-up registration is still available pending space. The TBA registration desk will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow. It is located on the Mezzanine level of the Downtown Nashville Hilton.

The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday extended the deadline for comments on a proposal to change comity requirements to Aug. 19 for one filer: the Board of Law Examiners. For all other comments, the deadline remains July 25. The court said it approved the extension at the request of the board. The proposed rule change was submitted by The Network of Enlightened Women. It would amend Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7, Section 5.01(c) to remove the requirement that lawyers maintain a full-time law practice or full-time law school teaching position. Comments should be submitted to James M. Hivner, Clerk, Tennessee Appellate Courts, 100 Supreme Court Building, 401 7th Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37219-1407. Read the original petition.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a Supreme Court security bill yesterday, sending it to President Joe Biden for his signature, Bloomberg Law reports. The vote on the bill was 396 to 27. The Senate passed the Supreme Court Police Parity Act in May. The measure would authorize police protection for families of Supreme Court justices and for staff of the court if the court’s marshal decides it is necessary. Today, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department supports the legislation and the White House said the president would sign the bill into law, according to Reuters.

U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw yesterday declined to order an upcoming meeting of the Tennessee Judicial Conference to be opened to the public, the Associated Press reports. The decision came during an emergency hearing after the editor of a national news website filed suit Monday seeking access to this week’s Judicial Conference meeting. Tennessee Deputy Attorney General Janet Kleinfelter argued that such meetings are typically confined to educational sessions, with many of the conference’s policy decisions left to the court administrator. Crenshaw did, however, allow The Center Square's Executive Editor Dan McCaleb to proceed with this suit. McCaleb argues the meetings should be public if the group is discussing public policy.

Above the Law (ATL) has released its annual law school rankings for 2022. Two Tennessee schools made the list. Vanderbilt University Law School landed in fifth place, up 10 places since last year. The University of Tennessee College of Law came in at 48th place, down nine places from last year. ATL says it prioritizes outcomes above all other factors. These include employment success, law school cost and debt. Read more from ATL about its methodology or see the full list.