Rounding out the membership team is Mindy Thomas, TBA’s Membership Director! Mindy leads the charge in finding ways to bring value to TBA memberships by keeping her finger on the pulse of statewide bar association trends and communicating with TBA members and sections and committees. As for her hobbies, Mindy admittedly enjoys cleaning her house simply because it doesn’t require emailing anyone.

The #TeamTBA series offers members a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the TBA and how each staff members makes the association run. Check back every Wednesday for a new staff profile in TBA Today and on the TBA's Facebook, Twitter Instagram accounts.

United States 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Bernice Donald on Saturday addressed 121 graduates during the University of Tennessee College of Law’s commencement and hooding ceremonies in Knoxville. “Be courageous and selfless enough to always exercise a measure of empathy and respect for those who may hold views and positions different than yours,” Donald told the students. “It is my hope that you will chart an ethical path forward, and always take the long view, knowing that the decisions you make today will influence the rest of your life.” Members of the class of 2022 performed more than 8,850 hours of pro bono services throughout their law school careers. Read more on the College of Law’s website.  

The Kingsport Times News will be recognized for its extensive coverage of the opioid crisis and its effects on the Appalachian Highlands when it receives the Fourth Estate Award during the Tennessee Bar Association’s (TBA) annual convention in Nashville. During a seven-month period, the Times News reporting team took readers on a journey into the local and regional proliferation of meth and fentanyl, providing an analytical, unbiased, multifaceted report that will help legislators, health care professionals, law enforcement, judges and addicts. The TBA's Fourth Estate Award was established to recognize and encourage journalists who promote public understanding of the rule of law and improvements in our system of justice through their vigorous exercise of their First Amendment rights. Read the full press release.

The life of retired Tennessee Appeals Court Judge Charles D. Susano Jr. was celebrated last week in Knoxville. All five members of the Tennessee Supreme Court were in attendance at Susano’s funeral mass on Tuesday, as were judges in the Eastern Section of the Court of Appeals. “He was a great partner and incredible lawyer who did an amazing job of coping with a terrible situation,” former TBA President Sarah Sheppeard said of Susano’s 1993 sleepwalking accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down.  Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee said Susano “had a huge heart, a brilliant mind, a deep and abiding faith, and an almost endless capacity to love others.” “He was a highly respected appellate judge, yet remained humble and grateful for the opportunities he had been given,” Lee said. The Knoxville News Sentinel has more on Susano’s life.

Morgan Ortagus, a former candidate for U.S. House in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, has joined the team of her former opponent in the race, the Associated Press reports. Ortagus will now co-chair the National Security Advisory Committee for the campaign of GOP congressional candidate Kurt Winstead. Ortagus was removed from the ballot after the state Republican Party determined she, and two other candidates, did not meet party “bona fides.” Ortagus was the State Department spokesperson under former President Donald Trump and has recently launched a national security advocacy group.

The Tennessee Center for Estate & Elder Law PLLC in Murfreesboro is seeking to hire an attorney with at least two years of experience in estate planning and trust law. The attorney may also practice in other areas of law handled by the firm, including probate, conservatorships, elder law and transactional business and real estate law. For consideration, please send resumes and cover letters to Amy Farrar. The TBA’s JobLink webpage has more on the posting.

State Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, is recovering, but “ready to go,” after suffering what is believed to have been a mini-stroke over the weekend, WBIR reports. Johnson, who turns 60 this week, collapsed on Saturday evening and was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center's emergency room. She was not admitted to the hospital. Doctors think she likely suffered what is referred to as a transient ischemic attack, or TIA, she said. Johnson has been representing District 13 in the state House, but after this year’s redistricting, has been prompted to move to District 90.

Gail Curley, a former Army colonel and military lawyer and current Marshal of the U.S. Supreme Court, has been asked to lead the investigation into the leak of a draft opinion that suggests the high court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade. Experts say leaking the draft opinion likely wasn’t a crime, and Curley’s investigative tools are limited. She could theoretically hire an outside law firm to assist or, as in some other judicial records cases, call in the FBI. But it isn’t clear if she or others have the power to issue subpoenas to get material from journalists or the fewer than 100 people in the court — including justices — with access to a draft opinion. The Associated Press has more on Curley’s career.

Stephanie Gatewood, a nominee for Shelby County juvenile court clerk, is challenging her loss earlier this month in the Democratic primary, the Commercial Appeal reports. Gatewood, who came in third, is challenging the win of Janeen Gordon with the state primary board, claiming Gordon misled the public by using her mother's well-known name — Fullilove — on campaign materials and on the ballot. Gordon listed “Janeen Gordon” on early signage and with the County Election Commission, but on later signage and on the actual ballot she was listed as "Janeen Fullilove Gordon." She is the daughter of current Juvenile Court Clerk Janis Fullilove, but is not the daughter of Fullilove’s former husband, Fred Fullilove, and has never legally changed her name to Fullilove. Two other Democratic primary candidates, Althea Greene and Eric Winston, are also contesting their narrow losses for County Commission in Districts 7 and 11, respectively.

John Legend is an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award-winning entertainer, who recently kicked off a Las Vegas residency and just released a new single. But he is also a well-known activist and advocate for criminal justice reform and voting rights, National Public Radio reports. Now he is throwing his support behind a number of prosecutors who are running on a promise to reform the criminal justice system. Among the states capturing his interest are Tennessee, North Carolina, Oregon and California. In a series of tweets, Legend specifically points out the district attorney race in Memphis. In an interview with NPR, Legend discusses progressive prosecutors, the criminal justice system and President Joe Biden's approach to policing.