Columbia attorney Sammy Patterson has announced his campaign to run as an independent for 22nd Judicial District Circuit Court Part IV judge, The Daily Herald reports. Patterson graduated from Nashville School of Law in 2000 and opened a law practice in Columbia that same year. He says his experience includes serving more than 10,000 clients and handling more than 100 jury trials involving criminal, juvenile, family law, civil litigation, probate and appeals. He will face Assistant District Attorney Caleb Bayless, who is running as a Republican, and Lawrenceburg lawyer Stacie Odeneal, who is running as an independent. The seat, which serves Maury, Giles, Lawrence and Wayne counties, is open due to the retirement of Judge Stella Hargrove.

As a new campaign finance and ethics bill works its way through the legislature, Senate Speaker Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, is hitting back at what he calls “blatant untruths” being spread about the legislation. McNally said efforts to get nonprofit “dark money” groups to disclose how much they are spending has caused the most furor with some groups accusing lawmakers of forcing them to identify their donors. “It is amazing that various seemingly ‘legitimate’ groups are resorting to such disingenuous tactics,” he said. McNally argues that the bill “does not censor or otherwise curtail conservative activism or free speech in any way” and is designed to crack down on bad actors “like the fictitious Matthew Phoenix and the various shell companies and shadowy PACs used by certain legislators.” The Tennessee Journal has McNally’s full statement.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have upcoming speaking engagements in Tennessee, the Tennessee Journal reports. Harris is scheduled to deliver the commencement address at Tennessee State University in Nashville on May 7. Trump will be in Memphis as part of his “American Freedom” tour on June 18. The roster of speakers is also expected to include Donald Trump Jr., commentator Candace Owens and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The TBA held its annual Reporters Workshop this past weekend in Nashville after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The event began Friday with introductory remarks from TBA Communication Section Chair Paul McAdoo with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Ron Harris with Neal & Harwell, Lexie Boaz with the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters, and TBA Assistant Executive Director Barry Kolar. The 13 participating journalists then heard presentations on copyright law, legal and judicial ethics, defamation suits, right to record laws, drone law and the Tennessee Reporter's Shield Law. The program continued on Saturday with sessions on open records and meetings, investigative journalism and covering state and local government. The program wrapped up with a panel of judges talking about covering the courts. Special thanks to the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters and the Tennessee Press Association for co-sponsoring the program and Neal & Harwell, Sherrard Roe Voight & Harbison and Waller for sponsoring meals for attendees. See photos from the event.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will hold a clinic on Wednesday specifically for veterans. The clinic will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S. Nashville 37203. Masks are required. To volunteer contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131.

The TBA is hitting the road and coming to a city near you! The annual Court Square Series, designed to provide attorneys with the latest developments in multiple areas of the law, is underway and stopping next in Murfreesboro. The three-hour event on May 17 will include an update on family law with Amelia Luna of the Legal Aid Society Of Middle Tennessee, an ethics update from Board of Professional Responsibility Disciplinary Counsel Beverly Sharpe, and a mental health discussion with Rutherford County General Sessions Court Judge Gilley. The program, which will be held at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a networking lunch and wrap up at 3:15 p.m. CDT. Looking for programming in another city? The Court Square Series will also be making stops in Cookeville on May 19, Kingsport on May 26, Chattanooga on June 3 and Jackson on June 7. Read more on each session on the TBA CLE website.

The YWCA’s Stand Against Racism series will host its next virtual installment next Tuesday at noon CDT. This month's theme is Becoming a Better Ally. Hear from several panelists as they talk about how they are working for social change in their communities. View a flyer of the event or register for the webinar.

Services were held last week for Memphis lawyer Jack Steven Magids, who died April 5 at the age of 74. A native of Houston, Magids moved to Memphis in 1972, where he built a law practice focused on corporate reorganizations, real estate finance and complex business transactions. He earned his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. Memorial donations may be made to the Temple Israel Synagogue, 1376 East Massey Rd., Memphis 38120 or the American Cancer Society.

Williamson County lawyer Connie Lynn Reguli was suspended from the practice of law today and her case referred to the Board of Professional Responsibility to determine the extent of final discipline. The Tennessee Supreme Court took the action after Reguli was found guilty of facilitating custodial interference and two counts of accessory after the fact. News reports indicated that Reguli transported a woman and daughter to her home after learning a court ordered the daughter placed in DCS custody and the TBI issued an endangered child alert.

The Memphis Bar Foundation Fellows Reception was held recently at The University Club of Memphis. During the event, 32 Memphis area attorneys and judges were recognized for their service to the legal profession and the community and inducted into the group. The foundation annually nominates attorneys and judges to become fellows. Nominees are chosen based on their devoted and distinguished service to the legal profession and the administration of justice, and their adherence to the highest standards of professional ethics and personal conduct. See the list of new members.