Judge Suzanne M. Lockert-Mash has announced she’s running for reelection to the 23rd Judicial District Circuit Court, Division III, the Cheatham County Exchange reports. Lockert-Mash was elected to the bench in 2014. She has presided over criminal, civil, probate and chancery cases throughout the district and is currently the presiding judge of the district’s Drug Court program. Prior to being elected as judge, Lockert-Mash was in private practice before becoming an assistant district attorney in 1990. “Being elected as a Circuit Judge was a great honor for me and a culmination of the hard work I have put in as an attorney in this district. I would like to continue my service to the citizens of this district,” she said.

Assistant District Attorney Caleb Bayless has announced he is running for judge in the 22nd Judicial District Circuit Court, Part IV. Bayless, who will run on the Republican ticket, seeks to fill the seat now held by retiring Judge Stella Hargrove. For more than a decade, Bayless has served in the 22nd Judicial District, which covers Giles, Lawrence, Maury and Wayne counties. Bayless “has a reputation of being tough on crime and committed to justice,” according to a release from his campaign. “I will always follow the rule of law and hold dangerous criminals accountable,” Bayless said in the release.

Mark your calendars for the TBA CLE’s Local Government Forum 2022. The live virtual program will take place from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. CDT on May 24 and will be worth one dual and three general credit hours of CLE. More information on the program will be released soon. If you are not a TBA Member, you can join now to receive CLE discount prices and three prepaid credits.

Keep up with the latest bar association events and top legal news with the TBA’s BarBuzz podcast. Attorney Sean Martin of Nashville’s Martin, Heller, Potempa & Sheppard law firm co-hosts this month’s episode, now streaming on the TBA’s website or anywhere you listen to podcasts. BarBuzz, one of five shows in the TBA Podcast Network, premiers a new episode each month.

As part of a new initiative, the TBA Criminal Justice Section has begun surveying candidates in contested district attorney general races across the state to raise awareness of their positions and priorities for the office. In this first edition, we hear from candidates in the hotly contested Davidson County District Attorney General race: Davidson County District Attorney General Glenn Funk (incumbent), Sara Beth Myers and P. Danielle Nellis. We asked them seven questions; the participants' respective responses can be viewed using this link.

When students in Knox County Schools return from spring break, they will no longer be required to wear a mask in schools, Knoxnews reports. Judge J. Ronnie Greer lifted his own order today, six days after the Knox County Board of Education and four families in the mask lawsuit all requested that the mask rule be temporarily suspended. Greer said the suspension of the mask rule can last for up to 60 days, which is the maximum time given for mediation, and the requirement can be put back in place if COVID circumstances change in the county. Greer’s order also does not affect a second suit against the Knox County Board of Education, which seeks to end the mask rule and establish a precedent that mask mandates are not a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued an order giving the Board of Law Examiners limited discretion to (1) waive the registration late fee for lawyers working remotely for a Tennessee company and (2) approve the registration of a lawyer working as in-house counsel without having to determine when the lawyer established a presence in Tennessee. The court took the action after finding that the widespread use of remote work has created uncertainty concerning when a lawyer has established a “systematic and continuous presence” in Tennessee for purposes of Rule 7, Section 10.01(a) and Rule 8, Section RPC 5.5(d)(1) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. The order takes effect immediately and will remain in force until further order by the court.

A coalition of 22 East Tennessee localities has filed suit against three opioid producers and five pharmacies, citing years-long practices that fueled a deadly and illegal drug trade through the marketing, over-prescription and diversion of opioids. The suit, filed Friday in Sevier County Circuit Court, targets Endo, Par, Teva, CVS, Food City, Rite Aid, Walgreens and Walmart. Lawyers for the plaintiffs argue the companies can be held liable under Tennessee’s Drug Dealer Liability Act, and are seeking $25 billion to cover increased law enforcement needs; housing, care and rehabilitation of opioid-dependent adults and babies; special education needs; additional jail space; and drug treatment programs. Gerard Stranch, managing partner of Branstetter, Stranch & Jennings, is leading the effort, according to a press release from the firm.

The Knoxville Bar Association on Friday released the results of its Candidate Member Survey for 20 judicial races that will appear on the local May 3 primary ballot. The survey asked each member to assess whether the candidates have demonstrated the knowledge, skill, experience, training, education, professional ethics and temperament to fulfill the duties of the offices to which they aspire. The KBA also recently launched a “Get To Know Your Judicial Candidates” section on its website to provide information about state court candidates in Knox County. The site includes educational resources, biographical profiles and a link to a video interviews with candidates.

Madison County lawyer Jack Colin Morris received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court today. The court found that in representing a client in a detainer action, Morris did not appear at a hearing, resulting in the case being dismissed. The court did find, however, that Morris made a timely and good faith effort to rectify the consequences of his misconduct. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 and 8.4(a) and (d).