The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee is accepting applications for a full-time term law clerk for its Memphis office. The position is an excepted appointment to serve with Judge Denise E. Barnett. Applications must be submitted by April 1 through the Online System for Clerkship Application and Review (OSCAR). 

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments met today to consider seven applicants for two imminent vacancies on the Court of Criminal Appeals Eastern Section. After holding a public hearing and conducting public interviews, the council selected four individuals to forward to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. They are: 10th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Andrew Freiberg, 11th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Thomas Greenholtz, 6th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Kyle Hixon, and 5th Judicial District Assistant District Attorney Tracy Jenkins. The vacancies were created by the decisions of judges Norma McGee Ogle and D. Kelly Thomas Jr. to not seek retention in the August 2022 election. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more on each of the candidates.

The Tennessee Bar Association and Tennessee’s American Inns of Court are now accepting nominations for the 2022 Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award. The annual award is presented to a lawyer or judge whose life and practice display sterling character and unquestioned integrity, coupled with ongoing dedication to the highest standards of the rule of law and the highest standards of the legal profession in Tennessee. The award will be presented to a lawyer or judge residing in the grand division of the state where the TBA's Annual Convention is held (this year, the Middle Grand Division). Nominees must be alive when their nomination is submitted but need not be an active member of an American Inn of Court or the TBA. The TBA Annual Convention is scheduled to be held in Nashville the week of June 13. The deadline for submitting nominations is April 3.

Legislation to place residency requirements on Tennessee candidates in congressional primaries advanced yesterday with a House amendment to delay the requirements until after the November election, Knox News reports. The amendment would require eligible candidates to live in the state and district for at least three years prior to the election, but it would not apply to incumbents or new members elected before Nov. 9, 2022. A companion bill in the Senate received near-unanimous, bipartisan support on Monday and would take immediate effect if signed into law. The Senate version likely would disqualify at least one candidate from the Republican primary in the 5th Congressional District. Candidates seeking to run for Congress in the Aug. 4 primaries must qualify by April 7.

Hamilton County General Sessions Judge Gary W. Starnes has been awarded the Judge Leon Ruben Memorial Award for Excellence, an award intended to bestow an honor upon judges who distinguish themselves in service to the community and the Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference. The award is named after the late Judge Leon Ruben, who served as a sitting judge in Nashville for 37 years. He also served as a Metro Council member and was known for his excellent contributions to the community. "I am blessed and honored to receive this distinguished award from my colleagues and our judicial conference," Starnes said.

The Board of Tennessee Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection (TLFCP) filed a petition with the state Supreme Court today, requesting the court amend Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9 to increase attorney registration fees from $170 to $185 and in turn increase the allotment of the fee that goes to TLFCP to $25 per attorney, improving TLFCP’s ability to reimburse claimants for losses caused by dishonest attorneys. Additionally the TLFCP is asking the court to amend Rule 25 to raise the attorney cap from $250,000 to $400,000 upon recommendation of the board and with approval of the court.

Make plans now to join the TBA Bankruptcy Section for the 17th Annual Bankruptcy Law Forum May 13-15 in Gatlinburg. The program offers 10 hours of CLE, including three hours of ethics credit. Registration is limited for this in-person program, so don't delay in reserving your spot for this unique program in a wonderful and relaxing setting. This year’s forum is sponsored by Butler Snow, Miller & Martin and Woolf, McClane, Bright, Allen & Carpenter.

Williamson County lawyer Wendell J. O’Reilly was permanently disbarred by the Tennessee Supreme Court today and ordered to pay restitution to his clients. The court determined that O’Reilly, while suspended from the practice of law, knowingly engaged in the unauthorized practice of law; failed to adequately communicate with his clients; knowingly misled courts, clients and third parties; knowingly charged excessive fees; failed to safeguard client funds; knowingly failed to comply with final court orders; engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice; and failed to respond to the board about a disciplinary matter. His actions and omissions were found to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4, 1.5, 1.15, 3.3, 4., 5.5, 8.1 and 8.4(a), (b), (c), (d) and (g).

The group of students who integrated Memphis schools more than 60 years ago were honored with a resolution by the Tennessee House of Representatives today, the Commercial Appeal reports. “After six decades, the state legislature is now honoring the Memphis 13 for the challenges they willingly accepted and conquered as young children to advance the cause of civil rights in Tennessee education," said Rep. G. A. Hardaway, D-Memphis. The Memphis 13, a group of 13 Black first graders, integrated four schools in the Memphis city school system in 1961.

The Annual Belmont Criminal Law Journal Symposium, "Global Perspectives: Criminal Justice Reform in the United States and Around the World," is March 4. The free, virtual symposium will compare and contrast criminal justice reform in the United States to nations around the world. The topics will include pre-trial rights, appointment of counsel, plea bargaining, trial diversion programs and reentry reform.