Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee will speak to the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge tomorrow from noon to 1 p.m. EST, according to the Administrative Office of the Courts. Lee will present the compelling stories of five American soldiers captured and held as prisoners of war by the Germans in World War II. The virtual event is open to the public. For instruction on linking to the live presentation contact maryannreeves1@att.net. The presentation also will be available on the league’s website a few days after the event. Lee’s personal history — her father was a WWII POW— led to her interest in prisoners of war and how their experiences shaped their lives after release. 

Deborah Enix-Ross, president-elect of the American Bar Association, is accepting nominations from those who are interested in filling positions on ABA standing and special committees, commissions and other entities. Apply by Friday to be considered. An ABA presidential appointment requires membership in the association and a desire to contribute to the group’s work. For more information or to discuss the process please contact Appointments Committee Chair Michelle Behnke, 608-233-9024 or Vice-Chair Stephen Younger, 646-927-5565. For questions regarding the online application, contact Katy Englehart with the ABA. Interested individuals may also contact TBA members Jonathan Cole and John Tarpley, who have been active in recruiting Tennessee lawyers to serve in the ABA.

Knox County lawyer Grace Ingrid Gardiner was reinstated to the practice of law today. She had been suspended in August 2021 for three years, with four months to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. Gardiner filed a petition for reinstatement, which the Tennessee Supreme Court deemed satisfactory so long as she complies with the terms and conditions of her probation. Under the court’s order, Gardiner must not practice law in any bankruptcy court until she engages a practice monitor who will review basic bankruptcy procedures and submit monthly written progress reports to the Board of Professional Responsibility. She also must not incur any new complaints of misconduct related to the conduct that led to her suspension.

Clarksville lawyer Pamela Gail Presson Vawter, formerly of Paris, died last Thursday at 50. She graduated from the Nashville School of Law and worked primarily for the state of Tennessee. Arrangements are being handled by Ridgeway Funeral Home in Paris and a private family graveside service is being planned. Memorial donations may be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), P.O. Box 96929, Washington, D.C., 20090.

Eighth Judicial District Attorney General Jared Effler announced his intention to seek a second term last week, the Independent Herald reports. Effler was first elected in 2014. He says he has focused on prosecuting felony drug offenders, pursuing litigation against manufacturers of prescription pain pills, promoting drug rehabilitation for low-level offenders, and taking action against offenders who refuse to pay restitution to victims. “I believe the most important part of the district attorney and his staff is to be a voice for crime victims,” Effler said. He maintains an office in each of the district’s five counties: Scott, Campbell, Claiborne, Fentress and Union.

Memphis schools have offered elective African American history and literature classes for nearly three decades, Chalkbeat reports. But next school year, White Station High School will offer a more comprehensive and collaborative curriculum shaped by professors from colleges and universities throughout the country. The program is part of a 60-school pilot project that will provide a more expansive view of African history, new AP course offerings, and opportunities for high school students to earn college credit. Educators have long been concerned that students, especially Black students, are not well educated about the history of Black Americans, including key court cases and constitutional amendments that addressed past wrongs.

The Belmont University College of Law's Health Law Journal will hold its Spring Symposium virtually on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This year’s theme, “The Legal Role in Building Sustainable Public Health Systems," will focus on utilizing legal tools to help the medically underserved and needy. Speakers will address the importance of leveraging community-based integrated health teams and understanding how food insecurity impacts public health. Learn more and register here.

The Tennessee Bar Association has opened nominations for the Fourth Estate Award: Honoring Courageous Reporting on Justice and the Law. This year’s prize includes a $250 honorarium for the winner. The TBA strongly supports the freedom of expression under the First Amendment, as exercised by lawyers on behalf of their clients and by journalists on behalf of the public. It particularly wants to recognize and encourage journalists who promote public understanding of the rule of law and our system of justice through their vigorous exercise of First Amendment rights. Nominees may be individuals or teams of Tennessee-based journalists who worked on  published stories. The deadline for entry is March 31. For more information, contact TBA Assistant Executive Director Barry Kolar.

The 2022 TBA Estate Planning Forum is just days away, with in-person and live virtual attendance options for the day-long programming on Friday. This year’s program will feature timely topics such as key considerations in succession planning, discussion of proposed legislation for mandatory conservator training, Tennessee trust preeminence, recent developments with gift and estate taxes and more. The seminar also will provide a legislative update and an interactive clerk and masters’ panel, allowing for Q&A with clerks from across the state's three grand divisions. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from top experts in the field and network with colleagues who practice estate law!

The Tennessee Supreme Court last week adopted an amendment to Rule 11, Section V to remove the name “Cornelia A. Clark” and add the name “Sarah K. Campbell” as the justice assigned to Circuit No. 3. The circuit consists of the following six judicial districts: 14th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 19th and 20th.