The Tennessee Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) presented its Judicial Excellence Award to Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle at its annual meeting over the weekend. The award recognizes Lyle’s contributions to fair and impartial rulings in the state, leadership inside and outside of the courtroom and a lifetime of service. Lyle has served on the bench for 20 years. She previously was a partner in the Nashville law firm Trabue, Sturdivant & Dewitt and an associate attorney with Fullbright and Jaworski in Houston. She earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. Read more about the award from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

A recent TBA Today item on new appointments to the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility misidentified state Sen. Richard Briggs' district. He represents District 7, which is a part of Knox County.

The Washington County Bar Association held a winter social last week in Johnson City at which attorneys Tony Seaton and Erick Herrin were awarded the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service in recognition of their longtime service to the bar. The group’s current officers and board members also were recognized with the President’s Volunteer Service Medal. They are: President Jesse J. Campbell, President-elect Devon Muse, Vice President Thomas J. Smith, Secretary Grace Studer, Treasurer Joseph Matherly, and board members Lindsay Daniel, Mark Garland, Elizabeth Jones, Nora Koffman, Solange McDaniel and Morgan Taylor. The group also announced that it is accepting nominations for 2022 board positions through Dec. 17. To nominate an attorney, email the individual’s name and contact information to wcbatenn@gmail.com.

This month on the TBA’s BarBuzz podcast, guest co-host Stacie Odeneal of the Odeneal Firm in Lawrenceburg helps deliver the latest in Tennessee legal news, bar association events, happenings and more. Odeneal, an East Tennessee delegate for the Juvenile & Children’s Law Section and a 2020 member of the TBA Leadership Law program, also details her passion for child advocacy and her work as a child welfare law specialist. BarBuzz is part of the TBA Podcast Network and can be found online and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) held its Annual Meeting on Friday with Cheryl G. Rice passing the president’s gavel to Jason H. Long, who said he would focus on expanding innovations developed during the pandemic and creating ways for members to reconnect. Long, a member of the Knoxville law firm of London Amburn, is a former TBA president and a member of the 2005 Leadership Law class. Other officers elected were President-elect Loretta G. Cravens, Treasurer Catherine E. Shuck and Secretary Carlos A. Yunsan. New board members are Ursula Bailey, William A. Mynatt Jr. and Vanessa Samano. The association also presented its annual awards. Charles Swanson was presented with the Governors' Award, the group’s highest honor, while Akram Faizer and Carlos Yunsan, co-chairs of the Diversity in the Profession Committee, received the Presidents' Award. Meagan Collver, also with London Amburn, took office as president of the Barristers. Read more in a release from the association.

William Andrew Lockhart was sworn in as judge of the 14th Judicial District Circuit Court just three days after being appointed to the bench and has not slowed down since then. Within a month of taking office, he was assigned a two-week long medical malpractice jury trial. “I was thrown in pretty quick. It was a surreal experience. I’m just humbled and honored,” he says in an interview with the Administrative Office of the Courts. “You really don’t understand the gravity of the situation until you get up there and start to have to make decisions, so it was humbling.” Lockhart filled a vacancy left by L. Craig Johnson. Prior to his appointment, he worked for Burch & Lockhart in Manchester and was city attorney for Altamont.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has appointed Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Robert Philyaw to serve as chair of the Tennessee Commission on Children & Youth (TCCY) for the remainder of his three-year term, News Channel 9 reports. Philyaw was named to the commission in December 2019. The commission is a 21-person policy-making body that seeks to improve the quality of life for children and families and provide leadership and support to child advocates. Philyaw earned his law degree from the University of Memphis School of Law and was appointed to the bench in 2013.

Schell & Oglesby LLC, an established Franklin law firm with a combined 116 years of practice, is expanding and is seeking an associate attorney with at least two years of experience. Those interested should submit a cover letter, resume and three references to pam@franklin.legal.

Knock out a day of CLE programming with the TBA’s Year End CLE Watch Party on Wednesday. Watch some of the most popular online courses from 2021, including ethics and legislative updates and sessions on attorney wellness, diversity and inclusion, creating a hybrid law office, and other law technology and office management topics. Throughout the day, we also will be giving away several prizes. The program runs from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. CST. The watch party is presented as part of the TBA’s Year End CLE event, which offers CLE your way throughout the month of December. And remember, those who purchase a course in December will be entered in our weekly drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card.

Hal Cato, one of Nashville's most prominent nonprofit executives, is considering a run for mayor in 2023, according to Axios Nashville. Cato is currently CEO of Thistle Farms, a program that helps women who are victims of human trafficking. He has served there for six years but says he will be leaving next year. Previously, Cato founded the volunteer nonprofit Hands on Nashville and served as the top executive at the youth counseling and support nonprofit Oasis Center. Current Nashville Mayor John Cooper has not announced yet if he will run for reelection.