The current Tennessee Bar Journal, which has a focus on attorney well-being, includes the regular column, "The Buddy System," by Buddy Stockwell. This month Stockwell writes about addictive technology, another element that can negatively affect your well-being. "Perhaps no single development in the last 30 years has increased pressure on lawyers more so than advances in communications technology," he writes. With all the good technology has brought to our lives and practices, it can also be an addiction. Read about the warning signs and how to get help if you or someone you know need it.

Maury County's plans to establish a new justice center will likely cost more than expected if the county choses to move the entire court system to a new site purchased earlier this year, the Daily News Journal reports. The county had initially planned to spend $10 million to purchase and renovate the former site of The Daily Herald at 115 South Main St. in Columbia. That plan anticipated moving the full court system to the building. But the commission has been told that accommodating all offices will require the addition of a second floor, which also will involve raising the roof. The other option would be to split up the offices. Juvenile Court Judge Doug Chapman suggested putting the county general sessions and circuit court in two separate locations. But others argued that approach would create confusion for the public and add to the operating budget.

As new technologies continue to outpace laws governing protection of personal data, Tennessee lawmakers are considering regulations to protect consumer data privacy on the internet. This spring, Rep. Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville, filed legislation aimed at offering protections to consumers who use online platforms. This week, a special committee met to hear testimony from stakeholders on how the proposed legislation could impact them, Mainstreet Nashville reports. The hearing focused on concerns about the patchwork of state laws that are being enacted across the country with witnesses from the business community calling for a single federal standard.

Tennessee state Rep. Mark Hall, R-Cleveland, has announced his intention to run for the state Senate seat of retiring Sen. Mike Bell, Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. The District 9 seat represents Polk, McMinn, Meigs and Monroe counties. Others considering a run for the seat include former Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson, who also served as a state representative for eight years and as chair of the House Judiciary Committee. Before election to the House, he also served as a Bradley County commissioner for more than a dozen years. Yahoo News has the article.

A jury trial for disbarred Hendersonville attorney Andy Allman began in Sumner County Criminal Court this week, the Hendersonville Standard reports. Allman was suspended by the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2016 and ultimately disbarred in 2018 after close to 200 complaints were filed against him. Following an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations, a Sumner County grand jury indicted Allman on 28 charges in 2017. A separate grand jury indicted him on 11 more charges later that year. He is charged with several counts of theft for allegedly stealing money clients gave him to hold in trust and impersonating a licensed professional for practicing law while suspended. Allman’s trial has been delayed several times for a variety of reasons including COVID-19 and the withdrawal of at least two of his attorneys.

State Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, a former speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, announced today that he will retire when his term ends next year. The move will leave the District 63 House seat open without an incumbent for the first time in two decades, News Channel 5 reports. Casada, who has held the seat since 2001, resigned the speakership in 2019 after reports surfaced of racist and sexually explicit text messages between him and a former aide. 

Mark Mohammadpour, founder and chief wellness officer of Chasing the Sun, which offers corporate well-being coaching, tells Ragan Communications that companies need to rethink how they support remote and hybrid workers during this season. His recommendations include (1) helping employees manage change with compassion and consistency; (2) reinforcing company values to increase workers’ trust and productivity; and (3) engaging in active listening of employees through conversation, surveys and advocacy committees. He also urges employers to provide flexibility in how hybrid work is structured, empower people to use their vacation time, and cancel meetings that take up unnecessary time.

The Nashville Bar Association presented its 2021 Jack Norman Sr. Award to federal Public Defender Henry Martin. The award honors an attorney who demonstrates respect for the rights of all individuals in the criminal justice system, exhibits strong trial advocacy skills, demonstrates an abiding respect for the law and the legal profession, maintains the highest standards of professional integrity and ethical conduct, and contributes to the improvement of the legal profession and criminal justice system. Martin has been the federal public defender since 1985. He was the founding president of the Association of Federal Defenders and served as president of the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He worked in private practice before entering government service. Read more from Vanderbilt Law School. 

Did you miss the TBA's "Work Smarter Not Harder" session on how to track and utilize financials and productivity reports? Catch up next month with a replay of the program on Dec. 20 from noon to 1 p.m. CST. The webcast explores the role of metrics in tracking success and how to use metrics to manage and improve law practice on a day-to-day basis.

The Administrative Office of the Courts is seeking a manager of mediation programs and process innovation. This position provides responsible professional legal work, assists in policy development and implementation and serves as a leader on the Access, Innovation, and Community Engagement Division at the AOC. The successful applicant must be licensed to practice law in Tennessee within one year of employment and must have one year of experience in program planning and development or judicial or public administration. To apply, submit an application for employment in PDF, a resume, writing sample and three professional references by email to human.resources@tncourts.gov.  The court system accepts only electronic applicant information saved in PDF format. The AOC has more on the opening.