The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law has named Professor Demetria Frank as its new Associate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion. In this role, Frank will oversee the law school’s efforts in diversity and inclusion, while also remaining on the law school’s faculty. Frank has served for three years as the school’s director of the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, where she established the high school-focused Bass, Berry, & Sims Summer Trial and Advocacy Institute (STAI) and Prelaw Undergraduate Scholars Program (PLUS). During her tenure, preLaw Magazine has ranked the law school 13th in the nation for African American students, and Enjuris chose it as a Top 10 Law School for Black students.  

The Knox County Board of Education yesterday asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit in Cincinnati to throw out a mask mandate ordered by a judge, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. Four Knox County families sued Gov. Bill Lee and the Knox County Board of Education alleging the governor’s executive order allowing parents to opt their children out of school mask mandates violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of a federal law called the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. U.S. District Judge J. Ronnie Greer blocked Lee’s order and required the school system to impose a mask mandate while the lawsuit plays out. 

Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. “Bob” Simpson died on Oct. 18. He was 93. A graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, Simpson worked in private practice before joining the Justice Department in 1966. Simpson was the longest serving assistant U.S. Attorney in the nation upon his retirement in 2008 after 42 years as an AUSA in the Eastern District. During his career, Simpson worked a variety of cases, most notable was the 1983 “Butcher” case involving the biggest banking scandal in Tennessee. A celebration of Simpson’s life will be arranged at a later date. Any consideration of memories may be made to U.T. College of Law, 1505 W. Cumberland Ave., Ste. 278, Knoxville 37996-1810 or to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Friends of the Smokies, P.O. Box 1660, Kodak 37764.

After amending Rule 13, Section 5(a)(1) yesterday to add “juvenile transfer proceedings” to the types of cases a trial court, in its discretion, may determine that investigative or expert services are needed to ensure the constitutional rights of the defendant are properly protected, the Tennessee Supreme Court today issued an order that denies other parts of a petition relating to an indigent criminal defendant’s right to fees for expert, investigative, and other support services during criminal proceedings and in juvenile delinquency cases. The petition was filed by the Choosing Justice Initiative, Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Tennessee Post-Conviction Defender Organization and two private lawyers.

Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Angelita Blackshear Dalton has been reappointed to the Domestic Violence State Coordinating Council (DVSCC) by Deborah Taylor Tate, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The Council was created to increase the awareness and understanding of domestic and family violence and to reduce its rate in Tennessee. DVSCC creates domestic violence response policies for police and judicial officers and provides training and curriculum for law enforcement and those in the court who handle domestic violence situations. Judge Dalton will serve another four-year term, representing the judiciary of the Middle Grand Division. “Her abiding commitment to insuring victims of domestic or sexual abuse have access to justice in our system began as a young prosecutor and has continued throughout her stellar and historic judicial career,”  Tate said of Dalton. Read more on the AOC’s website.

Newly appointed 7th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Ryan Spitzer went straight to work after being sworn in on Sept. 1. “I was sworn in on Wednesday and had court on Thursday, so it was busy,” Spitzer told the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). He fills the seat of former Judge Donald R. Elledge who retired on June 30, leaving the district, which serves Anderson County, without a Circuit Court judge. Spitzer says his path to the bench was unexpected, but was an opportunity he couldn’t turn down. “I was working in DA’s office and my boss was about 10 years older than me. I expected I would run for DA after he retired, but then my judge retired and this position was going to be open,” he said. Read more about Spitzer and his new role on the AOC’s website.

The ABA’s Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs has a helpful resource to help lawyers understand and treat compassion fatigue. According to the ABA, compassion fatigue “is the cumulative physical, emotional and psychological effect of exposure to traumatic stories or events when working in a helping capacity, combined with the strain and stress of everyday life.” Symptoms for this condition include: becoming emotionally detached and numb in professional and personal life; becoming demoralized and questioning one’s professional competence and effectiveness; and having disturbing images from cases intrude into thoughts and dreams. The resource suggests that criminal, family or juvenile law attorneys could be especially prone to compassion fatigue as a result of continuous exposure to human-induced trauma. Read the full article for helpful tips on treating the condition.

Learn how to succeed in the Court of Criminal Appeals by taking part in the upcoming boot camp from the TBA’s Appellate Practice Section. Court of Criminal Appeals Boot Camp 2021 will allow attendees to observe oral arguments in real cases being presented to the court and afterwards hear an analysis from judges and the lawyers who participated in the arguments, who will discuss preparation and give tips and considerations for deciding to seek appellate review. The virtual program will take place Nov. 10 from 1 to 5 p.m. CST and is worth one dual and three general credit hours of CLE. Register now.

The TBA’s annual Year End CLE Blast is back this year to help all those needing last-minute CLE credit. During the entire month of December, the TBA will be bringing you reliable and convenient on-demand CLE programming in a variety of practice areas designed for the Tennessee lawyer. This year’s Blast will be all virtual and easily viewable from your laptop or phone, no matter where you are. Additional information and registration instructions will be forthcoming. Don’t forget to use the prepaid credits that come with your TBA Complete Membership and save on your CLE costs. Not a member? Join now to start saving.

Davidson County Criminal Court Presiding Judge Cheryl Blackburn plans to seek re-election to the Division III seat in 2022. Blackburn has served on the court for 24 years. She previously worked for 17 years as an assistant district attorney (ADA) in the Davidson County District Attorney’s Office. While in that role, she became the first female deputy and the first ADA in the state to be certified as a criminal trial specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the Tennessee CLE Commission. Blackburn began her career as a psychological examiner, appearing in court to testify about forensic evaluations. That experience piqued her interest in the law, leading her to attend and graduate from the Nashville School of Law.