The Tennessee Supreme Court last week ordered the law license of Shelby County attorney William N. Griffin be transferred to disability inactive status. Griffin cannot practice law while on this status and may return to active status upon showing the high court that his disability has been removed.

Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Cornelia "Connie" Clark lay in state today in the capitol's Old Supreme Court room. A rotation of Tennessee State Troopers watched over her casket as it was visited by friends, family and members of the state’s legal community. Her casket was draped with the state flag and a skirt of crushed deep red velvet. Clark, the first active member of the judiciary to lie in state, died last week after a short battle with cancer. Her visitation will be held tomorrow from 2 until 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Franklin and again from 10 to 11:30 a.m. CDT at the church Friday with the funeral to follow at noon. Read more from the Tennessean. 

In recognition of her lifetime of service, Gov. Bill Lee today issued a proclamation declaring Sept. 29 as a date to honor Clark. “Justice Cornelia A. Clark, an eighth-generation native of Williamson County, is one such notable Tennessean who will be forever remembered for her dedicated service as a judge and her role as one of our state's most influential legal minds,” the proclamation states. Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The Mindfulness in Law Society is offering legal professionals from across the country a chance to participate in live virtual guided meditations each week. The “Virtual Sits” are led by lawyers and are free of charge. Join the meditations every Monday at 2 p.m. CDT and Wednesday at 4 p.m. CDT. Find more information, teacher bios and Zoom links to join the events on the Mindfulness in Law Society’s website.

The TBA Practice Management Center offers an easy way for members to get their legal technology and law practice management questions answered at no cost by an expert at the Affinity Consulting Group. All experts are former practicing attorneys who have spent years working with law firms on best practices, technology, management and process. Email your questions to tbapmc@affinityconsulting.com.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is now accepting applications for the Court of Criminal Appeals vacancy. The vacancy was created by the retirement of Judge Alan E. Glenn, effective July 1. Attorneys who are at least 30 years of age, residents of the state for at least five years and current residents of the Western Tennessee Grand Division may submit their applications to the Administrative Office of the Courts by noon CDT on Oct. 13. Applicants will be interviewed on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10 at a location to be determined and announced soon.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is accepting applications for 29th Judicial District Circuit Court judge, covering Dyer and Lake counties. Successful applicants will be at least 30 years of age, residents of the state for at least five years and current residents of the 29th Judicial District. Those interested should complete the Trial Court Vacancy Commission Application and submit it to the Administrative Office of the Courts by noon CDT on Oct. 8. A hearing to consider applicants will be held on Nov. 4 at 9 a.m. CDT at a to-be-determined location in the 29th Judicial District.

The Chattanooga Bar Foundation (CBF) recently welcomed five new fellows during the Chattanooga Bar Association’s 2021 Law Day celebration, the Hamilton County Herald reports. The new fellows include: Misty Harris, Harris Law Firm; Paul Hatcher, Duncan, Hatcher, Holland & Fleenor; Jim Levine, Baker Donelson; Richard Rose, Miller & Martin; and Jerry Tidwell, Tidwell & Associates. The group joins 142 fellows who make up the current roster. As a group, the fellows work to improve the study of law, the administration of justice and relations between the members of the legal profession and the public. 

A new investigation has found that 131 federal judges didn’t recuse themselves from court cases that involved companies in which they or their family members owned stock, The Hill reports. The findings come from an investigation by the Wall Street Journal, which found that, of the two-thirds of federal district judges who disclosed individual stock holdings, roughly 20% of them heard at least one case involving their stock. In those cases, about two-thirds of the rulings were in favor of the financial interests of the judge. Code of conduct for federal judges requires them to recuse themselves where there is a financial interest in the case or “ownership of a legal or equitable interest, however small.”

Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel shareholder and TBA member Kirby Yost will now serve as chair of the firm’s real estate practice group. Yost has been with Chambliss since 2011 and assists owners and developers of all sizes on real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, financing and retail and office leasing, advising on land use, zoning and other real property matters. She follows Michael Stewart, who served in the role for several years. Yost is a member of the TBA Young Lawyers Division, Public Education Committee and a 2019 member of the TBA Leadership Law program.

For the first time in history, four of the nation’s top legal associations are led by Black men. Navan Ward with the American Association for Justice, Reginald Turner with the American Bar Association, Judge Carlos Moore with the National Bar Association and Douglas Burrell with the Defense Research Institute recently gathered in Washington, D.C., to discuss the “enormous possibilities” their leadership can bring to the legal profession. Watch a video from the group’s meeting.