In honor of Constitution Day, the Memphis Lawyers’ Chapter of the Federalist Society will host “Originalism’s Promise: A Natural Law Account of the American Constitution” from noon until 1 p.m. CDT on Friday. Professor Lee J. Strang from the University of Toledo College of Law will host the virtual event via Zoom. Those interested in attending can register by contacting Greg Grisham or registering directly online.

Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS) has announced that local attorneys John and Lisa Bobango and their daughter, attorney Mary Lauren Bobango Stewart, will chair the 2021 Campaign for Equal Justice. John Bobango is the managing partner of Farris Bobango, where Stewart is also an associate. “The Bobango family understands the importance of sound legal representation for all persons, especially the working poor who simply cannot afford an attorney to protect their rights,” said MALS CEO Cindy Ettingoff. Money from the campaign allows the non-profit to provide legal representation to low-income individuals in a variety of legal issues.

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an order Friday suspending two additional lawyers for non-compliance with 2020 continuing education requirements. See the list of all lawyers suspended for CLE non-compliance in 2021 and those who have been reinstated.

The Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women (TLAW) recently elected new officers for the 2021-2022 year. According to its Facebook page, new officers are: Psonya Hackett, president; Julie Battacharya Peak, president-elect; Amy Farrar, recording secretary; Sunny Eaton, corresponding secretary; Linda Knight, treasurer; and Chelsea Conner, West Tennessee director at large. The officers were sworn in last week by Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page.

A Tennessee General Assembly committee yesterday heard testimony from lawyers, sheriffs, judges, criminal justice reform advocates and others on the state’s cash bail system, the Daily Memphian reports. While many suggestions were made to “refine” the system, abolishing pretrial detention or cash bail were not among them. Arguments were made for risk-assessment tools that would determine whether a person should be released pretrial, but some advocates raised concerns about such tools being biased against people of color. Lincoln Memorial University law school Professor Willie Santana questioned the rate of pretrial detention and argued it should be used far less. Santana suggested a “more explicit presumption of release without conditions” and a requirement that all bail hearings occur within 48 hours. The Tennessean also has coverage of the meeting.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended seven attorneys yesterday for failure to pay the annual registration fee. Four of those also were suspended for failing to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order or the IOLTA suspension order. See the list of all lawyers suspended for fee and IOLTA violations in 2021 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

Sullivan County lawyer Jason R. McLellan was temporarily suspended from the practice of law on Sept. 9 by the Tennessee Supreme Court. McLellan was suspended after the court found he had misappropriated funds for his own use, posed a threat of substantial harm to the public and failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR) regarding a complaint of misconduct. He is precluded from accepting new cases and must stop representing clients by Oct. 9. McLellan must notify all clients, co-counsel and opposing counsel of his suspension and is required to deliver to all clients any papers or property to which they are entitled.

The Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated Davidson County lawyer Karl Emmanuel Pulley to the practice of law on Sept. 9 and conditioned reinstatement on engagement of a practice monitor. Pulley also was directed not incur any new complaints of misconduct related to the conduct for which he was suspended. On June 8, the court suspended Pulley for one year, with 30 days to be served on active suspension and the rest on probation.

The Memphis Bar Association will be limiting in-person attendance at its annual Memorial Service to members of the judiciary and those presenting at the Sept. 24 event. Others, including family and friends of the deceased, will be able to watch via livestream beginning at 11 a.m. CDT. Look for more details, including the link to watch, coming soon.

Memphis lawyer Kim Deree Meloni died Sept. 8 at the age of 59. A lifelong Memphian, Meloni earned her law degree from the University of Memphis School of Law and, according to her obituary, worked as a tireless legal defender for neglected and abused children. Visitation will be begin at 9:30 a.m. CDT on Sept. 18 at the Memphis Botanic Garden’s Great Lawn. A memorial service will follow at 10:30 a.m. Dress will be business casual. The family asks that attendees consider wearing a mask. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Memphis Child Advocacy Center or to a charity of one’s choice.