Save the date for this year’s Animal Law Forum, taking place live and in-person at the Nashville Zoo on Sept. 24. Programming will run from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. CDT and will provide attendees with a unique opportunity to brush up on trends and advancements in animal law, while networking and enjoying the fun and activities the zoo offers. The zoo’s president and CEO and the board’s general counsel will discuss conservation efforts and laws affecting procurement and care for zoo animals. Other topics include ethical considerations for animals and the law, legislative updates, laws governing farm animals and more. Zoo admission, breakfast and lunch are included with the program.

A news item in yesterday’s TBA Today featured the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law in Knoxville and its accreditation by the American Bar Association (ABA). In fact, the school received full ABA approval in 2019. The item also incorrectly identified the dean of the school. The current vice president and dean is Matthew R. Lyon. The school does have current news to report: the hiring of four new faculty members. Assistant Professor of Law Michele H. Berger joins the Academic Success and Bar Preparation Department from Gonzaga University School of Law. Professor of Law Stevie Swanson will teach property, secured transactions and an upper-level seminar on human trafficking. She joins the school following a one-year visitor appointment at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Visiting Assistant Professor of Law Willie Santana will be taking his first faculty appointment, teaching legal writing and criminal law related courses. He has been an assistant public defender in Tennessee’s Third Judicial District. And Assistant Professor of Law Thomas H. Shields III will teach civil procedure, business organization and business law-related electives. He most recently served as general counsel for Littlefield Holdings in Cumberland County. Read more about these new faculty members.

Hamilton County Circuit Court Judge Jeff Hollingsworth has announced he will not seek reelection to that position in 2022, Chattanoogan.com reports. In making the announcement, he said, “It has been a great honor to serve as Circuit Judge. I am sincerely grateful for the continued support of my staff, fellow judges and lawyers who practice in this court for making my time as judge the highlight of my career. I am also grateful to the citizens of Hamilton County for allowing me to serve in this capacity. Serving on the bench has exceeded my expectations.” Hollingsworth was elected in 2006 and again in 2014.

Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk received strong support from Black voters when he was elected in 2014, but a high profile plea deal with former Nashville police officer Andrew Delke could put that support in jeopardy, Tennessee Lookout reports. Delke agreed to a three-year sentence for wrongly shooting Daniel Hambrick in the back. Funk said the deal was appropriate given the complicated facts of the case. But the Hambrick family disagrees and has made public its anger at Funk. Protestors, many of whom have gathered at Funk’s house since the plea deal, also are calling for him to be voted out of office. A story from the paper looks at who might challenge Funk and what Nashville insiders are saying about his chances.

The Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation will offer a free online training beginning this month to help employers develop or enhance the skills and knowledge to coordinate an employee’s return to employment after a work-related injury. The training is part of the bureau’s newly developed REWARD — Returning Employees to Work and Reducing Disabilities — Program. The virtual program includes 90-minute classes every other week for six week beginning this Thursday. Learn more online or by contacting Marion White, 615-253-1204.

Friday is the deadline to submit nominations for the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) annual access to justice awards. The Janice M. Holder Award, the B. Riney Green Award and the New Advocate of the Year award recognize those who have contributed to Tennessee’s equal justice community. The recipients will be recognized during the annual Equal Justice University (EJU) virtual conference Sept. 21-23. Visit TALS’ award nomination page for nomination instructions, the awards nomination form, and specific eligibility and criteria for each of the three awards.

A federal judge in West Tennessee has joined other judges in blocking a Biden administration program designed to redress generations of discrimination against some farmers, saying the federal government failed to show the U.S. Department of Agriculture discriminates against people of color today, Knoxnews reports. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas Anderson issued the third such national injunction to bar enactment of the loan forgiveness plan approved by Congress in March calling it reverse racism. The program was designed to compensate Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Hispanic, or Asian, or Hawaiian/Pacific Islander farmers whom the Congress said had been discriminated against in the past and who suffered a disproportionate impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Justice Department is expected to appeal.

The Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) Duncan School of Law recently announced two faculty promotions for the fall. Assistant Professor of Law Jason Smith has been promoted to director of legal writing, while Head of Research and Digital Collections Librarian Ann Walsh Long has been promoted in faculty rank to associate professor of law. Read more in a release.

Last Friday was the first day the bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest could have been removed from the Tennessee State Capitol but it was not, WREG reports. In March, the Historical Commission voted to authorize the removal after 120 days. But Lt. Gov. Randy McNally asserts the State Building Commission must concur in that action, citing an opinion by the state attorney general. A spokesperson for McNally's office said the issue will be considered at the building commission’s July 22 meeting. Sen. Brenda Gilmore, D-Nashville, a longtime opponent of the statue, says she is “hurt” and “sad” over the delay.

The Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers and Professionals for the Arts and the law firm of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings will provide free legal services for Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits at a virtual clinic this Friday. Eligible businesses may receive up to one hour of pro bono legal assistance. Appointments are first come, first serve. Companies may sign up online. For more information email vlpa@abcnashville.org.