The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation will hold a rulemaking hearing on Aug. 5 at 1 p.m. CDT at its offices to consider changes to the rules of the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Written comments also will be accepted until close of business Aug. 19 and should be sent to Troy Haley. Court of Workers' Compensation Claims Chief Judge Kenneth Switzer recently held several listening sessions to receive feedback from attorneys across the state about changes they would like to see.

The Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission met today to consider five candidates for a vacancy in the 19th Judicial District Circuit Court. After holding a public hearing and conducting public interviews, the commission selected three individuals to forward to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. They are Clarksville lawyer Robert T. Bateman, Chief Deputy Assistant District Attorney Carl Daniel Brollier Jr. and Springfield attorney Max D. Fagan. The judicial district covers Montgomery and Robertson counties. The vacancy was created by the appointment of Judge Jill Bartee Ayers to the Court of Criminal Appeals.

New York law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore is donating $3 million to Nashville-based Fisk University, Reuters reports. The funding comes from attorneys’ fees earned in a pro bono case brought on behalf of African American and women workers in Alabama. For 40 years, Cravath lawyers have handled the employment discrimination case. It wrapped up at the end of 2020 when a federal court in Alabama found gaping disparities in Black and female employment in police and fire departments in the state. Fisk will receive a one-time gift for building and infrastructure improvements. One of Fisk's founders, Rev. Erastus Milo Cravath, was the father of Cravath partner Paul Drennan Cravath, who died in 1940. The law firm has maintained a connection with Fisk through programs such as the Cravath Scholars Program, which provides scholarships and pre-law internships to Fisk students. The firm also will give away another $3 million from the proceeds of the case divided equally between the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Equal Justice Initiative, EJI’s Legacy Museum and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Germantown attorney James “Jim” Barry will take office as vice president of the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) on Friday during the group’s annual convention in Memphis. Barry, who will advance to the presidency in 2023, has long been active in the TBA, serving on the Board of Governors, as chair of the Access to Justice Committee and as co-chair for many years of the TBA’s Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Initiative. Outside of the TBA, Barry has held leadership roles with the Association of Corporate Counsel, Community Legal Center in Memphis, Memphis Area Legal Services, Memphis Bar Association, Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services and Tennessee Justice Center.

Yesterday was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) marked the day by highlighting the work of the state’s Coordinated Community Response (CCR) program. The CCR program, a collaboration with 20 other government and non-profit agencies, is designed to streamline the response to allegations of abuse and reduce the number of abusive unlicensed facilities. Neglect remains a concern for seniors across the state. The department says it received more than 15,000 reports of neglect last year. Common signs of neglect include unusual weight loss, untreated physical problems, unsanitary or unsafe living conditions or unsuitable clothing for the weather. Suspected elder abuse can be reported online or by calling 888-277-8366.

An Anderson County lawyer, who is now on disability inactive status, has been charged with stealing several thousand dollars from a Campbell County client, WBIR reports. Kevin C. Angel faces two counts of theft over $10,000. He was arrested a few weeks ago and booked on a $20,000 bond. The thefts are alleged to have occurred between November 2016 and November 2017. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says it began looking into the matter in January.

As part of its lifestyle benefits for members, the TBA is now offering a one-year subscription to the Calm app for $29.99 plus tax — a discount of $40! Billed as the number one app for sleep, meditation and relaxation, Calm has been named the "the world's happiest app" by the Center for Humane Technology. It has been downloaded more than 100 million times and has more than 1.5 million 5-star reviews. Learn more here.

The Environmental Law Section will host its annual forum on Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CST. The program will offer four hours of CLE credit, including one hour of dual credit. Jennifer Brundige with the Tennessee Valley Authority is the program producer. Watch for more details about topics and speakers coming soon.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today adopted an interim rule for special three-judge panels. Gov. Bill Lee signed into law late last month legislation that creates a three-judge panel to hear constitutional challenges to state laws, executive orders, regulations and legislative redistricting cases. Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 54 lays out the applicability, composition, location and other procedures for the new panel.

The U.S. Senate yesterday voted 53-44 to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the Associated Press reports. Jackson is the first appellate court judge appointed by President Joe Biden. She replaces Merrick Garland, who left the role to serve as Biden’s attorney general. Jackson is considered by many to be a leading contender for the U.S. Supreme Court. Jackson has written nearly 600 opinions as a district judge in Washington, worked as a federal public defender and served as vice chair on the commission that sets the guidelines judges consult when sentencing federal offenders.