Two state court groups — the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators — have launched a national initiative – the Blueprint for Racial Justice – to take immediate and recognizable steps toward improving racial justice, equity and inclusion in the justice system. The blueprint’s goal is to ensure that all court users, litigants and community members across the country are heard, listened to and respected by the nation’s justice system. Resources will include policies, webinars and bench cards to help state court leaders accomplish the goals outlined in the initiative. The steering committee has established four working groups that will focus on the following issues: equity and awareness, systemic change, communication and implementation, and increasing diversity of the bench, bar and workforce.

The Sullivan County Commission has selected Assistant District Attorney Teresa Nelson to replace General Sessions Court Judge J. Klyne Lauderback when he retires at the end of June, the Times News reports. Nelson, who was chosen over Jason Arthur and Timothy Horne, will serve out the remainder of Lauderback's term, which expires on Aug. 31. 2022, before having to stand for election. Nelson has worked at the district attorney’s office for 22 years. She previously was a criminal defense lawyer. She says her first priority on the bench will be tackling the backlog of cases created by the pandemic.

The Nashville Business Journal has released its annual “Best of the Bar” honorees. As part of the awards, the publication has also named Gail Vaughn Ashworth of Wiseman | Ashworth Law Group PLC as the 2021 Lifetime Achievement winner. Ashworth is a former president of the TBA and a founding member of Wiseman | Ashworth, where she practices at the civil and administrative trial and appellate levels as both defense and plaintiff’s counsel. She has practiced civil litigation for nearly four decades in Nashville and is a Tennessee Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator. She is currently a member of the TBA’s Dispute Resolution and Tort and Insurance Law sections and is a founder of the TBA Leadership Law program.

Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery today announced that he has filed a motion to intervene in the Tennessee Justice Center’s (TJC) lawsuit that seeks to undo the approval of the state’s Medicaid block grant. TJC filed the complaint last month against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), arguing, among other things, that the department had exceeded its authority when it approved the project as a Section 1115 experimental waiver. Slatery said his office is intervening in the case “to make sure Tennessee’s unique healthcare infrastructure is appropriately defended.”

Former Pilot Flying J president Mark Hazelwood has filed a 29-page memo alleging Chattanooga Federal Judge Curtis Collier is biased against him and should not preside over his retrial, the Chattanoogan reports. The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals voted to overturn Hazelwood’s conviction based on Collier allowing the jury to hear a recording of Hazelwood singing racist songs and using racist banter. In the memo, Hazelwood claims the court “has a personal bias and prejudice” against him and questions the court’s impartiality. Federal officials earlier this month announced that they would retry Hazelwood and two co-defendants next February.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue is hosting a free webinar on the professional privilege tax on May 25 at 9 a.m. CDT. The program will review who is subject to the tax, who is exempt and how to timely remit the required payment. Sign up for the webinar here. The department offers monthly programs to give tax practitioners, attorneys, accountants and others an opportunity to learn more about presented tax topics and ask questions. The recorded sessions and dates for future webinars can be found on the Department of Revenue’s website.

U.S. District Court Judge Aleta Trauger has granted a preliminary injunction ordering the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) to provide two deaf inmates with access to videophones. The preliminary injunction is part of a larger complaint brought by Disability Rights Tennessee and Civil Rights Education and Enforcement Center, which alleges TDOC has been in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to provide sign language interpreters, videophones and other technology necessary for effective communication. Plaintiffs filed an emergency motion in October asking the court to order TDOC to immediately install videophones for the two inmates. Prior to the motion, TDOC had refused to provide videophones, instead opting to use a teletypewriter (TTY), which requires users to type messages back and forth. The plaintiffs argued the TTY denied inmates the ability to communicate in their native language, American Sign Language. Disability Rights Tennessee attorney Daniel Ellis said the groups will “continue to advocate for effective communication for all Tennesseans who are members of the Deaf Community.” Trauger rejected TDOC’s motion to dismiss the case in November.

The Tennessee Bar Journal covers a variety of topics through its regular columnists — the current issue is full of details on estate planning, torts, employment law and family law. Dan Holbrook writes in "Where There's a Will," about a "valuation mismatch" that, without proper planning, can cause an estate tax surprise for your clients. Marlene Moses and Ben Russ write in "Family Matters" about the impact new rules regarding gender identity have on the world of family law. John Day writes in "Day on Torts," about the impact that traffic citations have on statutes of limitations in personal injury and wrongful death cases. And in Ward Phillips and Brandon Morrow's installment of "The Law at Work," read about the impact that two of the major provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) are likely to have on employers and employees. 

Two open board positions will be filled by the Tennessee Bar Association Board of Governors at its meeting on June 18 in accordance with Article 47 of the TBA Bylaws. The West Grand Division Governor Position 2 and Third District Governor seats are open. The West Grand Division seat represents Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Shelby, Tipton and Weakley counties. The Third District seat represents Bledsoe, Bradley, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Polk and Rhea counties. If you would like to be considered for one of these positions, please contact TBA Executive Director Joycelyn Stevenson by June 1. Please include a resume and details about your interest in filling the vacancy.

TBA member Linda Warren Seely has joined Butler Snow LLP as pro bono counsel, where she will lead the firm’s pro bono efforts from its Memphis office. Seely has most recently served as director of the American Bar Association’s Dispute Resolution Section. Prior to the ABA, Seely served as the pro bono projects manager for West Tennessee Legal Services and managing attorney for senior citizens projects at Memphis Area Legal Services. Seely has served on the TBA’s Board of Governors, House of Delegates and Access to Justice Committee and is a prior recipient of the association’s Public Service Attorney of the Year Award and a President’s Award. She is currently a member of the TBA’s CLE and Attorney Well-Being committees. Butler Snow has more on Seely’s new position.