The Rutherford County Safe Baby Court held its first graduation recently with a mother of two regaining custody of her children and celebrating a new chapter of her life, the Administrative Office of the Courts reports. Rutherford County Juvenile Court Judge Donna Scott Davenport, who presided over the ceremony, congratulated the mother saying, “You did it. You got that job. You got a home. You got everything. And we are so proud of you.” There are 12 Safe Baby Courts in the state, but the Rutherford program is unique in that it focuses on children who are not yet in foster care. The courts seek to reduce childhood trauma by lessening the amount of time that children are kept away from a stable, healthy home environment after their parents become involved with the justice system.

Sen. Paul Bailey, R-Sparta, says he will hold off on a proposal to limit the attorney general's power to represent state interests in federal court after Attorney General Herbert Slatery's office expressed willingness to address lawmakers’ concerns, the Tennessean reports. "The commitment is that they are willing to sit down, hear all of our concerns and see if there is not a way that those concerns can be met without fully pulling the solicitor general's office outside of the attorney general's office," Bailey said. The bill would have removed the solicitor general from the attorney general's office and made the position accountable to the legislature.

Before it adjourned for the year, the House Civil Justice Committee today approved legislation introduced by State Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, and Rep. Andy Farmer, R-Sevierville, that would create a new statewide chancery court, composed of three chancellors, each from a different grand division of the state. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bill yesterday before it adjourned for the year. This new court would have exclusive jurisdiction over any civil cause of action that challenges the constitutionality of a statute, regulation or executive order; includes a claim for declaratory judgment or injunctive relief; or is brought against the state or a state department. The measure is one of several proposals introduced this year that would restructure how the state judiciary handles certain cases, but ultimately the House and Senate leadership decided to scrap the other bills and go with this one. Under the latest amendment to SB868/HB1130, the governor would pick three chancellors to serve on the court from the state’s three grand divisions, using a candidate list put together by the Trial Court Vacancy Commission. The chancellors would serve until the August 2022 statewide election, when voters would determine the three chancellors who would serve a full eight-year term. Read background on the proposal from Courthouse News. Tune into TBA’s Legislative Update tomorrow on Facebook Live and the TBA Podcast Network to get additional details on TBA’s lobbying efforts related to this and similar legislation.

A bill that would protect intellectually disabled inmates from death sentences was approved by committees in both the House and Senate last week. SB1349/HB1062 is one of several proposals that would give inmates on death row the opportunity to have a court determine if they are intellectually disabled, and if so, to have their sentences altered. The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators has been behind these legislative efforts, motivated by the pending execution of Pervis Payne, whose lawyers say has an IQ in the intellectually disabled range.

Professionals across the country are experiencing a late-pandemic crisis of productivity, purpose and enthusiasm, writes New York Times reporter Sarah Lyall. In an investigative piece for the Times, Lyall talks to professionals who feel burned out, exhausted and less productive, engaged and motivated. She also shares feedback from mental health professionals who confirm the burnout is real. Though Lyall does not offer a laundry list of remedies, she does report that some are finding solace through meditating, other spiritual practices, walking, getting regular sleep, and accomplishing small tasks each day such as making the bed. The most important take-away from the piece may be the fact that those experiencing such feelings are not alone, and every day the country is moving closer to returning to office environments that offer structure, camaraderie and inspiration.

Make plans now to join colleagues for the 2021 TBA Annual Convention, presented this year as both an in-person event at The Peabody in Memphis and as a virtual online event the week of June 14. Virtual programming will be available for all registrants on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday, virtual-only registrants will tune in for a livestream of key Convention events such as the Bench Bar CLE and Luncheon, Lawyers Luncheon, Better This Year CLE program and Legislative Update CLE. During that same time, in-person attendees will experience all that Memphis has to offer, including key programs, a joint social event with state judges, a group breakfast and the delights of Beale Street and beyond.

The TBA International Law Section has created a new recorded program that looks at what private international law is, why it should be considered as an option in contract negotiations, and how UNIDROIT principles can be used to harmonize national, civil and common laws to benefit cross-border trade. Eckart J. Brödermann, a German lawyer, professor and author, leads a discussion with Karen Austin of the Tractor Supply Company and Marc Dedman with Barton LLP. The course offers 1.25 hours of general credit and is available on demand.

The Davidson County Election Commission will vote this week on a whether to have a citywide referendum election that would allow voters to decide the fate of last year’s 34% property tax increase, WPLN reports. This is the second attempt to roll back the tax hike by the group 4 Good Government, led by Nashville lawyer Jim Roberts. The first attempt was killed in court after several of its efforts were deemed illegal. The commission delayed a final vote over the weekend, opting instead to conduct another review of whether the referendum’s backers collected enough signatures to trigger an election. Attorneys for the city have raised more legal questions about the referendum. They’re urging the election commission to delay a vote until those can be resolved. But it could go before Nashville residents as soon as this summer.  

Former Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin was today found guilty on all counts in the murder of George Floyd last May, the Tennessean reports. After he was found guilty of second- and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, Chauvin’s bail was revoked and he was handcuffed and taken into custody. Chauvin, who is white, last year pinned Floyd, who was Black, to the ground with his knee for more than nine minutes after police responded to a report that Floyd used a counterfeit $20 bill. Cell phone video of the incident went viral, sparking months of protest throughout the country and abroad condemning police brutality and calling for racial justice. Chauvin faces 12 ½ years or 150 months in prison, but the prosecution argues there are aggravating factors that require a longer term. He must return to court in eight weeks for sentencing.  

Tennessee Bar Association Executive Director Joycelyn Stevenson has been chosen to serve as vice president of the National Association of Bar Executives (NABE) for 2021-2022. Stevenson, who was previously a director at-large for the organization, will become president elect in 2022-2023 before ascending to NABE president in 2023-2024. NABE is the only organization of its kind providing professional development and networking opportunities to bar associations across the country. Its mission is to enhance the skills and enrich the careers of bar association professionals.