First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr. has succeeded former U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant as acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee pursuant to the Vacancies Reform Act. Murphy, a graduate of Lambuth College and the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis, has served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Memphis office since 1989. He was named first assistant in July 2018. Prior to that he served as the office’s criminal chief and as chief of the office’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force. Active in community and legal affairs, Murphy is a member of the Leo Bearman Sr. Inn of the American Inns of Court and a fellow of the Memphis Bar Foundation. Read more about his career from Local Memphis.com

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) will hold one phone clinic this week for members of the public with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, SNAP benefits and unemployment benefits. The clinic will take place tomorrow from 4:30 to 6 p.m. CDT.  LAS is looking for attorney volunteers to help answer legal questions during these times. To volunteer contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131. See the list of all clinics in February. 

The Tennessee World Affairs Council (TNWAC) will present two programs this month on legal and diplomatic professions available for those who would like to work in international affairs. On March 23, the council will hold a discussion with six women law professionals working in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Panelists will share their insights and perspectives and talk about education and preparation, the nature of their work, and the ups and downs of their trade. Then on March 25, the council will host a panel that will talk about jobs and careers in international diplomacy, including working in the foreign service and the U.S. State Department. Contact the council at 931-261-2353 or pat@tnwac.org with questions.

The TBA filed a comment earlier today in response to a petition filed by the Nashville Bar Association to amend Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 21 to require two hours of CLE annually in diversity, inclusion, equity and elimination of bias. Prior to responding to the NBA petition, the TBA gathered feedback on the proposal from licensed Tennessee attorneys, TBA section members, TBA committee members and TBA leadership. The TBA also researched the requirements of other states and reviewed comments filed in response to the petition. The TBA House of Delegates voted to adopt a proposal put forward by the CLE Commission and the TBA Board of Governors voted to approve the recommendation of the House. The proposal would require one hour of mandatory CLE on professionalism, which would count as one of the three dual credit hours required each year. The one hour of professionalism would include programming on pertinent social and professional topics, including, but not limited to, diversity and elimination of bias, mental health, substance abuse, sexual harassment and congeniality among the bar. The TBA is aware of the unique and important challenges to the profession on the specific issues of diversity, equity and the elimination of bias. As the largest CLE provider in Tennessee, the TBA is committed to producing more programming on these topics through its 33 sections to meet any requirements ultimately issued by the Supreme Court.

A state legislator under federal investigation received a federal pandemic business loan, but has said he did not use it for his legislative race, the Tennessean reports. In April, Rep. Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill, received a $149,630 Paycheck Protection Program loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration for his business PCS of TN LLC, which provides grading and utility services at construction sites. Warner says he used the PPP loan for allowable expenses at the business and financed his campaign with a personal loan from a local bank. Warner ousted former Rep. Rick Tillis in an August Republican primary, a bitter race that ultimately resulted in a complaint filed with state campaign finance officials about who funded attack ads against Tillis and how Warner paid for his campaign.

M.A. “Mo” Myers, the former FBI special agent in charge of the Memphis field office, has been named executive assistant director of the intelligence branch at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., the Daily Memphian reports. In his new job, Myers will serve as strategic leader of the FBI’s intelligence program and will be responsible for overseeing intelligence strategy, resources, policies and functions. Myers served as special agent in charge of the Memphis FBI office from 2018 to 2020. 

The Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a bill that would allow for permitless carry of a handgun in the state on a 7-2 party line vote. The bill would permit both open and concealed carrying of handguns for anyone over 21 and would remove the current permitting and training process required to buy a gun, News Channel 9 reports. Both the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Sheriff's Association oppose the bill, which is commonly called “constitutional carry.” The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee also approved the legislation and sent it to the full committee for consideration, according to the Commercial Appeal.

The first Friday in March is “National Employee Appreciation Day” and a great time to recognize that despite the unique challenges of the last year, TBA staff members have not missed a beat. They have shown flexibility and creativity in continued service to members. The TBA will be closed Friday in appreciation for those contributions to the association.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, Chancellor Ellen Lyle and staff attorney Justin Seamon have conducted seven bench trials and more than 60 hearings using Zoom video conferencing and a YouTube channel, with all attorneys, parties, witnesses and court staff participating remotely. In this program, they discuss the pros, cons and logistics of conducting trials via Zoom as well as how to prepare witnesses, safeguard remote witness testimony, manage trial exhibits and provide public access to proceedings. They also look at the ramifications of this technology for the future of litigation and ethical issues in play. The two-hour program will air on March 10 from noon to 2 p.m. CST.

Gov. Bill Lee has released a list of legislative initiatives he had previously outlined in his State of the State address, WKRN reports. Among those initiatives are Senate Bill 765/House Bill 786, which would allow citizens to carry handguns without a permit, SB768/HB785, also known as the “Reentry Success Act of 2021,” SB0767/HB0784 on “Alternatives to Incarceration,” and more. You can find the complete list on the state’s website.