Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett has entered a “best interest” plea on a drunk driving charge he was given after leaving the Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester earlier this year, the Tennessee Journal reports. Through the deal, known as an Alford plea, Hargett doesn’t admit guilt, but acknowledges the prosecution’s case against him would have likely resulted in a guilty verdict. He has served a 48-hour sentence, attended a victim impact course and has given up access to his state car for at least a year. Hargett said in a statement that he wants to "accept responsibility for my actions and move forward…” He has no plans to resign.

Two upcoming webcasts from the TBA Dispute Resolution Section are set to focus on the law of arbitration and technology in the realm of access to justice (ATJ). Recent Developments in the Law of Arbitration on Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to noon CDT will cover recent federal legislation affecting arbitration, as well as selected cases from the past year, with emphasis on the United States Supreme Court, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Tennessee state courts. The Future of Technology in the Access to Justice Realm on Nov. 29 from noon until 1 p.m. CST will explore the experiences of mediators using remote technology to help resolve disputes across a wide spectrum of dispute types.

The list of candidates who successfully passed the July Tennessee Bar Exam that appeared in Monday's TBA Today contained errors. The Tennessee Board of Law Examiners has updated its list to correct those errors. That new list is now available.

West Tennessee Legal Services is now accepting applications for two attorney positions in its Victim Rights Project. The Safe Hope Center/Victims Rights Attorney will be based primarily at the Safe Hope Center in Jackson and will collaborate with the Jackson Police Department’s Domestic Violence Unit, District Attorney’s domestic violence prosecutor and the Women’s/Men’s Rape Assistance Program. The Victim Rights Attorney will be based in Jackson and requires travel to WTLS’ 17-county service area. The attorney will provide civil legal assistance to domestic violence and crime victims. Browse all available job openings on the TBA’s JobLink site.  

A Belmont University College of Law student died yesterday evening after a line of severe storms swept through Middle Tennessee, Nashville’s WSMV reports. Laurel Flaherty, a first-year law student, was in Williamson County’s Old Natchez Trace area when a tree fell on her Nissan Rogue. She was 22. Flaherty was a native of Pembrooke, Massachusetts, and remained in Nashville for law school after graduating from Belmont University in May. Her family describes her as the “sweetest kid ever” who just “wanted to make the world a better place.” Parts of Williamson County experienced significant damage from the storms on Wednesday, with reports of trees falling on homes and across roadways.

Retired Wilson County Criminal Court Judge David Earl Durham died on Oct. 8. He was 66. A graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, Durham began his legal career in 1981 as a private practice attorney. He later joined the office of District Attorney General Tom Price as an assistant district attorney from 1986 to 2009. Durham served on the bench as 15th Judicial District Criminal Court judge from 2009-2014. The family has scheduled a celebration of life for Durham on April 20, 2023, at an undetermined location. You can upload pictures and share memories of Durham here. Durham donated his body to Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Anatomical Whole Body Donor program.

Roane County lawyer Christopher Shawn Roberts today received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR). Roberts failed to take proper action and failed to expedite litigation concerning the foreclosure of a client’s home. Additionally, Roberts did not respond or communicate to inquiries from his client concerning the foreclosure, failed to keep his clients updated on the status of their bankruptcy proceeding, effectively abandoned the representation and failed to withdraw from the representation.

Results from Tennessee’s 2022 July bar exam were released this week, marking an exciting time for new attorneys across the state. But what happens if you have an unsuccessful attempt? Catch a new episode of the TBA Young Lawyers Division podcast with attorneys Madaleine Gray, Patrick Morrison, Olivia Spears and Austin Warehime who discuss finding success after an unsuccessful bar exam attempt, breaking the stigma of retaking the bar and why it’s important to talk about that journey. Tune in on the TBA’s website or anywhere you listen to podcasts.  

The Memphis Bar Association will host its annual memorial service on Oct. 28, beginning at 11:30 a.m. CDT, for members who have died over the past year. The in-person event will take place at Calvary Episcopal Church, 102 N. Second St., Memphis 38103. A reception will follow the service. See the list of those to be honored and RSVP online at www.memphisbar.org.

The latest episode of the state Supreme Court’s “Tennessee Court Talk” podcast is out with a focus on everything attorneys need to know about taking appointed case work in criminal defense, guardian ad litem, juvenile or judicial hospitalization cases. The podcast walks attorneys through filing for payment, expense claims, experts, investigators and more. Tune in and learn how to avoid common pitfalls and why this work is essential to the administration of justice in the state. Access it on the Tennessee Court Talk page or podcasts sites, including Apple podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more.