Anderson County lawyer Bradley David Williams was reinstated to the practice of law on Dec. 2. He had been on inactive status since Dec. 15, 2015. According to the Tennessee Supreme Court, Williams filed a reinstatement petition, which the Board of Professional Responsibility found to be satisfactory.

The Tennessee Supreme Court adopted amendments to two rules last week. In the first order, the court announced the adoption of an amendment to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 12.4(E) to set forth the procedures and deadlines for litigation that could affect the method or timing of an execution when the litigation is filed after an execution date is set. In the second order, the court announced an amendment to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 54 to add a new type of civil complaint required to be heard by a three-judge panel. The court explained that the action was taken after the General Assembly passed and the governor signed new legislation amending Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 20. Both orders were adopted on Dec. 5 and took effect immediately.

Knox County lawyer Keri Elizabeth Rule was temporarily suspended from the practice of law on Dec. 5. The Tennessee Supreme Court took the action after finding that Rule failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning a complaint of misconduct. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court.

Tennessee Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti has announced Phase 2 of Operation Robocall Roundup, expanding a crackdown on illegal robocalls to include four of the largest telecommunications companies in the country. According to Skrmetti, Inteliquent, Bandwidth, Lumen and Peerless have collectively facilitated an estimated 3.4 billion scam calls nationwide since 2020. “Despite action by attorneys general across the country, [these companies] continue to profit from routing these illegal calls into millions of American homes," he said. "We are intensifying enforcement against these bad actors to ensure stronger safeguards for consumers.” Read more in a press release from the AG's office.

Nashville attorney Patricia Lee Newton died Nov. 30 at age 77. She graduated from the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law in 1975 and practiced law at Gilreath & Associates in Knoxville. Newton moved to Nashville in 1978, where she became an assistant public defender for Metro Nashville government. In 1981, Newton began her 45-year career with the Tennessee state government, during which she held numerous leadership roles. Visitation will take place on Dec. 13 from noon to 2 p.m. CST, immediately followed by a funeral mass at St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows Church, 328 Rep. John Lewis Way N, Nashville 37219. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary, 765 Nonaville Road., Mt. Juliet, TN 37122.

Mark your calendars for the 2026 Estate Planning & Probate Forum, scheduled for March 6, 2026, in Franklin. This annual event will provide seven hours of CLE credit and include sessions on litigation and estate planning, public receivership, a probate panel, and a legislative update. Speakers will include Rob Malin, Rebecca Blair, Chancellor William Cole, Jennifer Exum, Lisa Helton, Robin Miller, David Parsons, Al Secor, Andrea Sinclair, Jared Smith and Ashley Stearns. Get more information and register on the TBA's website. Section members receive discounted registration. Not a section member yet? Get started here.

The TBA is offering a three-hour "AI Essentials" CLE package focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the practice of law, designed to help Tennessee lawyers quickly complete their remaining hours for 2025. Check out the specific courses included in the package on the TBA website. Looking for something else? TBA also has six, eight, 10, 12 and 15-hour packages, packages based on specific topics or practice areas, live webcasts and on-demand video all month long. Explore all the Year End options to complete your CLE requirement by Dec. 31.

TBA's new "Sunrise Series" of early morning CLE offerings continues next week with "10 Ethical Tips from Hollywood Movies." Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy this one-hour webcast reviewing the Model Rules of Professional Responsibility as those rules are depicted in popular movies. Join Joel Oster, the Comedian of Law, as he analyzes the difference between professionalism and ethics and encourages attorneys to view their career as a professional calling. For more information and to register, visit the TBA's website.

The TBA will hold its second annual Conference on Artificial Intelligence and the Law (TCAIL2) on Dec. 12 in Nashville, offering a full day of programming focused on the rapidly evolving intersection of AI and legal practice. The conference will run from 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. CST and provide up to six dual hours of CLE credit. Sessions will feature live demonstrations of leading AI tools, guidance on navigating ethical and regulatory risks, and strategies for handling AI-generated evidence in court. Speakers include A.J. Bahou, Maura Grossman, Richard Littlehale, Lucian Pera, Neal Pinkston, Bill Ramsey and Oliver Roberts. For more information and to register visit the TBA website.

Belmont University College of Law Dean Alberto Gonzales will step down May 31, 2026, after 12 years of leadership, the university announced in a news release. Gonzales joined Belmont in 2014 and helped elevate the law school nationally. "In just over a decade, Dean Gonzales has positioned Belmont's College of Law among the top law schools in the nation," said Belmont University President Dr. Greg Jones. Under his tenure, Belmont Law has achieved a 96.9% first-time pass rate on the July 2025 Tennessee Bar Exam, maintaining an average bar passage rate above 90%. Gonzales also emphasized practice-ready, purpose-driven training through field placements, clinics, pro bono initiatives and partnerships with organizations such as the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services and Tennessee Justice Center. A national search for his successor is underway according to the school.