The American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released a formal opinion on May 20 clarifying Rule 1.16(b)(5) of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. That rule permits a lawyer to withdraw from representation when “the client fails substantially to fulfill an obligation to the lawyer regarding the lawyer’s services and has been given reasonable warning that the lawyer will withdraw unless the obligation is fulfilled.” Formal Opinion 523 clarifies how these obligations can be formalized in engagement agreements and the ethical limitations on such provisions. Read more in a press release.

Belmont University College of Law recently announced that 2L Ryesa McGehee is this year’s winner in the law school's seventh annual Legal Fiction Workshop. “Routine and Habit” is a gritty story about one defense attorney’s willingness to follow her intuition wherever it may lead. McGehee's story is also eligible for the American Bar Association (ABA) Ross Essay Contest for Legal Short Fiction, which will be decided later this summer. The story was chosen by community reader Frank Toub, who said, "The author tells the all too familiar story of an attorney who, in going the extra mile for a client, oversteps to her own detriment." While a student at Belmont Law, Toub participated in the 2022 Legal Fiction Workshop and won the ABA's Ross Essay Contest.

For more than 30 years, musicians and music lovers have gathered in Nashville to honor the memory of blues legend Otha Turner. The 32nd Annual Ode to Otha takes place on May 30 from 2–9 p.m. CDT at 1711 Sweetbriar Ave. in Nashville. The annual block party, hosted by Womble Bond Dickinson attorney and partner Bill Ramsey, also serves as a fundraiser for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. This year’s lineup includes performances by Stacy Mitchhart, The Otha Turner Boys Fife and Drum Band, Luther Dickinson and JD Simo, Juke Skywalker, Chip Greene and Blue Mother Tupelo. Get tickets in advance here.

Former Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page will be honored next month with the Tennessee Bar Association’s (TBA) prestigious Justice Frank F. Drowota III Award. Nashville attorney Barry Howard, who nominated Page for the award, praised Page’s substantial and enduring contributions to public service and the legal system. A dedicated advocate for access to justice, “he consistently supported legal aid organizations, speaking whenever called upon and championing initiatives to assist underserved communities,” Howard said. Page also played a key role during his time on the bench in advancing resources for indigent defense, including efforts to increase compensation for court-appointed counsel and the creation of an appellate division within the public defender’s office to alleviate systemic burdens. He also worked “to expand access for self-represented litigants by promoting the availability of user-friendly forms and ensuring that pro se parties were treated with fairness, patience and respect in his courtroom,” according to Howard.

In announcing this year’s recipient, TBA President Heidi Barcus said the association is honoring Page for his commitment to ensuring access to legal representation across the state. "The TBA is honored to recognize former Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page for his 40-plus years of service to the Tennessee legal community. Throughout his time on the bench, Page has been a strong advocate for access to justice, especially in Tennessee’s rural counties, and has always handled the cases before him with humility and fairness, embodying the spirit of former Justice Frank Drowota." The award will be presented at the annual Lawyers Luncheon set for June 12 as part of the association’s Annual Convention in Knoxville. Read more about Page in a press release from the TBA.

The Knoxville Bar Association and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, in partnership with Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET), will hold a Debt Relief Clinic on June 27 to provide pro bono legal services to income-eligible consumer debtors. The clinic will begin at 9 a.m. EDT at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St., Knoxville 37919. Bankruptcy Judge Suzanne Bauknight will present a short overview of the bankruptcy system and then volunteer lawyers will conduct initial meetings with the clients to discuss their situations and options. Those interested in helping should register online. Clients seeking advice should call 865-637-0484.

Anthropic PBC is angling to be a major direct provider of legal technology with its latest rollout, extending beyond its original role as a maker of large language models, Bloomberg Law reports. This week, the company unveiled 12 new AI tools for specific legal practice areas including corporate, regulatory and employment law. The plugins are bundles of various skills for the company’s AI model Claude and connections to other legal software. According to legal technology consultants, Claude was already the favored AI tool for lawyers and these new products could change Anthropic’s role in the legal industry. “This represents a major transition for Claude from backroom to front room,” says Rudy DeFelice, who consults with corporate legal teams at Harbor.

State officials will officially take the reins of metropolitan and regional airports across Tennessee this week. According to the Tennessean, by July, the boards running Tennessee's top four airports will be replaced with a majority of state-selected commissioners. During the legislative session, lawmakers argued they should have more oversight since the state contributes to airport operations. The bill passed on April 23, and automatically will become law on May 21, unless Gov. Bill Lee vetoes it. The law gives the governor, the speaker of the House of Representatives and the speaker of the Senate two appointees each. Local officials have opposed the law. The Metro Nashville Council recently passed a resolution opposing the measure, and Chattanooga airport officials are considering legal action.

The 12th annual Justice Innovation Awards ceremony will be held during the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) 89th Annual Conference July 19-22 at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville. Two awards will be presented recognizing individuals and organizations that rethink and advance justice for children and families. The Impact of the Year Award honors a Tennessee individual, court, law firm, advocacy group or service provider that has led significant improvements supporting the organization’s mission. The Innovator of the Year Award recognizes an active NCJFCJ member who has led or promoted nationally significant innovation in juvenile justice, family law, domestic violence or child abuse and neglect. Nominations for both awards close June 5. Read more in a release. 

An investiture ceremony and reception for Kyle A. Hixson, who will be the newest justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court, will take place July 7 at noon EDT. The ceremony will be held at the Tennessee Theatre, 604 South Gay St., Knoxville 37902. Gov. Bill Lee will administer the oath of office, and a reception will follow. View the invitation. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by June 26 to TSCRSVP@TNcourts.gov. Gov. Bill Lee appointed Hixson to the high court in January. The General Assembly approved the nomination in March. He will replace retiring Justice Holly Kirby when she steps down at the end of June.

Circuit Court Judge Franklin Murchison Sr. died at age 94. Murchison earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University and served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps until 1960, attaining the rank of captain. During his military service, he held positions including defense counsel, prosecuting counsel, chief of appellate review and chief of military justice. After his military service, Murchison returned to Jackson and practiced with the firm Murchison & Murchison alongside his father, Carmack Murchison, focusing on civil and criminal litigation. He later practiced with Spragins & Murchison. In 1985, Murchison was elected judge of the 26th Judicial District Circuit Court, Division III, serving Madison, Henderson and Chester counties. He was admitted to practice before all courts of Tennessee, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. Court of Military Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. A memorial service will be held at a later date.