Knoxville attorney John Thomas “Tommy” Baugh died last week at age 83. Baugh earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law in 1965 and practiced for more than 55 years, forming close friendships with many colleagues throughout his career. A celebration of life will be held Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. EST at Rose Funeral & Cremation – Mann, 6200 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37919. Donations in Baugh’s memory may be made to the Fannin County Historical Museum, 411 West First St., Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513.

The TBA will host its 2025 Environmental Law Forum on Dec. 5 in Nashville, offering a full day of programming for lawyers and environmental professionals. The annual event will cover nuclear energy concerns, recent state and federal developments, brownfields and other timely issues shaping the practice area. Speakers include Payton Bradford of the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, Katherine Barnes Cohn of Bradley, John Dawson of Bass, Berry & Sims, Ellery Richardson of K&L Gates and Ashley Strittmatter of United Cleanup Oak Ridge. For more information and to register visit the TBA website.

Calling all early birds! The TBA is launching a new series in December that will bring lawyers compelling CLE webcasts from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. CST. The Sunrise Series will begin Dec. 2 with “College Mascots and Legal Ethics: Lessons from the Sidelines,” during which legal educator Stuart Teicher will use tigers, eagles and other college icons to explore what mascots can teach lawyers about loyalty, character and protecting clients. The second installment will air on Dec. 9 with “Good Lawyers Gone Bad: Ethics Lessons from True Lawyer Slime and Crime.” This true-crime-with-coffee session, again with Teicher, will examine real attorney misconduct, why lawyers sometimes go off the rails and the ethics rules that can keep them grounded. Make plans now to get your day started with a CLE boost and watch for more topics coming soon!

The TBA is inviting members to share their lighthearted or inspiring stories about helping clients, spreading goodwill or finding moments of gratitude during the holiday season. Selected stories may be featured in an upcoming episode of BarBuzz as we reflect on the lighter side of lawyering and celebrate TBA’s accomplishments from the past year. Submit your reflections by email to TBA Communications Coordinator Azya Thornton.

Shelby County courts have declined extra judges to help with the increased caseload created by the Memphis Safe Task Force. According to the Commercial Appeal, on Oct. 31, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris sent a request to the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) for additional help with what he described as "never-before-seen capacity" in the county's judicial system. On Nov. 12, Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeff Bivins wrote to Harris that Senior Judges Mark Ward and Roy Morgan were available to assist through a standing order that is effective through the end of the year, and which could be extended if necessary. However, Bivins also noted that the county General Sessions Court had declined assistance, telling the AOC that its dockets were under control. According to The Daily Memphian, Bivins wrapped up his communication stating: "the Court is ready to provide additional judicial resources in addition to these senior judges, should the courts of Shelby County advise that such assistance is needed."

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Thursday that full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits would be restored by Monday, The Hill reports. “We immediately last night began moving out, making sure that the program continues unabated starting once the government reopened, and hopefully by the end of this week most will receive it, at the very latest on Monday,” Rollins said during an appearance. Two lower courts had directed the Trump administration to reinstate partial benefits, while one judge ordered full benefits to be paid for the month of November, NPR reports. The administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block that ruling, which it did. On Wednesday, lawmakers advanced a stopgap bill to fund much of the government through Jan. 30, 2026, ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

Rep. Jeff Burkhart, R-Clarksville, has died at age 63, WKRN reports. He graduated from Vol State Community College and was a small business owner and a member of the Church of Christ. Burkhart has been a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for four years. In a statement, the House Republican Caucus said its members are "deeply saddened by the passing of our dear colleague ... He served with dedication, humility and a genuine love for the people of Montgomery County and the great state of Tennessee." Tributes from both parties highlighted Burkhart's work on infrastructure, education, public safety and support for first responders, as well as his kindness and steady leadership. Local agencies, including Clarksville Fire Rescue and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, also honored Burkhart’s decades of service, noting his lasting impact on Montgomery County and the state capitol. Information about services will be released at a later date.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant has appointed four assistant United States attorneys (AUSAs) for management and supervisory roles in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. Beth C. Boswell, a longtime career prosecutor who joined the office in 2014, was named first AUSA. Patrick Neal Oldham, a former Shelby County prosecutor who joined the office in 2018, will serve as criminal chief. Gregory D. Allen, an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force prosecutor and former criminal defense attorney, was appointed deputy chief of the Homeland Security Task Force. Naya Bedini, an appellate attorney who has written more than 120 briefs and argued before the 6th Circuit, was named appellate chief. Dunavant said in a press release, “All four of these AUSAs are career prosecutors with unquestioned reputations for effective prosecution and sound legal and ethical judgment. I have full faith and confidence in all of them to help me effectively lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office in West Tennessee, and I am proud to appoint them to these important positions.”

Hulu’s new Ryan Murphy drama "All’s Fair" is drawing harsh reviews, but real-life female divorce attorneys say the series, led by Kim Kardashian and Naomi Watts, gets surprising pieces of their profession right, Yahoo reports. While the show leans heavily into camp and luxury — from private jets and designer wardrobes to outrageous legal antics — attorneys interviewed said its portrayal of misogyny in the legal field, high-pressure client work, strategic negotiations and the unique challenges facing women in family law rings true. They noted that some depictions, including lavish offices, high-net-worth clients and round-the-clock demands, mirror aspects of elite divorce practice, even if the show sacrifices courtroom reality for glamour and drama.

The TBA will host the “How to Manage Your Workload – Time, Task, Email & Distraction Management for Lawyers,” webcast on Nov. 18 from noon to 1 p.m. CST offers practical strategies to help attorneys regain control of their time before 2026. Led by national speaker and Affinity Consulting expert Paul Unger, the program will address the nonstop demands of legal technology, email overload and the hundreds of daily screen switches that drain focus, providing proven systems to reduce mental clutter, set boundaries with technology and build an effective workflow using tools lawyers already have, including Microsoft Outlook. To register and for more information, visit the TBA website.