Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has announced the restoration of nearly $7 million in annual Title X health care funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The funding — previously revoked in 2023 due to the state’s abortion laws — will go to the Tennessee Department of Health to support prenatal care, health screenings, counseling and education services. Tennessee has administered Title X funds for five decades and was awarded a five-year grant in 2022 before the Biden administration halted funding. The attorney general’s office filed suit, arguing the administration’s abortion-related mandates exceeded Title X authority. In May, the HHS agreed to restore the funds and drop enforcement of those mandates. “Our Office is gratified that HHS has restored these grant funds, which will provide thousands of Tennesseans, especially expectant mothers, with important healthcare resources,” Skrmetti said in a press release.

Circuit Court Judge Kathryn “Katy” Olita recently was elected president of the Tennessee Trial Judges Association (TTJA), becoming the first woman and the first judge from the 19th Judicial District to hold the position. “I’m excited about continuing to do the good work that our organization has done, especially over the last couple of years,” Olita said. “There’s been a lot of good cooperation between the [Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)] and the TTJA, and even the leadership of the appellate courts. We’ve kind of all found this uniform way of trying to make sure everybody is looked out for ... so I’m very encouraged by all of that and want to continue that work while I’m the president.” Olita also has appointed 1st Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Stacy Street as vice president, 12th Judicial District Chancellor Melissa Willis as secretary, and 29th Judicial District Chancellor Tony Childress as treasurer of the group. The TTJA is a non-partisan association of circuit, criminal and chancery court judges and is dedicated to maintaining a fair, independent and efficient judiciary. Read more in a press release.

Another inmate at the Shelby County Jail has died, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said in an emailed statement Tuesday. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) also confirmed it has been asked to investigate the death, The Daily Memphian reports. TBI identified the man as Rockez McDaniel and said an autopsy is being performed to determine the cause and manner of death. McDaniel was found experiencing a medical emergency at the jail on Monday and was transported to Regional One Health, where he later was pronounced dead. He had been in the jail for more than a week on charges of escape and evading arrest. McDaniel is at least the sixth inmate to die at the jail this year and the 63rd since 2019. His death also is the second this year in which TBI has been asked to investigate.

The TBA's Estate Planning Tee-Off is returning on Sept. 12 to Nashville's Topgolf. Produced by the Estate Planning & Probate Section, this annual favorite will feature three hours of CLE programming designed for attorneys new to the estate planning practice as well as those interested in adding this field to their portfolio. Don't miss this unique opportunity to build practice knowledge and fine-tune your drive game all in one day! Registration includes breakfast, lunch and two hours of Topgolf following the presentations. Get more information and register here. Section members enjoy discounted registration. Not a section member? Join now for additional savings and benefits. Thanks to our lunch sponsor Pinnacle Financial Partners, golf experience sponsor Southeastern Trust Company and breakfast sponsor Diversified Trust.

The TBA Academy offers an exciting opportunity for a limited number of TBA members to be admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. The next admission ceremony will take place Dec. 1 in Washington, D.C. In addition to taking part in an admission ceremony before the U.S. Supreme Court, participants will gather for a special celebration dinner and a tour of the U.S. Capitol. Each attendee also will receive three hours of prepaid credits to use toward future TBA CLE programming. The group will stay at the Hay Adams Hotel. The cost to register is $1,250 for TBA members, which includes the application fee, one hotel night, dinner on Sunday, and breakfast, lunch and transportation to the court on Monday. Guests can be added to the trip for a cost of $500 each. Those interested in participating should complete the online interest form by Aug. 5. Applicants then will be contacted with instructions to complete the full application process. Participants will be selected on a first-come basis. Contact TBAAcademy@tnbar.org with any questions.

The Knoxville Municipal Court and the Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) will host a reception and portrait unveiling honoring City of Knoxville Municipal Judge John R. Rosson Jr., who served in the role for 37 years. The event will be Aug. 6 from 5 to 6 p.m. EDT at the City of Knoxville Municipal Court, located at 1650 Huron St., Knoxville 37917. Members of the local legal community are invited and should register on the KBA's website.

Joseph Griffin Cook of Knoxville died at age 85 on Jan. 21. He received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Alabama. Cook had planned to enter law practice, but an interview with the University of Tennessee College of Law (now Winston College of Law) marked a change of direction. He was the youngest member of the law faculty when he accepted the position of assistant professor in 1965, which he held for 51 years. In 1972, he was promoted to professor of law and in 1979, he was named the Williford Gragg Distinguished Professor of Law. He held that position until his retirement in 2016 as professor emeritus. The highest honor the university can give to a member of the faculty is the University of Tennessee Macebearer. Cook received that honor for the 2004-2005 academic year. A celebration of life will be held Aug. 16 at 1 p.m. EDT at the Winston College of Law. To attend, please RSVP by Aug. 8.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on July 28 issued a censure to Davidson County attorney Terry Renease Clayton. The court found that Clayton engaged in the unauthorized practice of law between Jan. 22, 2024, and Feb. 22, 2024, while his license was suspended for failure to timely pay his annual registration fees and/or submit certification that all eligible funds are held in an IOLTA account. Clayton entered a conditional guilty plea admitting his conduct violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 5.5 and 8.4(a). He is responsible for board costs and Tennessee Supreme Court fees.

Shelby County lawyer Ashley Satterfield Patterson received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on July 29. The court found that when Patterson testified in court on April 22, 2022, concerning a personal matter relating to a parenting plan, she lied under oath. Her actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 3.3 and 8.4.

Knoxville attorney Mark Steven Graham was censured by the Tennessee Supreme Court on July 29 for writing a check from his trust account to pay an office expense. The court also found that five months later, three automated withdrawals were attempted from the trust account, one of which was successful. Graham’s law license was suspended in 2022 and the court denied his petition to dissolve the suspension in 2024. Despite the suspension, Graham failed to deactivate his office website for at least 20 months and his social media incorrectly indicated for at least 34 months that his law license was active. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15, 7.1, 3.4 and 8.4(g).