Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. has been federally charged with bribery and tax evasion, the Commercial Appeal reports. Ford turned himself in to federal authorities Friday morning. An indictment charges Ford with one count of bribery and kickbacks related to programs receiving federal funds and six counts of attempting to evade tax payments. If convicted on all counts, Ford could face up to 40 years in federal prison. Three nonprofits are named in the criminal complaint, along with businesses owned and operated by Ford. According to the news outlet, the charges may be connected to a previous investigation into Ford's involvement in securing a $450,000 grant for Junior Achievement of Memphis, which later purchased computers from Ford's business. The FBI executed a search warrant at Ford's home in May 2023 as part of the ongoing investigation.

Paint Memphis, a nonprofit known for transforming a city corner with its annual mural fest, has appealed a court ruling that found it failed to fully pay two former co-directors for six months of work. A judge in Shelby County General Sessions Court ruled earlier this month that Paint Memphis must pay the former co-directors a combined $5,720 for their work from October 2023 to April 2024, the Daily Memphian reports. The organization is now appealing the ruling, and a new trial, including consideration of evidence, is expected to start over. A court date has yet to be set. In related news, Paint Memphis also faces allegations of failing to fully comply with its agreement with South Arts, an Atlanta-based funder. South Arts has provided $7,500 annually to Paint Memphis for the past three years to pay the lead artist, with Paint Memphis agreeing to match the amount in some years. However, several artists have reported being underpaid.

The ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service has honored Chattanooga attorney Richard Gossett for his exceptional dedication to pro bono service through his participation in ABA Free Legal Answers. Gossett answered 1,355 civil legal questions on the Tennessee site of ABA Free Legal Answers in 2024, the Hamilton County Herald reports. A letter from the committee described his contribution as “fantastic.” Gossett, a retired banking attorney who spent a lengthy career at Baker Donelson, has a long history of volunteer work in the legal field. Now in its ninth year, ABA Free Legal Answers has facilitated over 400,000 civil legal questions submitted by users to more than 15,000 pro bono attorneys across 43 jurisdictions, including a federal portal addressing veterans' benefits and immigration issues. The committee presents this annual recognition to individuals, law firms, corporate law departments and other organizations that have provided “extraordinary” pro bono service through the virtual legal advice portal.

TBA members and guests traveled to Havana, Cuba, Feb. 6-10 for an international CLE experience. The TBA contingent stayed at the Hotel Grand Aston La Habana in the Vedado neighborhood along the Malecón, Cuba’s infamous sea wall. Seven hours of CLE included an introduction to the Cuban legal system, U.S.-Cuba relations, fundamentals of civil and criminal law, and more specialized topics like human rights, anti-money laundering and economic reform. Highlights in addition to the educational programs included a walking tour through Old Havana. On the tour, the group enjoyed a private performance by a renowned Cuban flamenco troupe, then wound their way through the Cuban streets beginning at the Plaza de San Francisco and concluding at Plaza de la Catedral. Travelers went on excursions outside of Havana, with one group going to the town of Cojimar to visit Ernest Hemingway’s house, while the other group traveled to the eco-community of Las Terrazas in Sierra del Rosario. On the last full day in Havana, travelers were able to choose their own adventure, taking either a tour of Cuba’s classic American cars or visiting the Museum of Cuban Art. The trip ended with a farewell dinner at the tour guide's house. One traveler said of the program, “This trip was amazing; I learned so much about the Cuban people and society. The CLEs were engaging and interesting. Everyone was awesome." See photos from the trip. Interested in learning more about TBA's next CLE abroad destination? Complete this form to receive updates.

The TBA’s Practice Management Center is now “Law Firm in a Box” — a unique tool offering TBA members a host of resources for launching and growing a law firm. Checklists, buying guides, comparison charts and more are available in each of the tool’s six segments: Opening a Firm, Building a Firm, Managing a Firm, Protecting a Firm, Winding Down a Firm and Accessing Expert Advice. Don’t lose access to this valuable member benefit, which now can be found on the TBA website.

The indigent representation proposal from the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) on behalf of the Tennessee Supreme Court is designed not only to ensure that the state meets its obligations under the law, but also provides for a phased implementation to strategically address the special needs of some communities and case types. During last year's effort to increase the compensation rate for appointed attorneys, the AOC was encouraged to consider alternatives, including ones that would better address the needs of smaller and rural communities. This proposal seeks to respond to those concerns by providing flexibility and stability to focus on building capacity in those areas, as well as others requiring tailored solutions, such as complex cases. The proposed plan requires a recurring appropriation of $17 million, and over time, the dollars used to pay today’s claims would be used to expand contracting options. Learn more about the plan and indigent representation in Tennessee. Watch for more details about the plan in upcoming issues of TBA Today.

Both the state House and Senate Judiciary Committees have passed measures that would amend the state constitution to expand the list of crimes for which judges have discretion to deny bail, the Tennessee Journal reports. Under current law, judges have authority only to decline bail in capital offenses. SJR25, introduced by Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 25, while HJR49, introduced by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, passed the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 26. The proposal would allow judges to deny bail on 24 new offenses, mainly violent ones in which 100% of sentences must be served, and another 16 offenses in which 85% of the sentence is mandatory. If considered by the full chambers, the resolutions would have to pass by a constitutional majority in this General Assembly and a two-thirds vote in the 114th General Assembly before being placed on the next gubernatorial ballot. To be adopted by voters, the proposal would have to win a majority of those voting in the governor’s election. According to the Times Free Press, Senate Judiciary Chair Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, opposes the measure, saying it will pack county jails and put local governments in a financial bind.

Memphis lawyer Greg Siskind with Siskind Susser began working on a AI tools for immigration lawyers in 2016, and co-launched Visalaw.ai in 2023. Recently, the company won $1.6 million in seed financing from Atlanta-based Valor Ventures to accelerate its growth and innovation. The tool, according to Siskind, is designed to enhance the productivity, efficiency and profitability of immigration law firms by harnessing AI-powered legal research, assessment, document drafting, summarization and visa application construction. He says his own firm has seen up to a 90% reduction in time spent on drafting key filings. Read more about the investment in a news release from the company.

Samuel “Sam” Jackson has been named the new managing partner of Spencer Fane’s Nashville office. He replaces Charles Robert Bone, who has held the position since the firm acquired Bone McAllester Norton in 2021, according to the Nashville Business Journal. Bone now works directly for a company that had been one of his top clients: real estate developer Southwest Value Partners. His father, Charles W. Bone, remains of counsel at Spencer Fane. Jackson has focused his practice on labor and employment matters and education law, and will oversee an office of 36 attorneys. He earned his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law in 2000.

U.S. Rep. John Rose, a Republican from Cookeville in his fourth term, announced his plans to run for governor an event in Williamson County, WSMV reports. According to sources, Rose said at a Republican women’s function, “I am convinced my best days are ahead and that the best opportunity I have to serve Tennessee is in a different role. So, I’m going to come home at the end of this period and I’m going to offer myself … as a candidate for governor.” Before being elected to Congress, Rose served as Tennessee’s agriculture commissioner. He is also a farmer, attorney and owner of an IT training enterprise.