Shelby County General Sessions Judge Deborah Means Henderson was honored with the Leon Ruben Award for Excellence at the fall Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference (TGSJC) last week according to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). During the award presentation, outgoing conference president Judge James Y. Ross described the Memphis-based judge as a national and statewide leader in mediation, saying that she had been an "incredible leader" and a "mentor to many" of the TGSJC's judges. The Leon Ruben Award for Excellence is given annually to a judge or judges who distinguish themselves through outstanding service to the community, the conference and the judiciary. The award is named for Judge Ruben, who served as a judge for 37 years in Nashville. Read a press release from the AOC and see photos from the event.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has amended Supreme Court Rule 10B, Section 3.03, which changed some of the language regarding seeking a disqualification or recusal of an appellate judge or justice. Read the amended rule here.

This past month members of the TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) have been visiting law schools across the state. Today, YLD Board members Lorne Hiller, Jennifer Safstrom and Darius Walker Jr. joined together for a final stop at Vanderbilt University Law School. Students were encouraged to apply to the award-winning Diversity Leadership Institute, as well as to reach out to lawyers and begin networking with members of the TBA while still in law school. See a photo from the event.

Nashville’s Community Review Board continues to negotiate a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Metro Nashville Police Department nearly a year after its reconstitution. The MOU would govern how the board and police work together, outlining procedures for the board’s review of the department’s internal investigations. According to the Nashville Banner, the lack of a finalized agreement has led to frustration among board members and delays in case reviews due to missing body camera footage. Mayor Freddie O’Connell told the board in April that his office would get involved if progress toward an MOU stalled.

The Shelby County Juvenile Court reopened its downtown building Friday after completing environmental remediation, the Daily Memphian reports. The building had been closed since April for asbestos, lead and mold remediation. Staff relocated to various sites throughout the county during the closure. The building will reopen in phases over a week. “We are grateful to the Shelby County Health Department for ensuring the safety of our employees and the public,” said Stephanie Hill, chief administrative officer of the court.

A Kansas judge last week dismissed a defamation lawsuit against U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Knoxville, ruling that Denton Loudermill Jr. lacked jurisdiction to bring the case. WBIR News 10 reports that Loudermill sued Burchett in March after Burchett tweeted a photo of Loudermill, referring to him as a gunman and an "illegal," following a fatal shooting at a Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl celebration on Feb. 14. Loudermill, a U.S. citizen, was briefly detained after the shooting broke out but never charged. Burchett's attorneys argued the lawsuit should be dismissed because the action had no connection to Kansas, as Burchett does not live or represent constituents in that state. Following the dismissal, Loudermill's attorney said he would refile the suit in Washington, D.C., according to The Tennessee Journal.

President Joe Biden signed an executive order last week aimed at limiting access to machine gun conversion devices and 3D printed guns, as well as improving active-shooter drills in schools. Memphis Mayor Paul Young attended the event, writing on Instagram, "This bold action will help save lives and protect our neighborhoods from the devastating effects of gun violence." The order establishes an interagency Emerging Firearms Threats Task Force to conduct a risk assessment of the threats posed by machine gun conversion devices and 3D-printed guns, and report back within 90 days on ways to ways to stop the proliferation of such devices. The order also directs the executive branch to research how active-shooter drills may cause trauma to students and educators, with the goal of helping schools conduct drills that maximize effectiveness and limit harm. That information is to be published within 110 days. The Daily Memphian has more.

Winfield Dunn, Tennessee's 43rd governor, died Saturday at age 97. Funeral services are pending. Dunn graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in Memphis and practiced dentistry in Shelby County. He entered politics as chair of the Shelby County Republican Party, and in 1970, was elected as the first Republican governor in the state in 50 years. During his one term in office, he established a statewide kindergarten program, created public parks, prioritized highway construction and formed the Department of Economic and Community Development and the General Services and Banking departments. According to the Tennessean, Dunn championed bipartisanship, crafting an administration that included members of both political parties. After leaving office, Dunn served as vice president of Hospital Corporation of America. In 1986, he attempted to run for a second term as governor but lost in a close race to Democrat Ned McWherter. Of particular interest to lawyers, Dunn said in his later years that he regretted not vetoing the "Tennessee Plan," which allows the governor to appoint appellate court judges, when it came before him. He argued it was unconstitutional and that citizens should be allowed to choose judges by popular vote.

Tennessee's unemployment rates declined in nearly half of its counties in August, with Sevier County recording the lowest rate at 2.5%, according to a report from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Moore County and Williamson County followed with rates of 2.6% and 2.7%. Houston County had the highest rate at 5.7%. The statewide unemployment rate remained below 5% in all but three counties. A breakdown of the August data is now available.

Hamilton County saw historically low turnout in its August election, with only 15% of eligible voters participating, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Since then, the county has added about 8,000 new voter registrations, representing 80% of the voting-age population. As of last week, roughly 3,500 residents had requested absentee ballots. Tennesseans must register to vote by Oct. 7 to participate in the November general election, which will determine state and local representatives and decide a number of ballot issues.