The Nashville School of Law (NSL) recently held its annual Recognition Dinner to honor Nashville lawyer Bill Harbison and its class of 1974. Harbison, an attorney with Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison and a former TBA president, was recognized for his community service and 15 years as a professor of contracts. The class of 1974 was honored for its 50th anniversary. Several members of the class attended the dinner and shared their experiences at NSL. A scholarship also was announced in honor of a deceased classmate, Kirk Scobey. Read more in the press release. See photos from the event.

The American Bar Association (ABA) has released its first guidance on how lawyers should assess potential clients under a revised ethics rule. The rule, adopted in 2023, requires lawyers to inquire into a client's situation to avoid unknowingly assisting in criminal activity. Formal Opinion 513 acknowledges the challenges lawyers may face in making these assessments and offers a step-by-step approach to help them navigate potentially risky situations. It includes questions to consider when undertaking an assessment of the representation and whether the lawyer would be assisting or furthering a crime or fraud.

Brittany Bartkowiak was recently honored by the Williamson County Bar Association for her leadership as its president for 2023-2024. The association also recently announced the members of its executive board for 2024-2025. They are President Charles Ferguson, President-elect Crystal Etue, Treasurer Amanda Bradley and Secretary Dylan Harper.

Butler Snow LLP has announced that attorney Melody McAnally will serve as chair of the Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Committee of the American Bar Association (ABA) Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) for 2024-2025. McAnally is a partner at the firm and brings extensive experience in cybersecurity and data privacy law to the role, according to a press release from the firm. She will lead the committee's efforts to educate ABA members on these critical issues and promote awareness of cybersecurity, data privacy and AI-related risks. McAnally is actively involved in various professional associations, including the Tennessee Bar Association’s Construction Law Section Executive Council.

A lawsuit alleging that Tennessee's redistricting plans for the U.S. House of Representatives and state Senate amounted to unconstitutional racial gerrymandering has been dismissed by a federal judicial panel, according to WBIR News. While the panel ruled that the new maps are "consistent with a racial gerrymander,” it also found they are "consistent with a political gerrymander.” The judges found that the plaintiffs would need to provide stronger evidence that Tennessee's legislators knew the redistricting maps would harm Democratic voters, including minority voters. The court gave the plaintiffs 30 days to refile the case if they could provide stronger evidence of racial motivations. The complaint, filed in August 2023, alleged that the 2022 redistricting maps intentionally discriminated against Black voters and diluted the voting power of communities of color.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Aug. 21 suspended 17 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee; nine of them also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. See the list of all lawyers suspended and reinstated for fee and IOLTA violations in 2024 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005. Lawyers recently reinstated include nine who were suspended this year, 11 who were suspended in 2023, one who was suspended in 2019 and one who was suspended in 2012.

Make plans now to join colleagues for the 2024 Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) Bootcamp on Oct. 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT. The CCA can be unfamiliar territory for most lawyers, requiring not only thorough preparation but also mastery of oral and written advocacy. The boot camp allows lawyers to observe oral arguments in real cases, followed by analysis by counsel who will discuss preparation, tips and considerations for deciding to seek review in the court. A networking lunch will be provided to allow attendees to network with others who share this practice focus. Learn more and register here.

Florida lawyer April Elaine Rolle was reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee effective July 25. According to the Tennessee Supreme Court, Rolle filed a petition for reinstatement demonstrating that all delinquent annual registration fees had been paid to the Board of Professional Responsibility. The court issued the order on Aug. 20.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has referred the case of Maury County lawyer Ashlyn Elizabeth Blevins to the Board of Professional Responsibility for “whatever action” it deems warranted. The court took the action after Blevins pled guilty to the Class B misdemeanor of reckless driving in the General Sessions Court for Maury County. She received judicial diversion in that case.

The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office is warning consumers about a number of QR code scams. While evolving QR code technology may be convenient, the codes can be exploited by scammers through emails, text messages, mailers, packages, charitable appeals and cryptocurrency payments — all of which take users to fake websites designed to steal personal information. Scams like these can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/scams if encountered. Learn more about spotting suspicious QR codes.