TBA’s Legislative Updates podcast is new this week with TBA attorneys and lobbyists, Berkley Schwarz with Pier Strategies LLC, and Brad Lampley and Ashley Harbin with Adams and Reese. This week they discuss the finalizing of this year's fiscal budget, HB2973/SB2942; the TBA conservatorship bill, HB2710/SB2254; adoption birth certificate bill, HB2645/SB2632; and adoption clean-up bill, HB2644/SB2633. The group also foreshadows budget negotiations set to happen this weekend, House and Senate Finance committee meetings likely to take place next week, and possible adjournment the week of April 22. The group is continuing to track any movement on increased funding for indigent representation and expressed appreciation for all the outreach TBA members have undertaken to educate elected officials about this critical issue. Legislative Updates airs each week the legislature is in session on the TBA’s Facebook page. It is also released as a podcast on the same day and can be found on the TBA’s website or wherever you listen to podcasts.

A list of those who passed the February 2024 Tennessee bar exam is now available. Those who meet all licensing requirements will be sworn in at events across the state during the week of June 3. The Tennessee Supreme Court released the schedule yesterday. The court will meet on June 3 at 9 a.m. in Memphis and 1:30 p.m. CDT in Jackson; June 4 at 9 a.m. EDT in Knoxville and 2 p.m. CDT in Nashville; June 5 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. CDT virtually; and June 6 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. CDT virtually.

The Board of Law Examiners also released statistics about the February 2024 bar exam. According to the board, 262 individuals — 108 first time test takers and 154 repeaters — took the exam. They represent 74 different law schools and saw an overall pass rate of 40.1%. For first time test-takers at Tennessee law schools, the University of Tennessee College of Law and Vanderbilt University Law School saw a 100% pass rate, followed by Belmont University College of Law at 66.7%, Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law at 40%. Nashville School of Law at 35.7% and University of Memphis School of Law at 33.3%. See all statistical information from the exam.

Union City lawyer Mary Ellen Stevens died April 4 at the age of 80. A native of Mississippi, Stevens put herself through law school and went on to work as an assistant district attorney in Obion County and in private practice in Union City. She was a member of the Obion County Junior Auxiliary and St. James' Episcopal Church. Funeral services were held last week.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued a correction to published Rule 10B, sec. 3.03(b). The court said that the published text did not accurately reflect the text of what it approved on Nov. 22, 2016. The correct language is as follows: “If a motion is filed seeking disqualification, recusal, or determination of constitutional or statutory incompetence of all of the justices of the Supreme Court, and if the motion is denied by the justices, no motion for court review shall be available pursuant to section 3.03(a).” The court directed that the current language should be deleted and replaced with the language adopted in 2016.

A bill that would allow Tennesseans to analyze their district attorney’s work is headed to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk, Action News 5 reports. If signed into law, SB2556, also known as the DA Transparency Act, would require Tennessee district attorneys to report aggregate information to the governor each year. Data points would include arrests, indictments, transfers, dispositions and more. Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference Executive Committee member and 25th Judicial District Attorney Mark Davidson welcomed the move, saying, “DAs across the state are proud of the job they are doing and look forward to the report confirming the good work being done to keep the public safe.”

The Tennessee Senate on Wednesday voted 26-3 in favor of a bill that would make it a felony to help a minor seek an abortion without parental consent. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the measure on April 2. A similar bill is making its way through the House. Read more about the Senate version from the Associated Press.

Tennessee lawmakers have voted to send a bipartisan bill that would have let residents convicted of felonies apply to vote again without also restoring their gun rights to a summer study committee, the Associated Press reports. The move effectively kills the bill for the session. Some Republican leaders were sympathetic to the aims of the bill sponsors but questioned whether that particular piece of legislation was the correct solution. Republican House Majority Leader William Lamberth said, “I'm all for rewriting the code. But I don't think just this bill is the way to do it."

Families of three children and three adults killed in last year’s Covenant School shooting have filed an ethics complaint against Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga. The complaint charges the lawmaker is violating Senate ethics rules by being part of a lawsuit seeking release of the shooter’s writings while pushing a bill, SB2105, to block third parties from intervening in public record lawsuits. The bill passed unanimously through the Senate and is now on the House's agenda. Since June, a legal battle has been ongoing over release of the shooter’s journal. Nashville police and the families of the Covenant victims have tried to prevent the journal’s release, while Gardenhire and several media outlets have petitioned to have it released. The Nashville Banner has more.

U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger earned a reputation as a tough prosecutor after convicting a former Tennessee governor during her stint at the U.S. attorney’s office. The 1981 case, which dealt with selling liquor licenses to political friends, gave her credibility in a male-dominated space. “It really set me up as a woman who was tough and could do litigation,” said Trauger, who serves in the Middle District of Tennessee. From helping to form the Tennessee Lawyers' Association for Women to becoming the first female district judge in the Middle District of Tennessee, Trauger has been a trailblazer for women’s advancement in the law. A new video profile from the U.S. Courts explores her unlikely journey.

The Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice (ATJ) Commission is partnering with West Tennessee Legal Services and the Governor’s Faith Based and Community Initiative to host a free expungement clinic on April 19 in Jackson. The clinic is for those who have charges in Madison County General Sessions or Circuit courts. Attorney volunteers will work with clients virtually and use document automation software to generate the petitions needed for the expungements. Clients will be prescreened and no prior experience is required. Sign up to volunteer here or for questions, contact Andy Cole with WTLS.