In this child custody case, the record transmitted on appeal creates significant doubt as to whether the trial court’s final order represents its own deliberations and decision. Due to this concern, and because the judge who previously presided over this case has since retired from the bench, we vacate the appealed judgment and remand for a new trial.

In this real property dispute, the trial court rejected the plaintiffs’ assertions that they were entitled to an easement over the land of the defendant. Among other things, the trial court held that an easement was not essential to the beneficial enjoyment of the plaintiffs’ land. Although the plaintiffs now appeal, we decline to address their arguments due to their noncompliance with applicable briefing requirements and therefore dismiss the appeal.

The YWCA of Nashville & Middle Tennessee will hold its next “Stand Against Injustice” event on Jan. 31, 2024. The “Redrawing Democracy” session will feature Dr. Sekou Franklin, author and professor at MTSU; Chicoya Smith Gallman, an attorney with the NAACP Tennessee Chapter’s Political Action Committee; and Tequila Johnson, founder and director of The Equity Alliance. The group will discuss gerrymandering, racism and voting rights in Tennessee. Register to attend.

This is a termination of parental rights case. Appellant/Mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to the three minor children on the ground of severe child abuse and on the trial court’s finding that termination of her rights is in the children’s best interests. Discerning no error, we affirm.

The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga recently honored U.S. District Judge Curtis Collier for his service to the group. According to the Hamilton County Herald, Collier was presented with the Whitney M. Young Award and given an emeritus seat on the group’s board. Collier has been a member of the Chattanooga Urban League’s board of directors for more than 25 years. Most recently, he assisted with planning for the 41st annual Equal Opportunity Day celebration. Early in his tenure with the group, Collier assisted with the Young Professionals program, and later was instrumental in starting the annual Civics Bowl competition for the National Achievers Society. In addition to the award from the Chattanooga chapter, Collier received the Quarter Century Award from the national Urban League.

The American Bar Association (ABA) is accepting nominations for its 2024 Silver Gavel Awards for Media and the Arts. The awards recognize outstanding work that fosters the American public’s understanding of law and the legal system. Projects must have been published or released during 2023. The deadline to submit a nomination is Jan. 10, 2024. The awards will be presented at the ABA Annual Meeting, set for Aug. 3, 2024, in Chicago. Read more in a news release from the group.

The TBA’s next book club discussion event will take place on Jan. 24, 2024, with Preston Lauterbach, author of “Beale Street Dynasty: Sex, Song and the Struggle for the Soul of Memphis.” The event will take place virtually on Zoom. Register to attend. The book, selected by TBA President Jim Barry, centers on an ex-slave who becomes the south’s first Black millionaire in Prohibition-era Memphis. Lauterbach brings history and the realities of race relations to life in his works, which also include “The Chitlin’ Circuit” and “Bluff City.” He also has co-authored three memoirs on significant figures in Black music: American blues musician and song writer Robert Johnson; Memphis soul drummer Howard Grimes; and a soon-to-be released biography of the Blind Boys of Alabama.

Still trying to get CLE hours after Christmas day? Join your colleagues on Dec. 28 from noon to 1 p.m. CST for an overview of the federal Corporate Transparency Act, which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2024. The one-hour session will cover the basics of the law, as well as an analysis of its reporting requirements and how it will be applied. The webinar will be presented by Vincent Schilleci III, a shareholder in the Birmingham, Alabama, office of Maynard Nexsen.

The Tennessee Bar Journal is accepting immediate submissions for publication, including articles (up to about 3,500 words), as well as specific subject-area, column-length (1,200 words) pieces. Articles should be of interest to Tennessee attorneys — detail a new state law or a complicated area of law, or take a larger issue and connect it to what it means for Tennessee attorneys and the justice system. Find a global issue within your particular experience or knowledge and tell about it and how it affects Tennessee law. We are especially looking for diverse voices — from BIPOC writers, from our friends in the LGBTQ+ community and from attorneys who have had diverse life and legal experiences. Get more detailed information in the TBJ's Writer's Guidelines or email editor@tnbar.org.

Join the Tort & Insurance Law Section on Feb. 13 for its annual forum. This virtual program will feature sessions on health care liability updates, how to read/understand medical reports, a discussion of the Anti-SLAPP statute and an ethics panel. Click here for more information and to register.