Legal Aid of East Tennessee is seeking furniture donations for an upcoming office expansion. The agency is expanding to a second location in Knoxville to focus on housing stability and eviction prevention. It is requesting donations of unwanted desks, chairs, cabinets and other furniture. Those who have items to donate should contact Zachary Arnold, 865-251-4955.

The flag-draped casket of retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor arrived at the Supreme Court building today for a private ceremony with the current justices and O’Connor’s family, Reuters reports. The body of the nation’s first female justice will lay in repose until 8 p.m. EST today so members of the public can pay their respects. A private funeral service will be held tomorrow at the National Cathedral. O'Connor died Dec. 1 at age 93. See photos from this morning's activities from Reuters.

Artis Whitehead was released from prison last week after spending 20 years behind bars for a robbery and kidnapping on Beale Street he and the Tennessee Innocence Project say he did not commit. The Commercial Appeal reports that Whitehead's attorneys argued he should be granted a new trial, citing advances in eyewitness identification sciences, Brady violations by the Memphis Police Department and original prosecutor, and a dubious CrimeStoppers tip. Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Jennifer Fitzgerald granted the request for a new trial but the Shelby County District Attorney's Office says it will not re-try the case. That means Whitehead's record will show as if he was charged and had his case dropped.

There is still time to register for the TBA's Law & Culture in Ireland CLE program but spots are filling up! The trip will take place May 7-13, 2024. Two travel options are available: a four-night trip to Dublin and a six-night trip to Dublin and Belfast. In conjunction with CLE Abroad, travelers will engage with local experts, academics, officials and change makers who will offer in-depth commentary on the EU and UK legal-political systems, economics, environmental justice, history and religion. In Dublin, the group also will explore ancient castles, visit landmarks, museums and notable legal institutions, and sample local cuisine. In Belfast, travelers will learn about the region's unique political history, Good Friday Agreement, ongoing reconciliation efforts and peace process. Add on trips to the West Coast and Cliffs of Moher also are available. View a brochure for the trip or learn more online.

This is an appeal from a default judgment originally entered by the General Sessions Court for Knox County (“general sessions court”) and then appealed to the Circuit Court for Knox County (“circuit court”). Because the defendant did not appear in the circuit court, the circuit court also entered a default judgment against the defendant. The defendant then appealed to this Court. However, because of deficiencies in the defendant’s brief, any issues purportedly raised are waived. We thus affirm the circuit court’s ruling.

A Knox County jury found the Defendant, John Shaffighi, guilty of aggravated rape and aggravated sexual battery from events occurring in 1992. He was sentenced to an effective term of twenty-five years. On appeal, the Defendant challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence supporting his convictions. He also asserts the trial court erred by (1) denying a motion to dismiss in light of missing evidence; (2) allowing the victim’s forensic interview to be played at trial; (3) denying his motion for a mistrial after testimony from the victim; (4) limiting the testimony of his expert witness; (5) instructing the jury on its deliberation during its deadlock; and (6) imposing the maximum sentence after misapplying enhancement factors and failing to apply mitigating factors. The State concedes that the Defendant was not sentenced properly under the pre-2005 sentencing statutes. Upon our review, we affirm the Defendant’s convictions but respectfully remand the case for resentencing in accordance with Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296 (2004).

The defendant, Roger Dean Guin, appeals his Knox County Criminal Court jury convictions of aggravated sexual battery, rape of a child, assault, rape, incest, and sexual battery by an authority figure, arguing that the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress his statement and that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions. Because the State’s elections in Counts 8, 9, and 10 were insufficient to protect the defendant’s right to a unanimous jury verdict and to protect against violations of the principles of double jeopardy, we vacate those convictions and remand for a new trial on those counts. We also remand the case to the trial court for entry of corrected judgments in Counts 3, 5, and 7 reflecting the merger of those convictions into Counts 2, 4, and 6 respectively and reflecting the proper misdemeanor classification and sentences. We reverse the conviction in Count 1 and affirm the trial court’s judgments in all other respects.

Appellant attorney appeals the denial of his request for attorney’s fees to be paid from the estate of a ward in a conservatorship proceeding. The trial court denied the request on the bases that the legal services contract at issue did not provide for the payment of fees from the estate, the ward lacked capacity to enter into a power of attorney giving the executor of the contract authority to do so, and the applicant attorney was never appointed as attorney ad litem for the ward. We affirm.

This appeal involves claims to three disputed areas based on adverse possession and prescriptive easement. We affirm the trial court’s decision denying the plaintiff’s claims.

The Memphis Bar Association (MBA) established The Honorable Gina C. Higgins Endowment Fund in recognition of Judge Higgins’ exemplary service to the Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP). The MBA surprised Higgins when it announced the endowment fund at its annual meeting on Dec. 7, which happened to be Higgins’ birthday. Prior to the public announcement, the fund already reached $158,000. It is managed through the Memphis Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the MBA, and will be funded by 100% tax deductible donations. Read more about SLIP and the endowment in a press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts.