Judge Julie Canter was sworn in Monday as the interim general sessions and juvenile court judge at the Johnson County Courthouse in Mountain City, reports the Tomahawk. The Johnson County Commission voted 12-1 for Canter to replace former judge Perry Stout, whose June 15 resignation for “immoral” behavior went into effect earlier this month. Canter, a Johnson County native with 17 years of experience as an attorney and former prosecutor, will now serve until an election in 2024 to fill the remainder of the term.

Early voting is underway for the Aug. 3 election in Davidson County. Voters will cast a ballot for mayor, vice mayor, and district and at-large Metro Council seats. The special general election for state House District 52 and the Democratic and Republican primaries for state House District 51 also will be on the ballot. For those who want to vote absentee, the deadline to request a ballot is July 27. Find polling places, hours and other election information.

A happy hour event sponsored by the Biz Foundry, Upper Cumberland Young Lawyers, Upper Cumberland Lawyers Association for Women and Red Silo Brewing will take place on July 26 from 5-7:30 p.m. EDT at Red Silo Brewing, 118 West 1st St., Cookeville 38501. Packs for Pints helps children in foster care in the Upper Cumberland region by collecting backpacks and school supplies. Red Silo will provide a free drink to anyone who donates. Click here for more information or email Amber Vargas at avargas@las.org.

The Knoxville Bar Association Barristers will host its annual Brews for Backpacks event on July 25 from 5-7 p.m. EDT at Xul Beer Co. located at 213 East 5th Ave., Knoxville 37917. Click here for more information.

Sullivan County lawyer Samuel Ervin White was suspended from the practice of law on June 30 after the Tennessee Supreme Court found that he misappropriated funds for his personal use and posed a threat of substantial harm to the public. On July 6, White filed documentation with the court that he repaid the funds at issue and had brought the matter to a “complete resolution.” He asked the court on July 10 to either dissolve the suspension or provide an additional 30 days to make all required notices of the suspension. White noted that he has the three upcoming jury trials and numerous criminal defense appointments through the end of the year. The court granted the extension and directed the Board of Professional Responsibility to consider his dissolution request “with the utmost speed consistent with due process."

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Monday extended a monitoring agreement requirement for Shelby County lawyer Philip Logan Wyatt in conjunction with a petition for conditional admission. Wyatt now must remain in substantial compliance with an agreement from the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program until May 20, 2027.

Murders in Tennessee dropped 14.55% in 2022, while reported cases of rape and kidnapping respectively fell 10.6% and 11.98% from 2021, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's latest annual "Crime in Tennessee" report. However, the report, which is based on annual crime statistics submitted by state and local law enforcement agencies, showed that motor vehicle thefts rose 26.91% and reports of identity theft grew 25.55% from 2021 to 2022. The TBI also says the number of crime victims also rose last year by 1.08% to 346,362. The Times Free Press has more on the report’s findings. Read the full report.

The Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville and its Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts (VLPA) program will hold a pro bono clinic on Aug. 2 for those needing legal advice on issues surrounding their creative practice. The free 30-minute in-person appointments are available to income-qualified artists, musicians, creatives and arts organizations in the state. The clinic will run from 6-8 p.m. CDT at the East Park Community Center. Those who would like to participate should register by July 26. To volunteer at the clinic email vlpa@abcnashville.org.

Gov. Bill Lee formally opened the Northeast Tennessee Regional Recovery Center in Roan Mountain on Wednesday, saying it should be "a model for what could happen in other communities across the state,” reports WCYB News. The site was formerly the Center Carter County Work Camp, part of the Northeast Correctional Center. The new facility was funded by a multi-million-dollar settlement of a 2017 lawsuit filed by Branstetter, Stranch and Jennings against pharmaceutical companies under the Tennessee Drug Dealer Liability Act. Read the previous story in TBA Today.

Pikeville lawyer James W. “Jimmy” Pope III, died Monday at age 59. Pope graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1986 with honors and earned his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1989, receiving the A. B. Neil Award for the outstanding Tennessee student. Pope served as a director for First Farmers and Commercial Bank as well as the lead prosecutor in the 9th Judicial District, which covers Loudon, Meigs, Morgan and Roane counties. A celebration of life was held at Pikeville Funeral Home Chapel, followed by a burial at Pikeville City Cemetery.