Soliciting clients can be an ethical minefield. It's so tough to navigate that the ABA issued a new opinion on the subject. On Friday, June 23, from 10:15-11:15 a.m. CDT join the CLE performer Stuart Teicher as he explains the rule on solicitation and also talks about the weird "hybrid" situation that arises when a lawyer talks to a potential client. Get more information and register here.

The Tennessee Supreme Court welcomed a new group of lawyers to the practice of law in ceremonies held across the state and in the virtual world in June. The court held five online admission ceremonies before turning to the physical world with sessions Thursday in Jackson and Memphis and today in Knoxville and Nashville. Special thanks to Memphis Bar YLD President Patrick Hillard, TBA Board Secretary Terica Smith, Knoxville Bar Association President Loretta Cravens, TBA President-elect Jim Barry and TBA President Tasha Blakney for introducing the new lawyers to the court at the virtual and in-person ceremonies. See photos from the events.

The TBA’s 2023 Convention gets underway Wednesday with a meeting of the TBA House of Delegates, training for new section chairs and a welcome reception for all attendees. Pre-registration for the event is now closed but those still interested in attending may register on site at the Marriott Knoxville Downtown Hotel, 525 Henley St., Knoxville 37902 beginning at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday. Those unable to attend this year’s convention in person are invited to join us for a livestream of the annual Lawyers Luncheon at noon EDT Friday on TBA’s Facebook page. Watch as President Tasha Blakney closes out her year of leadership, Tennessee lawyers are recognized for their contributions to the profession and TBA President-elect Jim Barry is sworn into office. Questions about this year’s event? Email convention@tnbar.org.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today transferred the law license of Davidson County lawyer Richard Allen Johnson to disability inactive status. Johnson may not practice law while on inactive status but may petition the court for reinstatement after showing that the disability has been removed.

The Trousdale Turner Correctional Center was on lockdown over the weekend after two separate incidents resulted in the death of an inmate and the hospitalization of two correctional officers, WKRN News 2 reports. A spokesperson for the facility, told the station that an individual was found unresponsive at approximately 4:41 a.m. on Saturday. Medical attention was given but the individual was pronounced dead shortly before 5:45 a.m. The Tennessee Department of Correction is now investigating the incident. The second situation, unrelated to the first, happened at approximately 8:11 a.m. when two correctional officers were assaulted by two inmates. The officers were taken to the hospital to be evaluated. The alleged assailants have been transferred to a different facility.

Metro Nashville has filed suit against Gov. Bill Lee and legislative leaders in an effort to stop the state’s planned takeover of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, the Tennessean reports. The law vacates the mayor-appointed airport board and creates a new system by which the governor and Republican legislative leaders appoint a majority of the board members. In the suit, the city argues the law violates the state constitution’s prohibitions of legislation targeting one local government.

A Haywood County jury convicted the defendant, Tondre Durpress Ragland, of attempted second-degree murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony and aggravated assault, for which he received an effective sentence of 20 years in confinement. On appeal, the defendant contends the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support his conviction for aggravated assault. The defendant also argues the trial court erred in imposing partial consecutive sentences. Following our review, we affirm the defendant’s convictions. However, we reverse the imposition of consecutive sentences and remand to the trial court for a new sentencing hearing for consideration of the consecutive sentencing factors outlined in State v. Wilkerson, 905 S.W.2d 933 (Tenn. 1995).

The defendant appeals from the Shelby County Criminal Court’s denial of his motion seeking resentencing pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-17-432(h). Upon our review of the applicable law and the briefs of the parties, we conclude the defendant does not have an appeal as of right and the instant appeal should be dismissed.

Tennessee is expected to collect $419 million over 15 years as its share of a $17.3 billion multistate settlement with opioid manufacturers Teva and Allergan and pharmacies CVS and Walgreens. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced the settlement amount on Friday. Money is expected to start flowing to state and local governments by the end of this year. The settlement also imposes restrictions on future activities by the companies. Teva must stop marketing opioids and put a system in place to prevent drug misuse. Allergan must stop selling opioids for the next 10 years. CVS and Walgreens have agreed to monitor, report and share data about suspicious activity related to opioid prescriptions.

The defendant, DeAnthony D. Hart, challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence supporting his convictions for the unlawful possession of cocaine, the unlawful possession of a firearm and evading arrest. On our review, we respectfully affirm each of the defendant’s convictions. However, we remand the case for entry of corrected judgments showing the merger of offenses ordered by the trial court.