(NOTE: An earlier version of this article carried incorrect information on this court decision.) The full Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld the death sentence of William Glenn Rogers, who was convicted in 2000 of the kidnapping, rape and murder of a Clarksville child. Judge Amul R. Thapar delivered the opinion of the court to uphold the death penalty for Rogers.

The TBA Animal Law Forum will take place Friday, Sept. 22, at the Nashville Zoo. The annual favorite allows attendees to earn CLE in a fun environment and explore the award-winning facility. This year’s forum will feature topics relevant to several practice areas, including general ethics, pets in divorce, veterinarian liability, crimes against animals, conservation and more. Breakfast, lunch and admission are provided, with an extended lunch break in the savannah and an optional walk around the zoo. Space is limited for this experience, so register now before it’s too late. You never know who, or what, might show up! Register now.

Baby animal season is upon us, making sightings and encounters an inevitable joy. Often times, observers find an animal that appears to be injured or distressed. This is especially true in urban environments, which are more populous and sometimes treacherous for these little critters. Even those with experience might struggle to identify an animal that is injured or abandoned. National Geographic has published a helpful article on how to tell if animals are distressed, and what to do if you come across one in need of help.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sued Coinbase on Tuesday, accusing the U.S. cryptocurrency exchange of operating illegally because of its failure register with the regulator, reported Reuters. In a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, the SEC said Coinbase has made billions of dollars handling cryptocurrency transactions while evading the disclosure requirements meant to protect investors. On Monday, the SEC filed suit against Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao. Both civil cases are part of SEC Chair Gary Gensler's push to assert jurisdiction over crypto markets.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) has opened applications for the 2023 Families First Community Grant Program, an initiative that will make available approximately $30 million in funding to non-profit organizations providing direct services to strengthen Tennessee families in need and promote self-sufficiency. Qualifying non-profit organizations are invited to apply here through July 7 at 5 p.m. CST.

While Juneteenth is officially celebrated on June 19, the Tennessee State Museum will celebrate with a day-long event on Saturday. This year’s Juneteenth Celebration, “Looking to the Past to Empower the Future,” will feature an edition of the Museum's TN Writers | TN Stories series with New York Times author Sheree Renée Thomas. The museum will also host an "In Conversation" event with a group of panelists who will discuss beginner steps and best practices for preserving family history through material culture. Throughout the day, families can enjoy storytime and craft activities. There will also be a dance, poetry and music hour followed by a special panel discussion on preserving Black family history.

Join your colleagues in Knoxville at the TBA Convention on June 15 for the CLE/CME: Mediator Ethics: Where Do We Draw the Line? It is not unusual for mediators to develop tactics to achieve their settlement goals. But when do these tactics become manipulative or even deceptive? And is all manipulation inappropriate? If you can't make it to the full convention, you can just register for this course. 

The Tort & Insurance Law Section's annual forum features two hours of general CLE credit and one hour of dual CLE credit, including a session on healthcare liability updates, an overview of the ethical issues that attorneys face in conducting investigations and interviewing current and former employees of an opposing corporate litigant, and a panel of attorneys discussing the proper disclosure of experts. Go here to register.

Bill Beck, a Nashville lawyer and Democratic state representative died Sunday at the age of 61. According to the House Democratic Caucus, he died unexpectedly after suffering a heart attack. Beck was first elected in 2014 to represent House District 51, which includes key areas of the city including East Nashville, downtown and Germantown. According to the Tennessean, he championed public education, health care, transportation and a higher minimum wage during nearly a decade at the Capitol. Beck graduated from Belmont University and served in the Tennessee Air National Guard before attending the Nashville School of Law. He practiced law at Beck & Beck firm alongside his mother Martha Lu Cone Beck, who recently retired. Colleagues and friends reacted to the news calling Beck a “dedicated servant,” “effective leader” and “powerful voice for the city of Nashville.” The Tennessee Journal has more reactions. Rep. Beck will lie in state at the Capitol on Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. Funeral services will be Saturday at Polk Theatre in the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, beginning at 11 a.m.

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) has hired John Rice as a tenure-track assistant professor of law. Rice will teach courses on business organizations, civil procedure, legislation and regulation beginning this fall. Rice is a former judicial clerk with the Tennessee Supreme Court and civil litigator in Knoxville. He previously taught at the University of Tennessee College of Law, University of Massachusetts College of Law and Thomas R. Kline School of Law at Duquesne University. Rice earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law and was an active member of the TBA Young Lawyers Division Board for a number of years. Read more in the school's announcement.