The TBA Elder Law and Juvenile Law sections will provide a free one-hour webinar tomorrow at 2 p.m. CDT, covering when you need guardian ad litem in domestic law cases versus when you need guardian ad litem in probate cases. Presenters will discuss the requirements of each role, offering tips for beginners and best practices. CLE credit is available for a $50 processing fee. Learn more or register here.

AccessLex Institute has released its 2022 Legal Education Data Deck showing that the law school admission rate increased for the first time in seven years. But the data also shows “dismal” rates for enrollment, admittance and graduation rates for minorities. The ABA Journal has more on the findings.

Earlier this month, a committee of lawmakers in the European Parliament approved a first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence regulation, bringing it closer to becoming law. The European AI Act is the first law for AI systems in the West, though China has already drafted rules designed to manage how companies develop generative AI products like ChatGPT. The law categorizes applications of AI into four levels of risk: unacceptable risk, high risk, limited risk and minimal or no risk. The obligations for a system then must be proportionate to the level of risk posed. Read more from CNBC and be sure to check out TBA's on-demand course on AI, which was part of the 2023 Business Law Forum.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has reversed the termination of the parental rights of two parents whose infant son suffered multiple rib fractures while in their custody. In the opinion released Friday, the court held that under Tennessee law, the evidence did not support a trial court’s finding that the parents’ failure to protect their child from injury was “knowing.” The court emphasized that its decision to reverse the termination of parental rights did not mean that the parents automatically regain custody of the child. 

Register now for the TBA 2023 LGBT Forum on June 23. Panelists will discuss the erosion of rights for the trans community as well as targeted legislation. Other topics include healthcare, drag laws and ethics. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from community experts and earn three dual hours of CLE credit.

Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Champion Montgomery Bell Academy competed last month in the National High School Mock Trial Competition, placing third among 47 teams. The team defeated competitors from Florida, Alabama, Washington and Georgia. The event took place in Little Rock. The Arkansas Democrat Gazette reports on the competition. See a team photo from the event.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is currently accepting applications for three newly established state court judicial positions: a criminal court judge in the 13th Judicial District, a circuit court judge in the 19th District and a circuit court judge in the 22nd District. The new positions, created by the Tennessee General Assembly during the recent session, will be effective Sept. 1. Public hearings on candidates will take place July 18, July 12 and July 13, respectively. The deadline to apply is June 12 at noon CDT. Applicants must be attorneys licensed in Tennessee who are at least 30 years of age, residents of the state for five years, and residents of the relevant judicial district. The application and instructions are available online. For questions, contact Assistant General Counsel John Jefferson.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today suspended Maury County lawyer James Michael Marshall for one year. The court took the action based on two complaints. In one matter, the court found that Marshall failed to prepare and file an order reflecting the trial court’s ruling (resulting in contempt charges being filed against his client), failed to timely address an order of protection or advise his client of the ramifications of cohabitation, failed to fully advise his client that dismissal of a divorce complaint would not affect the pending counter-complaint for divorce filed by his wife, and failed to timely withdraw as attorney of record after closing his file. In a second matter, Marshall created a conflict of interest by engaging in an inappropriate relationship with his client during the representation. Marshall submitted a conditional guilty plea acknowledging his conduct violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.7 and 1.16.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today suspended Rutherford County lawyer Gary Neil Patton from the practice of law for one year, with 30 days to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The court took the action after the Board of Professional Responsibility found that Patton failed to reasonably communicate with his client; collected a fee for work he performed without filing a motion for approval of the fee in violation of the rules of the Probate Court; failed to maintain client funds in his trust account prior to receiving approval of the court; obtained a release of liability from his client without advising his client in writing of the desirability of seeking independent counsel; and engaged in unprofessional conduct through inappropriate conversations with his client His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 1.8 (h) and 1.15. The court did find that Patton deposited the fee he had received when ordered to do so.

The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Davidson County lawyer Christopher Roberts Kelly from the practice of law on May 19 after finding that Kelly failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning a complaint of misconduct.