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Attorney Robert Roe "Bob" Campbell died Dec. 6 at age 94. A lifelong Knoxville resident, Campbell graduated from the University of Tennessee, both undergraduate and the College of Law. After college, he served on active duty as an Army officer, including a tour of duty in Korea before admission to the bar. Campbell began his law practice in 1956 and practiced with Hodges Doughty & Carson for over 60 years. During his career he served as president of the Knoxville Bar Association, chair of the Tennessee Appellate Court Nominating Commission, chair of the Tennessee Bar Foundation and was a life member of the 6th Circuit Judicial Conference. Campbell also was active in state politics, including serving as Sen. Howard Baker's statewide campaign chairman. A memorial service will be held at Second Presbyterian Church, 2829 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37919 on Dec. 14 at 1 p.m. EST. Memorial gifts may be made to Second Presbyterian Church.

The Nashville Arts & Business Council, in partnership with United Way of Greater Nashville and the Nashville Financial Empowerment Center, will host a pro bono tax clinic for artists, musicians and creatives on Jan. 15, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST. The event will offer individuals the opportunity to meet with a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteer to learn how to file their taxes in the way that is most beneficial for them and/or to meet with a financial counselor for help repair credit and manage debt. Prospective clients should register by Jan. 10, 2025. The event will take place at the Nashville Financial Empowerment Center, 217 South 10th St., Nashville 37206.

Hamilton County commissioners plan to discuss at a meeting on Wednesday a proposal from County Mayor Weston Wamp to replace long-serving county attorney Rheubin Taylor with Janie Parks Varnell. Taylor has served as the county attorney since 1993 and his contract expires in June. When Wamp took office in September 2022, he attempted unsuccessfully to fire Taylor, citing Taylor's handling of public records and his work on noncounty legal business. The commission supported Taylor, and a judge ruled Taylor could serve out his term. The proposal calls for Varnell to start in January and transition into the role. Though Taylor's term expires in June, some are considering keeping him on as a contract counsel through the end of 2025. Wamp recently scheduled a private meet-and-greet — which he says was strictly informational — for commissioners to interact with Varnell. Some feared the gathering violated Tennessee’s open meeting laws. The Chattanooga Times Free Press has the story.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee (ACLU-TN) last week announced Kathy Sinback’s departure from the role of executive director. In a release, Sinback said, “It was an honor for me to build on the work of the legendary Hedy Weinberg and to help position ACLU-TN for future success. It is evident now more than ever that we need nonpartisan organizations like ACLU-TN to unite people around common values such as freedom, democratic participation, due process and respect for our neighbors.” The ACLU-TN Board of Directors has named Phyllida Burlingame as interim executive director and is initiating a search for a permanent executive director.

University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law has released Season Two of its "Show Cause" podcast. Episodes include discussions about the risks to Tennessee's wetlands, helping pediatric victims of gun violence through a partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety and LeBonheur Children's Hospital, and a new disability rights legal clinic launching in the spring. Listen to all episodes here.

This interlocutory appeal concerns a discovery dispute. After reporting a wrist injury at work and receiving some authorized care, the employee filed a petition seeking additional medical treatment and temporary disability benefits. Thereafter, the employer served written discovery requests on the employee, to which he responded in part. The employer then filed a motion to compel discovery responses, arguing that the employee’s responses were deficient in certain ways. Following a status hearing during which this discovery dispute was discussed, the trial court entered an order granting, in part, the employer’s motion to compel discovery, and the employee has appealed. Upon consideration of the record, we affirm the trial court’s order and remand the case.

Joey Dewayne Callahan (“Defendant”) appeals from his Marshall County Circuit Court convictions for possession with intent to sell or deliver more than 0.5 grams of methamphetamine, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession with the intent to use drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, and reckless driving, for which he received a total effective sentence of fifteen years’ incarceration. Defendant contends that the evidence was insufficient to establish his intent to sell the methamphetamine. Following a thorough review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

This is a termination of parental rights case. Father appeals the termination of his parental rights on the grounds of: (1) abandonment by failure to provide a suitable home; (2) substantial noncompliance with the permanency plan; (3) persistence of conditions; (4) failure to manifest an ability and willingness to assume custody or financial responsibility; and (5) abandonment by an incarcerated parent. We affirm.

December 2, 2024 - December 6, 2024.