Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) and Egerton McAfee Armistead & Davis will hold the 2024 Pro Bono Recognition Night on Nov. 7 from 5-8 p.m. EST. The event will take place at The Standard, 416 W. Jackson Ave., Knoxville 37902 and will honor the work of area pro bono attorneys over the past year. Since 1965, LAET has transformed lives throughout the region, and this has been made possible through pro bono attorneys who volunteer their time. Purchase tickets here.

Layla Soliz, a Knoxville woman arrested in May during pro-Palestinian protests on the campus of the University of Tennessee College of Law, is suing the Knox County Sheriff's Office in federal court. The suit stems from a mug shot of Soliz taken without her hijab that was subsequently made public, despite assurances to the contrary. According to Knox News, Soliz is suing for at least $250,000 in damages and for her picture to be expunged from the sheriff's office database. She also wants to amend the sheriff's office policy so that hijabi women no longer have to remove their head coverings for future mug shots.

The Petitioner, Kenyon Demario Reynolds, appeals from the Knox County Criminal Court’s denial of post-conviction relief from his convictions for second degree murder, delivery and sale of a Schedule I controlled substance, and unlawful possession of a firearm. On appeal, the Petitioner contends that the post-conviction court erred by denying relief on his ineffective assistance of counsel claim. We affirm the judgment of the postconviction court.

The Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct has issued a reprimand to Putnam County General Sessions Judge Steven Randolph for actions taken in a case involving an unlicensed driver who damaged his vehicle. The board found that Randolph should not have heard the case since he had an interest in its outcome, including the payment of restitution. Randolph argued that the defendant had waived any recusal challenges, that the amount of restitution to be paid was “miniscule” and any violation was “technical, not substantive,” but nonetheless acknowledged he should not have heard the case. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Judicial Conduct 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3. Access the letter of reprimand here or on the Administrative Office of the Courts' website.

Geri McBride, individually and d/b/a The Real Estate Shop (“Buyer”), sued Cynthia H. Allison (“Seller”) for breach of contract with respect to a real estate purchase and sale agreement. Following a bench trial, the trial court found that Seller had breached the agreement and granted Buyer specific performance but denied Buyer’s request for attorney’s fees. Seller filed a motion to alter or amend the judgment, or alternatively for a new trial. The trial court denied Seller’s post-judgment motion, and Seller appealed to this Court. We affirm the trial court’s grant of specific performance to the Buyer and reverse the trial court’s denial of Buyer’s request for attorney’s fees.

A Lake County jury convicted the Defendant, Christopher R. Smith, of two counts of aggravated assault, a Class C felony. The trial court sentenced the Defendant as a career offender to consecutive fifteen-year sentences for each conviction. On appeal, the Defendant asserts that the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions. After review, we affirm the trial court’s judgment in Count 1 for aggravated assault, modify Count 2 to a conviction for assault, and remand for entry of an amended judgment and sentencing on Count 2.

October 7, 2024 - October 11, 2024

The Tennessee Bar Association will hold its first ever Conference on Artificial Intelligence & the Law (TCAIL) in Nashville on Dec. 6. This unique day-long event will take place at the Tennessee Bankers Association, 211 Athens Way #100, Nashville 37228. The day will begin with an introductory session presented by TBA AI Task Force Chair A.J. Bahou, followed by sessions on AI and the substantive practice of law, including how AI impacts legal research, document generation, e-discovery and more. Two judicial panels and an ethics session will round out the day. Lunch will be provided. Members of TBA's Law Office Technology & Management Section and General, Solo & Small Firm Section are eligible for discounted registration. Reserve your spot by registering today.

Members of the TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) and YLD Fellows gathered on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas this past weekend for the Fall Board Meeting. YLD President Sean Aiello recognized several board members for their work over the last quarter, including Donelson lawyer Patrick Morrison for his development of CLE programming and his role as health and wellness coordinator; Nashville attorney Ginny Blake for her creativity and outstanding work increasing engagement as the YLD's social media coordinator; and Nashville attorney and YLD Secretary Ross Smith for his contributions to numerous pro bono clinics and law school visits. Finally, Murfreesboro lawyer Alix Rogers was awarded the "disco gavel" by YLD Fellows Liaison and Marshall County General Sessions Court Judge Lee Bussart for her enthusiasm and efforts to bring people together. During the meeting, members planned for upcoming events, including pro bono clinics, the Diversity Leadership Institute, the Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition and new CLEs. They also discussed how best to engage young lawyers and law students across the state. See photos from the meeting.

Make plans now to join colleagues on Nov. 7 from noon to 1 p.m CST for a unique webcast with University of Tennessee College of Law Professor Ben Barton. In "Contextualizing the Polarization and Public Perception of the Judiciary," Barton will present long-term data to show how public confidence in the American judiciary has fluctuated over time, with the goal of helping lawyers better understand the historical context of and address current challenges facing the judiciary. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.