The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is now accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Western Section of the Court of Appeals, which will occur Jan. 4, 2025, with the retirement of Judge Arnold B. Goldin. Interested applicants must be licensed attorneys who are at least 30 years of age, a resident of the state for the past five years and a resident of the Western Grand Division of the state. The application is available on the Administrative Office of the Courts' website and is due by noon CDT on Oct. 25. The public hearing for this position will be Nov. 18 at 9 a.m. CST at the Tennessee Supreme Court Building in Jackson. Two other judicial openings were announced yesterday. Learn more about applying for the 4th Circuit Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals, Eastern Division.

Chattanooga-based law firm Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers made a $1 million pledge to the University of Tennessee College of Law to support scholarships for students interested in pursuing legal careers in advocacy and the Douglas A. Blaze Leadership Scholarship. “Robust scholarships are essential to attracting the best students nationwide," Dean Lonnie T. Brown Jr. said after the gift announcement. “We are deeply grateful for the firm’s continued support, which profoundly influences the lives of our graduates and the clients they represent.” Read more in a press release from the school.

The U.S. Supreme Court began a new nine-month term on Monday that will involve a case on guns, online pornography, federal regulatory powers concerning nuclear waste storage and vape products, job discrimination, disputes involving Nvidia and Facebook and more. Reuters has a preview. Today, the court declined to take up two reproductive cases, one regarding the Biden administration’s efforts to require Texas hospitals to perform abortions to stabilize a patient's emergency medical condition and a wrongful death claim against an Alabama fertility clinic that allegedly destroyed a couple's frozen embryo. On Friday, the court added more than a dozen cases to its docket, including a challenge to Mexico's lawsuit against American gun companies, a death row inmate's DNA testing case, a nuclear waste storage dispute and a case that will decide if white, straight workers face a higher bar in bias lawsuits.

Following a bench trial on April 8, 2022, Defendant, Tanya Ilic, was found guilty of one count of aggravated child abuse. Defendant was sentenced to sixteen years and six months of confinement at a rate of 100 percent service. On appeal, Defendant contends the evidence is legally insufficient to sustain her conviction. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

September 30, 2024-October 4, 2024.

Henry Leventis, the former, U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee has joined Holland & Knight’s Nashville Office. He will serve as a partner in the firm’s Healthcare Regulatory & Enforcement Practice, where he will focus on representing health care companies, executives and providers in government and internal investigations. Leventis announced earlier this month that he would resign from the federal post. Leventis served as the district’s top federal prosecutor since 2022. He previously was the assistant U.S. attorney in Nashville and a trial attorney at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Read more in a release from the firm.

A Newport attorney is helping Cocke County residents navigate the FEMA assistance process after Hurricane Helene. Candice Mendez, a local resident herself, has been assisting Cocke County residents with registering for federal aid. With her legal background and experience helping Hurricane Katrina survivors, Mendez organized two clinics this past weekend. She tells News 6 that an additional clinic will be held this week on Wednesday at Bridgeport Elementary School. Lawyers interested in helping should contact Mendez at 865-474-0380 or Cmendez.law@gmail.com. FEMA is offering initial assistance of $750 to qualified applicants in Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, Carter and Washington counties. The TBA Disaster Resources page offers general information for those impacted by disasters, as well as those seeking to provide assistance. The TBA's Helene Disaster Response page has information and resources specific to this disaster.

The Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission is seeking applications to fill vacancies in two state courts. Applicants are sought for the 4th Judicial District Circuit Court, which serves Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties. Those interested should apply no later than noon CDT on Oct. 23. A public hearing of applicants will be held on Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. EDT at the Sevier County Courthouse. In addition, the Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is accepting applications for a vacancy on the Court of Criminal Appeals. Applicants should be residents of the state's Eastern Grand Division. Those interested in this position should apply by noon CST on Nov. 13. A public hearing for this position will be Dec. 5 at 10:30 a.m. EST at the Tennessee Supreme Court Building in Knoxville. Both applications can be found on the Administrative Office of the Courts website.

The TBA will host its annual Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) Boot Camp tomorrow in Nashville. The event is designed to provide lawyers with insights into the court's procedures and strategies for success. Attendees will observe oral arguments, participate in discussions with experienced attorneys and enjoy a networking lunch. Registration opens at 9 a.m. CDT, with the program running from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. To register for the CLE, visit the TBA's online course catalog.

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts is celebrating the appointment of Judge Adrienne Waters Ogle to the Fourth Judicial District Circuit Court, noting in a press release that she is the first woman to hold that position. Ogle was appointed to the court by Gov. Bill Lee in September. She fills a new position that was created by the Tennessee legislature to address a backlog of civil cases in Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson, and Sevier counties. Prior to joining the court, Ogle served as a juvenile magistrate in Sevier County for 10 years and as a partner at Green, Waters Ogle and the McCarter Law Firm. Of her new post Ogles says, “I am honored. I also think it’s a big responsibility. I want to do a great job. I’m sure all judges do, but maybe even more so because I’m the first female. I feel like there’s a responsibility to do not just a good job, but a great job."