The TBA’s Reporters Workshop — a two-day event designed to educate journalists about the Tennessee legal system and issues related to media law — has received a Community & Educational Outreach Award from the National Association of Bar Executives (NABE) and LexisNexis. TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright was on hand to accept the award at a luncheon in Chicago as part of the NABE’s 2024 Annual Meeting. The program brings selected journalists to Nashville each April for sessions centered on investigative journalism, Tennessee's Open Meetings and open records laws, reporter's privilege, defamation, and covering courts and state and local governments. Produced jointly by the TBA and the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters, the program also is made possible by the generous support of the Tennessee Press Association and several Tennessee law firms. See a photo from the awards luncheon.

A one-hour webcast on Sept. 11 will help lawyers improve their arbitration skills. The “Top 10 Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Mistakes Lawyers Make in Arbitrations” will highlight the mistakes most often made when trying a dispute in arbitration — which is much different than trying a case in court. Many commercial contracts now require that disputes be resolved via binding arbitration instead of in court, so understanding this process is critical to get the best results for clients. The webcast will run from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT. It follows a webcast on mediation being offered from 10-11 a.m. that day. David Taylor with Bradley speaks at both programs.

Looking to enhance your practice management skills? The TBA’s “Summer Success Series” has you covered. The series will offer four one-hour webcasts focused on law practice technology and management throughout the month of August. The series starts on Aug. 13 with Technology and Business Planning for a Law Firm, followed by Communication Breakdown on Aug. 15, Move Your Clients Up or Out on Aug. 20, and How to Create a Written Cybersecurity Plan for Your Organization on Aug. 22. Read the course descriptions, peruse the faculty bios and register at the links above or see the full line up here.

Still need to complete some or all of your CLE requirements for 2024? Now is a good time to escape the heat with summer packages designed with your convenience. Choose from five online options that can be viewed on-demand from the air-conditioned comfort of own home or office. Choose packages based on the number of credit hours offered, topic or practice area. Offerings include: Summer Essentials Complete Package (15 hours, including 12 dual), General Solo and Small Practice Bundle (15.5 hours, including 11 dual), The Rookie's Guide to Law (4 general hours), Ultimate Ethics Package (8 dual hours) and Women in the Profession Wellness Package (3 dual hours). Looking for something else? Check out all packages.

If you are looking for ethics hours this summer, the TBA has five webcasts scheduled to run throughout the month of August. Check out Taylor Swift is a Genius, Even About Legal Ethics on Aug. 13; Airplane Etiquette and Attorney Ethics on Aug. 14; Learn By Doing: An Hour of Legal Writing Exercises on Aug. 16; Ethics Update from the Board of Professional Responsibility on Aug. 22; and Ethics Homeshow: AI, Ethics Rules and More on Aug. 23. Check out these and other programs from the TBA to beat the heat (and CLE deadlines) this month.

Whether you are catching up on CLE or just starting to meet your 2024 requirements, the TBA has a range of programs and packages developed just for you. Choose from five one-hour ethics webcasts, five topical or hours-based packages offering anywhere from three to 15 hours, or a special Summer Success Webcast Series focused on practice management skills. Watch for details about each of these over the next few days in TBA Today or get started perusing options in the TBA’s CLE course catalog.

The Petitioner, Christopher A. Duncan, appeals from the Cheatham County Circuit Court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief from his convictions for attempted second degree murder, aggravated arson, especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary, and theft of property valued at more than $2,500 but less than $10,000, for which he is serving an effective seventy-eight-year sentence. On appeal, the Petitioner contends that the post-conviction court erred by denying relief on his ineffective assistance of counsel allegations for trial counsel’s failure (1) to file motions to suppress, (2) to file a motion to sever his trial from that of his codefendants, (3) to file a motion to dismiss count five of the indictment relating to theft of property and to object to other evidence relating to the theft of the victim’s car, (4) to request jury instructions for facilitation of a felony or accessory after the fact, and (5) to object to the State’s witness vouching during closing argument. We affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

The Defendant, Steven Mitchel Ambrose, appeals his jury convictions for four counts of rape of a child and his resulting effective sentence of sixty years. On appeal, he argues: (1) the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress his statements made to law enforcement; (2) the State provided an insufficient election of offenses which deprived him of a verdict by a unanimous jury; (3) the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions; (4) his sentence is excessive; and (5) the multiple “procedural errors and constitutional violations” that occurred in the trial court violated his right to due process and entitle him to relief under the cumulative error doctrine. After review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Stephen Charles Johnson (“Husband”) filed for divorce against Elizabeth Kay Johnson (“Wife”) in the Chancery Court for Knox County (“the Trial Court”).2 Former Chancellor Clarence E. Pridemore, Jr., presided at trial. However, he was defeated for re-election mid- trial. Richard B. Armstrong, Jr. succeeded Pridemore as Chancellor. Shortly before his statutory authority expired, Chancellor Pridemore entered a one-page order adopting Wife’s 59-page proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law in full. Husband appeals. We conclude that Chancellor Pridemore’s order does not reflect his own deliberations and decision-making. We, therefore, vacate the Trial Court’s judgment and remand for a new trial.

Greywood Crossing Owners Association, Inc. (“Greywood”) commenced this action to enforce the development’s Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions (“the Declaration”) against one of its homeowners, Barbara Holleman, who had failed to pay assessments for more than three years.1 Specifically, the complaint asserted claims against Ms. Holleman on a sworn account to collect unpaid assessments plus attorney’s fees and costs of collection as well “an Order of Sale of the Property to satisfy [Greywood’s] assessment lien and judgment.” Ms. Holleman, acting pro se in the trial court, filed an answer in which she denied the debt. Upon Greywood’s motion for partial summary judgment, the trial court found that Ms. Holleman owed the assessments, awarded fees and costs to Greywood, and ordered Ms. Holleman to list her property for sale to satisfy the debt. When Ms. Holleman failed to list her property for sale as ordered by the trial court, Greywood filed a Rule 70 motion for specific performance, which the court granted, directing the clerk and master to sell Ms. Holleman’s property. This appeal followed. We affirm the trial court in all respects.