Knoxville lawyer Kenneth M. Gresham Jr. died July 18 at the age of 97. Gresham served in the Navy in World War II. After his service, he graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law and began practicing with his father in the firm of Gresham and Gresham Attorneys. In the mid-1950s, he served as part time assistant attorney general. He later joined Howard G. Hogan in the practice of law and finished his legal career as “of counsel” in firm of Testerman, Warren and Roden. For 50 years, Gresham also was co-owner and president of Warranty Title Insurance Co. He retired in 2007. He also served for a time on the Federal Land Commission, deciding numerous federal condemnation actions. A graveside service took place today at Greenwood Cemetery in Knoxville. Memorial donations may be made to Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 4904 Asheville Hwy., Knoxville, TN 37914.

The next legal clinic for veterans in Knoxville will take place Aug. 14 from 12-1 p.m. EDT at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office in Knoxville. This is a general advice clinic sponsored by the Knoxville Bar Association, KBA Barristers, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, the University of Tennessee College of Law, the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office and the local Veterans Affairs office. Sign up to volunteer here.

The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) will hold a free event with the Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP) tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. EDT. It will feature a conversation with Joyce Watkins, a TIP client, who became the first Black woman to be exonerated in Tennessee after spending 27 years in prison for a crime she did not commit. The event will be held at the Landing House, 1147 Sevier Ave., Knoxville 37920. Members of the public are invited to attend. To RSVP, complete this registration form.

The Shelby County General Sessions Civil Court is seeking commitments from lawyers to volunteer as special judges when other sitting judges are not available to preside over a case. Those interested in serving in this capacity must meet the basic qualifications of TCA 8-18-101, be at least 30 years of age, a resident of the state for five years, a resident of the circuit or district for one year, and licensed to practice law in Tennessee. To be considered submit a letter of interest by email to Michelle McElhaney or by fax to 901-222-3415.

Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon recently told The Daily Memphian that the court is opposed to taking over management of the county’s youth detention facility from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. He says the court does not have the budget to take over the facility after an outside entity estimated it would cost $30 to $40 million to make the transition. Sugarmon also expressed concern about the lack of clarity regarding the court’s role if the transition were to take place. In April, Sheriff Floyd Bonner proposed handing over the facility — which it has run since 2015 — to the court by Dec. 31, a timeline Sugarmon has questioned. In June, county commissioners rejected a nonbinding resolution requesting mediation between the two about the transition.

Sean Williams, a former Johnson City businessman linked to scores of suspected sexual assaults, is expected to face his first trial this week in a federal court in Greeneville, Tennessee Lookout reports. Williams will stand trial on charges related to two alleged escape attempts from custody. He is expected to represent himself after a fourth attorney appointed to represent him withdrew from the case last week. Williams will face federal charges for production of child pornography in August. He has not been charged with any crimes related to the alleged assaults or seeking to interfere with police business. The Johnson City Police Department is facing multiple lawsuits alleging that officers took kickbacks in a scheme to protect Williams and thwart his victims from pursuing justice.

The University of Tennessee College of Law has announced that Daniel Mendoza (3L) is the first student from Tennessee selected to participate in the Hispanic National Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Institute. He is pictured at left with Circuit Judge Jimmie Reyna (right) of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Mendoza is also a recent graduate of the TBA YLD's Diversity Leadership Institute Class of 2024.

Federal Judge Mark S. Norris recently denied six motions to dismiss aspects of the indictment against former Memphis police officers charged in the Tyre Nichols federal criminal case. Five of the six motions were filed by attorneys for Emmitt Martin III and were joined by the other defendants, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills and Justin Smith. Those motions argued that various charges were unconstitutional, vague or lacking specific facts and evidence, and that the prosecution improperly stated Martin's duty to intervene. Norris rejected all of those claims. The sixth motion was filed by attorneys for Tadarrius Bean. They argued that the prosecution failed to give fair notice of his charges. Norris rejected that motion as well, finding that the facts presented in the indictment supported each count on which Bean was charged. Read more about the rulings from the Commercial Appeal.

The Defendant, Byron Jerome Hix, appeals the trial court’s reinstatement of his effective eleven-year sentence for his Class B and Class C felony drug convictions following the revocation of his probation, arguing that the trial court abused its discretion by ordering his original sentence into effect and by denying his request for credit for the five-plus years he successfully served on probation. Based on our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Petitioner, LaNorris O’Brien Chambers, appeals as of right from the Williamson County Circuit Court’s summary dismissal of his pro se petition for post-conviction relief, wherein he challenged his guilty-pleaded convictions for robbery and fraudulent use of a credit or debit card between $1,000 and $2,500 and resulting fifteen-year sentence. After appointed post-conviction counsel filed a notice that no amended petition would be filed, the post- conviction court found that Petitioner had raised a colorable claim of ineffective assistance of counsel; however, the court summarily dismissed the petition, reasoning that Petitioner had “fail[ed] to demonstrate any actual prejudice whatsoever” because he sought to be resentenced rather than rescind his guilty pleas and proceed to trial. On appeal, Petitioner asserts that he is entitled to an evidentiary hearing based upon his claims of having entered an unknowing and involuntary guilty plea after receiving ineffective assistance of counsel. Following our review, we affirm.