New lawyers were welcomed to the legal profession at swearing ceremonies in Memphis and Jackson today. Representatives from the TBA and local bar associations were on hand to congratulate the new admittees. The Tennessee Supreme Court will hold ceremonies in Knoxville and Nashville tomorrow. See photos from today’s events.

A Davidson County jury convicted the Defendant, Tony Lamons Gooch, III, of two counts of aggravated robbery. The trial court imposed an effective sentence of twelve years in confinement. On appeal, the Defendant raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion for a judgment of acquittal; (2) whether the stop and seizure were adequately supported by probable cause or reasonable suspicion and whether the length of the stop exceeded the scope of the stop; (3) whether the preliminary hearing was improperly conducted; (4) whether trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance; (5) whether the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and the City of Nashville are liable for implementing unconstitutional policies; and (6) whether the United States District Court committed plain error by holding that the Defendant’s federal false imprisonment claims were untimely. Upon our review, we hold that the evidence is legally sufficient to support his convictions. We also hold that we lack jurisdiction to entertain an original civil action or to review federal court proceedings. Finally, because the Defendant has waived plenary review of the remaining issues and has not requested plain error review, we respectfully affirm the trial court’s judgments.

The next legal clinic for veterans in Knoxville will take place June 12 from 12-2 p.m. EST 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 Shelby County Sheriff's Office said a man incarcerated at the Shelby County Jail at 201 Poplar was found "unresponsive" in his cell Friday morning, and later died at the hospital. According to a statement from the sheriff’s office, the man, identified as Kevin B. Wright, was being housed individually and was found just after 7 a.m. Friday. A statement from the office said that "Corrections deputies immediately implemented life-saving measures, and Memphis Fire transported him to Methodist University Hospital in critical condition, where he was later pronounced deceased." The inmate was in the midst of his criminal trial, the Commercial Appeal reports. Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy has asked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to investigate.

A trial date for the two men accused of fatally shooting Memphis rapper Young Dolph in 2021 has been reset for Sept. 23, the Commercial Appeal reports. The trial, originally set for March, was to have started today in Memphis. In extending the date, Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Jennifer Mitchell said, "I was extremely upset when the lawyers came to me, asking for a motion to continue this case. I was really anxious to get this case over and done with starting this week, but they both expressed to the court the desire to get experts in. So I allowed the continuance to occur." Mitchell also set a new date of Aug. 9 for oral arguments over expert witnesses.

Former U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton has been appointed by Metro Nashville to lead an investigation into the Metro Nashville Police Department after details of a 61-page complaint by a former lieutenant were made public, the Nashville Banner reports. The complaint, a copy of which was obtained by WPLN, alleges a lack of accountability, inconsistent enforcement of policies, interference with investigations and biasing outcomes in favor of higher-ranking officers. Stanton, who served as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee from 2010-2017 and is now an attorney in the Memphis office of Butler Snow, has overseen a number of other critical investigations. In 2018, a federal court appointed him as a monitor of the Memphis Police Department following violations of the city’s consent decree. In 2022, he was appointed by Gov. Bill Lee to investigate the state’s death penalty protocols.

Nashville Public Radio reporter and producer Meribah Knight will receive the TBA’s Fourth Estate Award for her podcast series “The Kids of Rutherford County,” which brought to light abuses in the juvenile court system in Rutherford County. The award, which was established to recognize and encourage journalists who promote public understanding of the rule of law and improvements in our system of justice through their vigorous exercise of their First Amendment rights, will be presented at the TBA Annual Convention in Memphis on June 14 during the Lawyers Luncheon. Read the TBA's full press release.

Can't join us for the full TBA Convention later this month? Or maybe you need to add a guest ticket? Individual tickets are available for purchase for Thursday's Public Service Breakfast, University of Tennessee College of Law Breakfast, University of Memphis School of Law Breakfast, Bench Bar Luncheon, Legal Community Reception and Dinner & Entertainment with the judges; as well as Friday's Lawyers Luncheon. Buy tickets here now through June 9. Tickets to individual CLE programs will be available for purchase on site at the TBA registration desk in the Peabody Hotel.

Did you miss the TBA Women in the Profession Committee's well-being webcast in April? If so, then join colleagues tomorrow for a rebroadcast at noon CDT. The speaker for this one-hour webcast will use research associated with increased alcohol and drug use; increased stress, anxiety and depression; and feelings of isolation to provide real world strategies to achieve wellness while facing daily professional challenges. Sign up for "Shift Happens — Surviving the Law Profession."

Belmont University College of Law announced a two-year pilot health care clinic that will be embedded at the Tennessee Justice Center (TJC). Funding for the “Healthcare Justice Clinic” will be provided by a $260,000 grant from the Speer Foundation. The clinic will be coordinated by a TJC staff attorney and staffed by Belmont law students who will be selected for the externship. Students will receive academic credit for the experience, which will also include a class focused on managing client cases. The effort is designed to expand TJC’s work of advocating for vulnerable Tennessee families. “There are way more Tennesseans who need help than our small staff can handle, so this new resource will make a powerful difference,” said Michele Johnson, TJC co-founder and executive director. Read more in a news release from the school.