The Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission will meet on May 21 in Gallatin to consider nine applicants for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 18th Judicial District, which serves Sumner County. The new judicial position was created by the Tennessee General Assembly in March and will take effect Sept. 1. The applicants are Sumner County attorneys Michael Begley, Thomas B. Dean, Keith C. Dennen, Matthew Grosland, Eric Mauldin, Jennifer S. Nichols, Kathryn Strong, William J. Whalen Sr. and Tara A. Wylie. The public hearing will take place at Volunteer State Community College, 1480 Nashville Pk., Gallatin 37066, beginning at 9 a.m. CDT. The commission is expected to vote immediately following the interviews and forward three names to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. Read more in a press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Members of the newly appointed 2024-2025 Young Lawyers Division (YLD) Board met at Montgomery Bell State Park last weekend for their spring retreat to make plans for next year's programs and projects. President-elect Sean Aiello, who will be sworn in at the TBA Convention in June, provided an overview of the upcoming bar year and introduced his initiatives of increased focus on public service, an expanded membership base in underrepresented areas, and increased partnership with local bars, affiliated organizations and law schools. Many of the board members joined Patrick Morrison, the incoming Health and Wellness Coordinator for a morning hike. See photos from the event.

Join your colleagues April 26 from 3-4 p.m. CDT for Pro Bono 101: Skills for Legal Volunteers. This webcast will cover helpful practice tips and cultural competency skills for working with clients, especially in pro bono and other access to justice contexts. Presenters will address various scenarios that may come up when working with legal service projects and pro bono clients. Get more information and register here. The program is free and offers one complimentary hour of CLE credit for TBA members.

The annual Entertainment & Sports Law Forum will take place on May 8 at Belmont College of Law and will feature some of the brightest minds in the industry as they break down the latest developments and cutting-edge issues in the entertainment and sports industries. Specific topics will include a session on the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act, a litigation update, an overview of the Corporate Transparency Act, a panel discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) misuse of voice and personal property rights as it relates to voice, and a sports law session.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has joined a 23-state coalition opposing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations that require it to consider “disparate impacts” to forward race-conscious “environmental justice” initiatives. The group argues that the regulations are illegal and distract the EPA from its core mission of lawfully enforcing the nation’s environmental laws. Read more about the issue.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has issued notice that the state Senate and House have ratified amendments to the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure and Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. The amendments will take effect on July 1.

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has held a hearing on the nomination of U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz for a position on the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Ritz, who serves the Western District of Tennessee, answered questions about past cases he has prosecuted as well as the crime rate in Memphis. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Republican of Tennessee, expressed her displeasure with the Biden administration’s choice of Ritz for the post, accusing him of ethics violations and mistreating public defenders and indigent defendants. Bloomberg Law reports on those allegations. Ritz, who was nominated in March, received a unanimous “well qualified” rating from the American Bar Association. Watch the hearing here. Coverage of Ritz begins at 34:18.

The Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission will meet on May 20 in Columbia to consider five applicants for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 22nd Judicial District, which serves Giles, Lawrence, Maury and Wayne counties. This vacancy will be created by the upcoming retirement of Judge David Allen on Aug. 3. The applicants are: Lewisburg attorneys Lee E. Brooks and Richard M. Murrell; Columbia attorney Wesley M. Bryant; and Lawrenceburg attorneys Jessica H. Parrish and Amy L. Wilson. The public hearing will take place at Columbia Central High School, 921 Lion Pkwy., Columbia 38401 beginning at 9 a.m. CDT. The commission is expected to vote immediately following the interviews and forward three names to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. Read more in a press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

On April 10, Overton County lawyer Lynda W. Patterson received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court. Patterson was hired to seek damages against the former residential tenants of her client. She negotiated an agreed judgment with the tenants, prepared the order, secured signatures and mailed the document to the court. The order though was never entered by the court. Patterson’s client contacted her twice about the status of the order, but she did not respond. Fourteen months later Patterson discovered the order had not been entered and proceeded with a default judgment against the former tenants. The court found that her actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 3.2 and 8.4(d).

The Tennessee Supreme Court has publicly censured Williamson County lawyer Jay Nelson Chamness for violating Rules of Professional Conduct 4.1, 8.4(c) and 8.4(a). Chamness represented a plaintiff asserting employment discrimination in a case filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. Over the course of 11 months, Chamness made at least four false statements to opposing counsel about personal circumstances for which he needed extensions of time. In the last instance, Chamness asked to reschedule depositions and for more time to draft a motion because his mother had died. She was, in fact, still alive.