Nashville School of Law (NSL) 3L Scott Vincenti has been awarded the inaugural Bill Koch Harry Phillips American Inn of Court (AIC) Scholarship. The scholarship, years in the making, honors NSL Dean William C. Koch Jr.’s three decades of service as president of the Harry Phillips American Inn of Court in Nashville. “I am grateful for the many contributions that funded this scholarship, and I am delighted that Scott Vincenti is its first recipient,” said Koch. Each year, the scholarship will be awarded to a full-time third or fourth-year student who has worked hard to stay in good academic standing, ranks in the top 20% of the class, and shares a statement of financial need. Read more in a press release from the law school.

U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan previously announced he would assume senior status on Oct. 5, 2026, after more than two decades on the federal bench in East Tennessee, allowing him to hear a reduced caseload. According to a new opinion piece in Knox News, his tenure has left a lasting imprint on Knoxville’s legal community, where he has been recognized for his public service, mentorship and long-standing civic involvement. Varlan earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School and has served as a district judge for 22 years following a legal career. Varlan served as Knoxville’s law director for a decade before entering private practice and later being confirmed to the bench by the U.S. Senate.

State lawmakers are preparing for Savanna’s Law to take effect Jan. 1, 2026. According to WBIR, the law creates a public registry of domestic violence offenders. It is named for Savanna Puckett, a Middle Tennessee sheriff’s deputy killed by her ex-boyfriend in 2022, who had a history of domestic assault arrests. The law establishes a registry for individuals convicted more than once of domestic violence. Sen. Becky Duncan Massey, R-Knoxville, co-sponsored the legislation. A victim advocate at the Anderson County Family Justice Center noted that many abusers never face criminal charges and that victims often seek civil orders of protection instead. “There’s nothing you can do that can solve everything. But if we can do something that solves some of it, that’s important,” Massey said.

HELENE N. WHITE, Circuit Judge. Appellant Prime Financial seeks reversal of the bankruptcy court’s approval of a settlement agreement between the trustee of debtor TAJ Graphics Enterprises, LLC’s, bankruptcy estate, debtor’s owner Robert Kattula, and certain parties related to Kattula. Prime Financial argues that the bankruptcy and district courts applied an incorrect standard for evaluating a Chapter 7 bankruptcy settlement and improperly valued certain assets it contends belong in the bankruptcy estate. Prime Financial also raises several procedural concerns. We AFFIRM.

Memphis attorney Constance Brown has been selected to participate in the spring 2026 cohort of The Leadership Tennessee NEXT Program. The program, designed for early to mid-career professionals, focuses on personal and professional development and the advancement of knowledge on issues affecting the state. Thirty-two state leaders from 14 counties will make up the 12th cohort of the program. Brown serves on the TBA Young Lawyers Division Board and its Long Range Planning Committee and Recovery Court Program initiative.

The Petitioner, Robert Lee Adams, Jr., appeals the Tipton County Circuit Court’s denial of his post-conviction petition, seeking relief from his conviction of attempted second degree murder and resulting thirty-year sentence. On appeal, he claims that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel at trial and on direct appeal of his convictions. Based on our review, we affirm the post-conviction court’s denial of the petition.

The employee questions the trial court’s denial of benefits in this interlocutory appeal. The employee filed a petition for benefit determination in February 2025 for a back injury that occurred on March 29, 2022. Although the employer originally accepted the compensability of the accident and authorized certain medical treatment, the employer denied the claim after the employee filed his petition, asserting the statute of limitations had expired. After an expedited hearing, the court found the employee did not come forward with sufficient evidence to indicate a likelihood of prevailing at trial as to the statute of limitations issue and denied the employee’s request for benefits. The employee has appealed. Having carefully reviewed the record, we affirm the trial court’s interlocutory decision and remand the case.

The TBA Mentoring Committee, in collaboration with the TBA Young Lawyers Division, will hold a special event — "Developing Lawyers, Developing Leaders: A CLE on Mentorship and Professional Excellence" — on Jan. 30 at Belmont University College of Law's Baskin Center. Make plans now to join TBA President Heidi Barcus; Marshall County General Sessions Court Judge Lee Bussart; University of Tennessee Winston College of Law professor Joan Heminway; Amy Schmisseur, chair of Belmont University's Department of Communication Studies; Joseph Hubbard of Polsinelli; and Toyin Edogun of Bass Berry & Sims as they explore topics of mentorship, leadership and communication across one's legal career. The day of "Mocktails and Mentorship" will include lunch and three hours of CLE programming, followed by a networking event and the opportunity to mix mocktails together. The program is free for law students. Register by Jan. 25.

The Elizabethton Star reports that Judge Zachary R. Walden has received the 2025 Pride of ETSU Award. The award recognizes Walden's commitment to integrity, service and justice in Tennessee’s 8th Judicial District.  Walden, a 2013 graduate of ETSU, is currently the youngest trial judge in the state and has served on the criminal and recovery courts since 2022. In 2024, he launched the 8th Judicial District Veterans Treatment Court, expanding support for veterans in Campbell, Claiborne, Fentress, Scott and Union counties. Throughout his career, Walden has held numerous leadership positions, including membership on the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Technology Oversight Committee and as chair of the Tennessee Criminal Pattern Jury Instruction Committee. He also teaches criminal practice skills at Lincoln Memorial University’s Duncan School of Law. Previously, Walden practiced law in Knoxville at Eldridge & Blakney, with appearances on “Killer Cases” and “Court Cam Presents: Under Oath.” He received his law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2016, earning multiple academic honors. Walden has been recognized with the American Bar Association’s On the Rise Award, Knoxville News Sentinel’s 40 Under 40, and the University of Alabama School of Law’s Rising Young Lawyer Award. He lives in Jacksboro and remains active in his community and church. Walden serves as the secretary of the TBA Young Lawyers Division Board as well as the co-chair of the Rural Judicial Fellowship program.

From Lennon and McCartney to Jagger and Richards, the greatest rock and roll collaborations offer more than unforgettable music—they reveal the dynamics of trust, communication and ethical boundaries that are just as vital in the practice of law. Join the CLE Performer, Stuart Teicher, on Dec. 26 at 3 p.m. CST for a CLE program that connects the Rules of Professional Conduct to real-world examples from legendary rock partnerships. Explore how these iconic collaborations can teach attorneys about managing conflicts of interest, maintaining competence and fostering effective communication. Get ready to learn ethical lessons that will leave you humming a better tune in your legal practice. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.