Herrin, McPeak, Shepard & Ketchie in Johnson City has announced a new firm name as attorneys Hunter S. Shepard and Rebecca J. Ketchie join K. Erickson Herrin and Samuel K. McPeak as partners, according to a news release. Shepard, a Johnson City native, focuses on local government and law enforcement defense in civil rights litigation, while Ketchie brings experience in local government representation and civil litigation and is a Tennessee Supreme Court listed Rule 31 family law mediator. In addition, Thomas J. Garland and Jeffrey M. Ward will join the firm in January 2026, adding decades of experience in government defense, civil litigation and mediation. Garland has practiced for nearly 40 years and published works on federal discrimination law. Ward, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, is a Rule 31 mediator and member of the Tennessee ADR Commission. The firm said it looks forward to continuing more than 40 years of service to the region.

Charges against former District Attorney Chris Stanford have been dismissed, ending a case stemming from accusations that he fired shots during a police pursuit of a triple-murder suspect, News Channel 5 reports. Stanford was indicted after prosecutors said he improperly intervened in a police pursuit of a triple-murder suspect in Smithville last year and was charged with reckless endangerment. The judge overseeing the case dismissed the charges after Stanford resigned from his post in October. Because he is no longer serving in office, the court found the statutory basis for pursuing the charge no longer applied.

Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Ron Durby died Dec. 9. Durby earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee and practiced with the Legal Aid Society and attorney Clarence Shattuck before being appointed Hamilton County clerk and master in 1986. He went on to serve 18 years as a general sessions court judge. Visitation will be held at Red Bank Baptist Church on Dec. 13, beginning at 11 a.m. EST.  A celebration of life service will follow at 1 p.m. with burial afterward at Hamilton Memorial Gardens. The church is located at 4000 Dayton Blvd., Chattanooga 37415. Read more about his life in this obituary.

Gov. Bill Lee said Tuesday he does not plan to halt the execution of Harold Wayne Nichols, who was convicted in the death of Karen Pulley and is set to die by lethal injection on Thursday. According to Chattanoogan.com, Lee said, “After deliberate consideration of Harold Wayne Nichols’ request for clemency, and a after a thorough review of the case, I am upholding the sentence of the State of Tennessee and do not plan to intervene.” In addition, the Nashville Banner reports that the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has denied two motions by Nichols. He now has been placed on death watch, the Tennessean reports. He was moved from his death row cell to a room next to the execution chamber, where he will be under 24-hour observation. His execution is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Dec. 11.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) and the Belmont College of Law are seeking attorney volunteers for a wills clinic at Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School in Nashville on Jan. 5, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CST. Volunteers will help draft simple wills, durable powers of attorney and health care powers of attorney for teachers using the Gavel platform. Those interested in participating or needing more information should email Ginny Blake at ginny.blake@belmont.edu.

The TBA will offer a one-hour webcast on Dec. 16 providing employment law attorneys an overview of the American Arbitration Association’s (AAA) updated Employment and Workplace Rules. Led by AAA Employment Vice President Cassie Lively and attorney and AAA arbitrator Mark Travis, the program will address recent rule changes expanding arbitrator authority over discovery, subpoenas and dispositive motions, and new administrative procedures. The session will offer insights from both administrative and arbitrator perspectives on the evolving landscape of employment arbitration. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.

The TBA's Year End CLE Event includes a three-hour "Attorney Wellness" package designed to help Tennessee lawyers quickly earn dual credit. The package includes courses on combating burnout through mentorship, compassionate lawyering and addressing bias, providing a focused path for attorneys seeking well-being–centered programming.  Check out the specific courses included in the package on the TBA website. Looking for something else? TBA also has six, eight, 10, 12 and 15-hour packages, packages based on specific topics or practice areas, live webcasts and on-demand video all month long. Explore all the Year End options to complete your CLE requirement by Dec. 31.

The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) has a number of resources for members interested in incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into their law practice. Content includes four white papers: Vetting AI for Attorneys, Introduction to Generative AI in Legal Practice, Effective AI Prompting for Legal Professionals, and Using Legal-Specific AI Tools in Your Practice; and two checklists: Keys to a Good AI Prompt and Questions to Ask Your AI Provider. All are available as part of TBA’s Law Firm in a Box. Watch for new resources coming soon, including white papers on how AI works and top products on the market, and a checklist on how to fact-check AI.

The TBA has announced that open enrollment for its group health insurance has been extended to Dec. 15. Due to strong enrollment, member interest and requests for additional time to review coverage options, TBA Member Insurance Solutions has negotiated a one-time extension. After Dec. 15, enrollment will be closed until Fall 2026. The plan, offered through BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, is available exclusively to TBA members and offers guaranteed issue coverage with no health questions or pre-existing condition exclusions. For rates, plan details and enrollment information, visit the TBA website.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has held that the defendants in a legal malpractice and fraud action were not entitled to dismissal of the lawsuits under the Tennessee Public Participation Act (TPPA) because the lawsuits were not filed in response to the defendants’ exercise of the right to petition. Access the press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts.