Marc Harwell, a trial lawyer, mediator and founding member of Harwell & Hurst in Chattanooga has been elected president of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC), an invitation-only organization of leading civil defense litigators, corporate counsel and insurance industry executives founded in 1936. “I am humbled to join a long line of dedicated leaders and eager to work with my fellow members to strengthen our profession, uphold the highest standards of advocacy, and continue the FDCC’s tradition of service to its members and the communities we serve," Harwell said. Harwell is only the fifth president from Tennessee in the FDCC’s nearly 90-year history, WJHL reports. His one-year term began Aug. 1.

In the most recent episode of BarBuzz, TBA staff sit down with representatives from Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA) to discuss the positive impact the TBA Young Lawyers Division's statewide mock trial program has on high school students. MBA not only has won the Tennessee statewide competition for a number of years but in May won the National High School Mock Trial Competition, besting 47 other state champions. The Tennessee mock trial program is marking its 45th anniversary this year. Interested in getting involved? Visit the program webpage for more information and contact information for the 2026 leadership. Missed a past episode? Check them out in the BarBuzz archive.

Dr. Michaela Barnett, executive director of Blue Tennessee, a grassroots organization that helps elect Democratic leaders, announced her candidacy for Congress on Thursday, WBIR reports. Barnett is running to represent Tennessee’s 2nd Congressional District, a seat currently held by Rep. Tim Burchett, Republican of Knox County. The district includes Claiborne, Grainger, Knox, Loudon and Union counties. Barnett is also a scientist and owner of KnoxFill, a sustainable product refill business. Burchett’s campaign manager, Thomas McAfee, said the congressman plans to seek reelection in 2026. Burchett first took office in 2019.

The TBA will host the second annual TBA Conference on Artificial Intelligence & the Law on Dec. 12 at the Tennessee Bankers Association’s Bradley L. Barrett Training Center in Nashville. The full-day seminar will explore the impact of generative AI on law practice, courtroom dynamics and practice management. Presenters include Nashville lawyers A.J. Bahou with Bradley and  Bill Ramsey with Womble Bond Dickinson, Memphis lawyer Lucian Pera with Adams and Reese, and Chattanooga lawyer Neal Pinkston with Pinkston Law. TBA members can take advantage of a discounted $150 rate through October, with prices increasing in November. Register now at the TBA website. 

The Nashville chapter of the American Constitution Society (ACS) will hold its annual U.S. Supreme Court review on Oct. 8 at the offices of Bass, Berry & Sims, 21 Platform Way S., Ste. 3500, Nashville 37203. The program will run from noon to 1 p.m. CDT and feature Georgetown University Law Center Professor Stephen Vladeck, who has argued before the court and is the author of “The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic.” In-person and virtual options are available. Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees. Learn more about the program or register here.

Gibson County lawyer Jeffery Alan "Jeff " Smith died March 29 at the age of 61. After earning a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Memphis and a law degree from the university’s Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Smith began practicing law in Trenton. He later served as the city attorney for Dyersburg and Rutherford and owned a number of H&R Block franchises with locations in Dyersburg, Humboldt, Martin, Ripley, South Fulton and Union City.

University of Tennessee (UT) Mock Trial is hosting its annual Mocky Top Invitational tournament Oct. 4-5. The organization will welcome 20 teams from across the country and is in need of volunteer judges. There will be two trial rounds on Saturday and two on Sunday, but volunteers can sign up for as many or as few spots as they would like. Organizers say they have a shortage of judges because the event falls during Knox County Schools' fall break. Any attorney, law student or mock trial alum is eligible to judge. Sign up to volunteer here.

TBA Young Lawyers Division wrapped up its September law school visits with the students at the Nashville School of Law (NSL). YLD leaders  continued the conversation about the advantages of getting involved with the TBA while still in law school and the many benefits of the free law student membership. YLD Board member and DLI Co-Chair Morgan Hanna was on hand to encourage the students to volunteer at pro bono clinics, attend CLE programs and apply for DLI and the Rural Judicial Fellowship programs. The YLD will complete this year's law school visits at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in October. See photos from the event.

An upcoming item in yesterday's issue of TBA Today included a broken link to register for the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law's (LMU Law) AI event on Oct. 7. The correct link to register is here. For questions about the event, contact Associate Director of the Law Library and Assistant Professor of Law Bianca White at bianca.white@lmunet.edu.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Sept. 24 suspended 15 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee, five of whom also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. Ten lawyers suspended for fee and/or IOLTA violations this year have been reinstated to either active or inactive status. Two lawyers suspended in 2024 for fee and/or IOLTA violations also have been reinstated. Access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.