The TBA Access to Justice Committee is accepting nominations for the 2026 Public Service Awards through next Friday. The annual awards recognize outstanding commitment to access to justice in three categories: work performed by an attorney employed by an organization primarily involved in providing legal representation to the indigent, pro bono work performed by a private or corporate attorney, and a strong commitment to pro bono service by a Tennessee law student or recent graduate. Awards will be presented during the TBA Annual Convention in June. Submit nominations by April 17 on the TBA website.

A new TBA Legislative Updates podcast is available with TBA lobbyists and attorneys Berkley Schwarz of Pier Strategies LLC and Brad Lampley of Adams & Reese. In this edition, they discuss TBA's bills that are moving through the legislative process, including the extrajudicial adoptions bills HB1263/SB1238; real estate bills HB569/SB394, HB1970/SB1985 and HB1762/SB1707; adoption bill SB2165/HB2350; probate bill SB2184/HB2451; and family law bill SB2324/HB2429. Tune in on the TBA website or through this link. Attorneys interested in supporting the TBA’s lobbying efforts can contribute to LAWPAC.

Elder Law Basics 2026, a virtual CLE program designed for attorneys new to elder law or seeking a refresher, will take place tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. CDT. The program will cover key aspects of elder law, with experienced practitioners providing insights on recent developments and best practices. Registrants will receive connection details and course materials the week of the event. For information and to register visit the TBA website.

A list of those who passed the February 2026 Tennessee bar exam is now available. Those who meet all licensing requirements will be sworn in at events across the state in early June. Ceremonies are set for June 2 at 9 a.m. EDT at the Supreme Court Building in Knoxville; June 2 at 2 p.m. CDT at the Supreme Court Building in Nashville; June 3 at 9 a.m. CDT at the Shelby County Courthouse in Memphis; June 3 at 1:30 p.m. CDT in Jackson (location to be determined); and June 4 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. CDT for two virtual ceremonies. Watch for statistics from this spring's exam coming soon. Access information for test takers on the Board of Law Examiner's website. Download the list in pdf format.

Jefferson County lawyer Agnes Sipple Trujillo received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on April 7. The court found that while handling an appeal, Trujillo failed to (1) file the trial transcript with the appellate court; (2) request an extension to file a response to two dismissal motions — which resulted in the client’s case being dismissed; (3) provide the client with copies of pleadings; and (4) notify the client that the case was dismissed. The court also found that the fee Trujillo charged was not reasonable based on the legal services provided. Finally, the court found that Trujillo did not return the file to the client, which hindered his ability to obtain alternate counsel. These actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4(a), 1.5(a), 1.15(d) and 8.4(d).

Rutherford County lawyer David Bennett LaRoche received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on April 7. The court reports that LaRoche received a private reprimand on July 30, 2025, for violations of Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4 and 1.16. The court also ordered him to refund $500 of a client’s money. The court now has found that LaRoche failed to meet the condition of his private reprimand, did not refund the client’s money and failed to respond to a lawful demand for information from the disciplinary counsel concerning the matter. The censure was imposed for violations for Rules of Professional Conduct 3.1, 8.1 and 8.4.

MATHIS, Circuit Judge. Rieth-Riley Construction Company and the union representative for some of its workers have been in a nearly decade-long conflict. The dispute began in 2018 when Local 324, International Union of Operating Engineers, AFL-CIO (the “Union”), sought to withdraw from a multiemployer bargaining arrangement so that it could negotiate individually with Rieth-Riley and the other employers. But what should have been typical collective-bargaining negotiations turned into several alleged unfair labor practices, a weeks-long employee lockout, and a strike that continues to this day. The National Labor Relations Board issued a decision ordering Rieth-Riley to bargain in good faith with the Union after finding that Rieth-Riley committed various unfair labor practices throughout the dispute. Rieth-Riley now challenges the Board’s decision, and the Board asks us to enforce it. For the reasons below, we deny Rieth-Riley’s petition for review and enforce the Board’s order.

The Defendant, Antonio D. Bennett Tate, appeals from the Blount County Circuit Court revocation of his community corrections sentence. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the trial court erred by improperly admitting video footage from a police officer’s body- worn camera during the revocation hearing. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

The Defendant, Christopher Lance Osteen, entered a guilty plea to two counts of aggravated kidnapping. As a part of his plea, and pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 37, the Defendant sought to reserve one certified question of law related to the trial court’s finding that his right to a speedy trial did not attach when he was arrested in Florida due to his escape status as well as being served with a warrant from Kentucky; one certified question related to the trial court’s finding that the Defendant’s verbal request to the Florida court to invoke his constitutional rights was insufficient to properly invoke his rights to speedy trial and due process; and one certified question related to the trial court’s finding that the Defendant’s written letters and motion to dismiss sent to both the general sessions clerk and the district attorney’s office failed to properly invoke his constitutional rights to a speedy trial and due process as it pertained to his Henry County, Tennessee general session case arrest warrants. Because the Defendant did not properly reserve certified issues for review, we are without jurisdiction to review the merits of the Defendant’s claims, and we dismiss his appeal.

The Defendant, Boone Beverly, appeals the trial court’s revocation of his probation. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the trial court abused its discretion by denying the Defendant’s request to allocute or speak on his own behalf at his revocation hearing. Discerning no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.