The TBA Environmental Law Section directory is a great place to find colleagues with a similar focus. The directory provides a list of section members with contact information and a list of any other sections or TBA groups to which they belong. This resource provides a great way to connect with like-minded lawyers and cross-reference attorneys well-versed in other practice areas as well. View the section directory here.

The TBA Environmental Law Section is now accepting essay entries from law students for its annual Jon E. Hastings Memorial Award Writing Competition, in memory of one of the section's founding members. The contest will award a $1,500 cash prize pool, with $1,000 going to the winning entry and $500 going to the runner-up. This competition will be judged by a panel of environmental law practitioners, members of the judiciary, and/or professors selected by the Environmental Law Section. Any law student with an interest in the practice area and enrolled in a Tennessee law school in 2025 or 2026 is eligible to participate. All submissions must be received by April 24. View the contest rules here. Contact Section Coordinator Jarod Word for more information or to submit an entry.

Gov. Bill Lee has appointed Judge Stacy Street to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, Eastern Section. Street currently is serving as a criminal court judge in the 1st Judicial District. He earned his bachelor’s degree from East Tennessee State University and law degree from the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law. Street’s appointment fills a vacancy created by Judge Kyle Hixson’s elevation to the Tennessee Supreme Court. The appointment is effective July 7 and is subject to legislative confirmation. Read more in a press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The TBA Criminal Law Section directory is a great place to find colleagues with a similar focus. The directory provides a list of section members with contact information and a list of any other sections or TBA groups to which they belong. This resource provides a great way to connect with like-minded lawyers and cross-reference attorneys well-versed in other practice areas as well. View the section directory here.

The April 10 virtual Elder Law Basics Forum will feature a session exploring online scams that target older adults. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Cybercrime Investigations Squad Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Christian will provide an overview of the most frequent types of cybercrime and internet-facilitated fraud based on FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center statistics. Christian also will cover overall enforcement strategies and how TBI becomes involved in these cases. Other topics at the forum include estate planning basics, powers of attorney, Medicaid, conservatorships, ethics and more. Register now.

A new TBA Legislative Updates podcast is available, featuring attorney and TBA lobbyist Berkley Schwarz of Pier Strategies LLC, along with attorneys and TBA lobbyists Brad Lampley and Ashley Harbin of Adams & Reese, and Adams & Reese intern Aydan Hawk. The group recapped the TBA’s recent Day on the Hill and reviewed several key pieces of legislation, including bills on extrajudicial adoptions HB1263/SB1238; real estate HB569/SB394, HB1970/SB1985 and HB1762/SB1707; adoption SB2165/HB2350; probate SB2184/HB2451 and family law 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.

Thank you for your support of the Federal Practice Section this bar year! Be sure to save the date for the Federal Practice Virtual Forum on July 14. The annual forum is a great time to connect with others in your practice area, and remember, you can use your section discount for the CLE.

Thank you for being part of the Federal Practice Section. If you have thoughts or ideas for future section initiatives, do not hesitate to reach out.

The TBA Creditors Practice Section directory is a great place to find colleagues with a similar focus. The directory provides a list of section members with contact information and a list of any other sections or TBA groups to which they belong. This resource provides a great way to connect with like-minded lawyers and cross-reference attorneys well-versed in other practice areas as well. View the section directory here.

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed SB846/HB1268 with an amendment on March 24. The legislation — introduced by Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Eads, and Rep. Rick Scarbrough, R-Oak Ridge — now goes to the Senate Finance Committee. The bill as amended creates two additional criminal courts in the 30th Judicial District and requires the governor to appoint judges to serve through Sept. 1, 2028. An election for the posts would be held in August 2028, and the winners of that election would serve until Sept. 1, 20230. At the August 2030 general election, voters would elect judges for a full eight-year term. The bill as approved also would create four assistant district attorney general positions and two criminal investigator positions for the judicial district. The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee is set to consider the bill on April 1. The Commercial Appeal has background on the issue.

Leitner Williams Dooley Napolitan (LWDN) currently is hiring an associate attorney for its Memphis office. Candidates should have three to five years of experience with litigation experience in Tennessee preferred. License to practice in Arkansas or Mississippi in addition to Tennessee is a plus. Salary will be commensurate with experience. LWDN was established in the late 1800s with offices in Knoxville, Nashville, Chattanooga and Memphis and a strong emphasis on civil litigation. Resumes should be sent to Sharon Govan at sharon.govan@leitnerfirm.com. Learn more about this opportunity on TBA’s Career Center.