Gov. Bill Lee has announced two judicial appointments. Valerie L. Smith was named to the Tennessee Court of Appeals (Western Division) while Steven W. Sword was named to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals (Eastern Division). Smith serves as a circuit court judge for the 30th Judicial District in Shelby County. She was appointed to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Arnold B. Goldin. Sword serves as a criminal court judge for the 6th Judicial District in Knox County. He was appointed to fill a vacancy created by the passing of Judge James C. Witt Jr. Both must be approved by the legislature.

Funding for domestic violence and sexual assault centers has been dropping off in recent years and now is facing greater uncertainty, WPLN reports. Advocates tell the station they fear the current situation could have devastating consequences for crime victims if services like court advocacy, emergency shelter hotlines, rape crisis counseling and sexual assault exams are more limited or eliminated altogether. Advocates had hoped to see additional funding in the governor’s budget. Now more than 100 nonprofits have signed a letter asking the legislature to dedicate $25 million annually to victim services.

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee last week advanced President Donald Trump’s picks to be second-in-command at the Justice Department and head of the antitrust division, setting them both up for expected confirmation by the full Senate, Bloomberg Law reports. The panel voted along party lines to advance the nomination of Todd Blanche to be deputy attorney general, and by a 20-2 vote to advance the nomination of Gail Slater to lead the antitrust division. Blanche is a former Manhattan federal prosecutor who was Trump’s criminal defense attorney. Slater formerly served as economic policy adviser to Vice President JD Vance when he was a senator. Her background also includes more than 10 years at the Federal Trade Commission, as well as stints as a policy adviser at Fox Corp. and Roku Inc.

The Knoxville Bar Association and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, in partnership with Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET), will hold a Debt Relief Clinic on March 8 to provide pro bono legal services to income-eligible consumer debtors. The clinic will begin at 9 a.m. EST at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St., Knoxville 37919. Judge Suzanne Bauknight will present a short overview of the bankruptcy system and then volunteer lawyers will conduct initial meetings with the clients to discuss their situations and options. Those interested in helping should register online. Clients seeking advice should call 865-637-0484.

The TBA Corporate Counsel Section will hold its annual forum virtually on March 28. The event, which will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT, will include sessions on the complexities of attorney/client privilege for in-house counsel, an employment law update, a Supreme Court update and a look at how AI can impact contract negotiations. Participants include Nashville lawyer John Edwin Gerth with Epstein Becker Green, Atlanta lawyer Alex Koskey and Memphis lawyer Matthew White with Baker Donelson, and University of Tennessee professor Hemant Sharma. Section members receive discounts on registration costs. Not a member yet? Join here.

A new advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General issues serious warnings of a significant link between alcohol and fatal cancers, and studies now show alcohol is one of the three leading causes of preventable cancer, falling just below tobacco and obesity. In this installment of "The Buddy System," Buddy Stockwell unpacks what the new warnings mean and how TLAP can help.

The right of a criminal defendant “to present a defense” is a fundamental tenant of the criminal justice system in the United States. But what does that mean? Wade Davies explains in the issue's "Crime & Punishment" column.

Lawyers can have a profound effect on their communities through active engagement in local initiatives and civic activities. TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr. encourages readers to commit to being active participants in their communities. Engaging in local initiatives and civic activities is not only a responsibility but also an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. By providing pro bono services, educating the public, advocating for change, mentoring young individuals and volunteering, lawyers can elevate the legal profession’s role in society.

Get news from the TBA, including announcements of future leadership, an upgraded legal research tool launch, a tiny new addition to the TBA staff, mock trial information and an update on the Justice Drowota Trust.

Read about the lawyers who have recently been reinstated, disbarred, suspended, censured or transferred their licenses to disability inactive status.