The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Memphis is seeking an assistant U.S. attorney in its criminal division. Candidates should have three to five years of experience litigating cases in federal or state court. Previous jury trial experience is strongly preferred. Interested attorneys should apply by Sept. 2. Learn more about this opportunity on the TBA’s Job Link platform.

“My Cousin Vinny” may be one of the best movies about lawyers ever made. That’s not an exaggeration, if you’re thinking about attorney ethics! The number of professional responsibility lessons one can learn from this cinematic masterpiece is incredible! Join the “CLE Performer” Stuart Teicher on Sept. 29 from noon to 1 p.m. as he runs through this classic and covers some important ethics topics, including competence (Rule 1.1), confidentiality (Rule 1.6), lies/deception (Rule 8.4) and more! This is the third installment in a day of ethics programming. Learn more about Teicher’s presentation on mastering the art of correspondence, which will air from 9-10 a.m., and Can Lawyers Really Do That?, which will follow from 10:30-11:30 a.m. All times central.

Gov. Bill Lee has named Erin Merrick as his chief legal counsel. She has served as deputy legal counsel and succeeds Jonathan Skrmetti, who last week was named the state's new attorney general. In announcing the move, Lee said that “Erin is a dedicated public servant who will lead with integrity and bring significant expertise as chief legal counsel, and I appreciate her continued service to Tennessee.” Merrick has been in the deputy role since 2019 after working as an assistant attorney general. She holds master’s and law degrees from Vanderbilt University. The Nashville Post has more from the governor's release.

Metro Nashville seeks a juvenile court administrator, which is a full-time civil service position in juvenile court. The administrator will perform managerial and administrative duties to assist the presiding judge, and oversee daily operation of the court as defined in Section 14.19 of the Metropolitan Charter. Duties include planning, directing and supervising activities of the court business office, and acting as liaison with judges, courts, government agencies, the bar and the public. Access the full job description and apply on the Metro Government's website.

WPLN reports that the city of Murfreesboro is suing Middle Point Landfill's owners in federal court over a range of environmental concerns, notably gas odors and contaminated liquids. The landfill's owners want to add 99 adjacent acres to the site, but the regional solid waste board has denied the expansion request. Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland says, "The sources of the odor are simply not trash at the landfill. Landfill-related odors are connected to the way a site is operated, including how the gases and millions of gallons of leachate produced by the landfill are collected and managed." The county and city mayors, as well as residents of Murfreesboro, have been vocal in their opposition to the proposed expansion. 

At its 97th Annual Convention in Memphis, the National Bar Association (NBA) recognized five TBA members in its 2022 class of 40 Under 40 Nation’s Best Advocates: Miska L. Shaw, Lillian M. Blackshear, LaQuita R. Stokes, Quinton E. Thompson (TBA YLD president-elect) and Jennifer L. Sneed (TBA YLD West Tennessee governor). The convention was hosted by the Ben F. Jones Memphis Chapter of the NBA, which also received the NBA’s Outstanding Affiliate award. Additionally, Blackshear also received the 40 Under 40 Excellence in Leadership Award for outstanding leadership in her law firm and community, and Stokes received both the President's Award and the Outstanding Woman Lawyer in a Solo/Small Firm Award from the Women’s Law Division of the NBA. See photos from the event.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee has announced that after a nationwide search, Nashville attorney Kathy Sinback has been selected to lead the organization as its new executive director, beginning Sept. 6. “From her work seeking clemency for Cyntoia Brown Long to her role in the remarkable transformation of the Davidson County Juvenile Court, Kathy is a proven leader and well-respected advocate in our state,” said ACLU-TN Board Chair Paula Williams. Sinback has served as the Davidson County Juvenile Court administrator since 2014. She will replace Hedy Weinberg, who led the organization for more than 37 years. Read the full press release.

Former Federal Judge and Prosecutor Harry S. "Sandy" Mattice, Jr., who recently stepped down from the federal bench in East Tennessee, has announced the opening of The Mattice Group, a law firm with offices in Chattanooga. The opening marks Mattice’s return to the private practice of law after 20 years of service in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the federal government. The firm will focus its practice in the areas of investigations, complex civil litigation, white collar criminal defense, crisis management and communications, governmental affairs advocacy and mediation. Read the full press release.

Incumbent and newly-elected Knox County judges and chancellors are among judicial officials being sworn in during a ceremony at 3 p.m. EDT Aug. 31, on the second floor of the Supreme Court Building at 505 Main St., Knoxville. Knoxville Bar Association President Jason H. Long will preside over the Sixth Judicial District event. Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee will swear in 13 of the judges, Public Defender Eric Lutton and court clerks Charles D. Susano III and Mike Hammond. Chancellor John F. Weaver will swear in J. Scott Griswold as the new clerk & master. District Attorney General Charme Allen will have the oath administered by Judge Steve Sword. A reception will follow the ceremony. Guests are asked to register for the event.

U.S District Judge Travis McDonough has agreed to grant class-action status to a lawsuit regarding the April 2018 raid of Southeastern Provision slaughterhouse in Grainger County, the Tennessee Lookout reports. According to the ruling, there is "ample evidence" to show that agents targeted the workers in what turned out to be "the largest immigration raid in recent Tennessee history." Jamie Satterfield reports that "court records show agents and federal prosecutors had been meeting for months prior to the search warrant request to plan a round-up of Latinos working at the plant."