The Trial Court Vacancy Commission interviewed five candidates for a vacancy on the Sixth Judicial District Criminal Court, which covers Knox County. Following the public interviews, the commission voted to send the names of Emily Faye Abbott, Hector I. Sanchez and Wesley D. Stone to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. The vacancy was created after Judge Kyle A. Hixson was confirmed to the Court of Criminal Appeals – Eastern Section. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more on the candidates.

The University of Tennessee College of Law on Friday announced the death of Micki Fox, business manager of the Tennessee Law Review and continuing legal education (CLE) coordinator. Fox had been with the college for 50-plus years and had become known affectionately as the “mother of the Law Review.” Fox began working with the publication in 1971 as a manuscript typist. Within the decade, she was promoted to senior bookkeeper and eventually business manager. Almost 20 years ago, Fox took on an additional role at the college, becoming the CLE coordinator. A private funeral service will be held at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel on Sunday at 1 p.m. Visitation with family and friends will take place at the chapel, 6200 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37919, after the funeral from 2-4 p.m. EDT. In addition, friends of the law school will host a celebration of Fox’s life and work on Sept. 22. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to E3: Elevating Education Everywhere, 11124 Kingston Pike, Ste. 119-169, Knoxville, TN 37934.

Services have now been set for longtime University of Tennessee College of Law staff member Micki Fox, who served as business manager of the Tennessee Law Review and continuing legal education coordinator and died in a pedestrian accident last week. A private funeral service will be held at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel on Sunday at 1 p.m. Visitation with family and friends will take place at the chapel, 6200 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37919, after the funeral from 2-4 p.m. EDT. In addition, friends of the law school will host a celebration of Fox’s life and work on Sept. 22. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to E3: Elevating Education Everywhere, 11124 Kingston Pike, Ste. 119-169, Knoxville, TN 37934.

The Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has announced the three finalists for the 2022 Sue Ann Head Award for Innovation and Excellence in Workers’ Compensation. They are: Dan Headrick, an industrial specialist for STAR Physical Therapy; Bob Pitts, a member of the Tennessee Advisory Council on Workers’ Compensation; and Sarah Hardison Reisner, a workers' compensation defense attorney. The winner will be announced on Aug. 16 at a luncheon during the 25th Tennessee Workers' Compensation Educational Conference in Murfreesboro. The award, named for former Workers’ Compensation Division director Sue Ann Head, recognizes individuals who have made a significant and positive impact on the workers’ compensation system.

Merchant & Gould has named John Winemiller as managing partner of the Knoxville office and the firm’s first-ever chief diversity officer. In this new role, Winemiller will serve as the firm’s expert on current and emerging developments in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), including best practices for recruitment, retention and promotion of underrepresented attorneys and non-attorney employees. Winemiller previously served as the chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee. He will remain based in Knoxville but will work across the firm's seven offices to advance DEI initiatives. Winemiller also was a member of the TBA’s Diversity Task Force in 2020.

The Knoxville Bar Association and its Bankruptcy Section, in partnership with Legal Aid of East Tennessee and U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Suzanne H. Bauknight, will hold a Pro Bono Debt Relief Clinic on Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to noon EDT. The event will take place at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St., Knoxville 37919. Judge Bauknight will present a short overview of the bankruptcy system and other solutions for clients before volunteer lawyers meet with them to discuss their options. Sign up to volunteer.

Nashville lawyer Vincent Edward Wehby died July 23 at the age of 85. A 1961 graduate of the Vanderbilt University Law School, Wehby practiced law for more than 50 years, serving as an assistant U.S. attorney in Nashville and practicing law with his late brother Alfred. Wehby was affectionately called the “Godfather” of the Federal Public Defender’s Office, which recognized him as the first CJA Panel Lawyer of the Year. The award honors a lawyer who demonstrates a commitment to the vigorous representation of those unable to afford counsel. Wehby retired from law practice in 2017. Funeral services were held this past weekend. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Room in the Inn or the Legal Aid Society.

Open government advocates are seeking to expand access to the Tennessee Code Annotated, the comprehensive version of Tennessee state law including relevant history and judicial review notes. Public.Resource.Org and Nashville law professor David Hudson sued LexisNexis in Davidson County Chancery Court last week, asking the court to force the company to offer the complete and current electronic version of the TCA, Nashville Post reports. The state says it does not have an electronic copy of the code and LexisNexis has denied previous requests. The advocates argue that LexisNexis “is the functional equivalent of state government for purposes of its work producing the TCA” and should therefore have to comply with public records laws.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has announced its process for interviewing the six applicants for attorney general and reporter. The court will begin its consideration of the candidates on Aug. 8 in the Nashville Supreme Court Building, starting at 9:30 a.m. CDT. The proceedings also will be livestreamed on the court’s YouTube channel. The day will start with a general overview of the process. Then each applicant will have 10 minutes to introduce himself to the court. After introductions, members of the public may speak in opposition to any applicant for three minutes, and applicants will have three minutes to respond. The court will then conduct formal interviews of each applicant. At the end of the interview process, the court will deliberate on next steps. The process is expected to conclude on Aug. 9, pending completion of background checks.

Ronnie Presley, 43, of Bethpage pleaded guilty on Thursday to a charge of “interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder.” According to court records, Presley entered the U.S. Capitol “through the Upper West Terrace doorway,” moved to the Rotunda and shouted, “Fight for this!” Then, as “multiple law enforcement officers attempted to clear the Rotunda of rioters, Presley disregarded verbal commands from the officers to leave” and “physically confronted” two officers. Presley was arrested in Nashville in March 2021 after an investigation by the FBI, Tennessee Lookout reports. A sentencing date has not yet been set.