Four experts and a prominent legal journalist will join ABA President Reginald Turner on July 28 from noon to 1 p.m. EDT to discuss how new federal judges are changing the federal judiciary. The free one-hour online webinar – “The Changing Face of the Federal Judiciary: Is it Permanent or Temporary?” – coincides with the release of the 2022 ABA Profile of the Legal Profession, an annual compilation of statistics and trends among lawyers, judges and law students. New to the report this year is a lengthy statistical look at the changing federal judiciary.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will host a free webinar to discuss 2022 legislative actions on July 26 at 9 a.m. CDT. Participants will learn about changes to existing tax laws in Tennessee and newly-created laws from the 2022 legislative session. Register for the webinar here. The program is part of a series offered by the department each month. The Department of Revenue has more on upcoming webinars.

Lydia Amelia Babaoglu, longtime administrative assistant to the Shelby County Chancery Court, died June 19 due to complications from COVID. Born in Germany in 1945, Babaoglu immigrated to the United States with her parents and brother in 1950 and settled in New Jersey. While attending Rutgers University she met her husband Rehim Babaoglu, now an attorney with Lewis Thomason. They moved to Memphis to raise their family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to New Ballet Ensemble and School, 2157 York Ave., Memphis, TN 38104.

The Sullivan County Commission is set to consider a proposal tomorrow that would apply daily cost of living fees to inmates at the county jail, WJHL reports. Proposal sponsor Commissioner Herschel Glover says the measure is intended to help fund a $93 million addition to the jail. Under the program, inmates at the county jail would pay $35 per day during their stay. But local court and law enforcement officials are expressing concern. Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy has said such a proposal “sets an inmate up for failure.” Several county judges as well as the public defender and district attorney all expressed concerns about the idea.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division, Belmont Law and the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands hosted an expungement clinic at Belmont Law last weekend. Attorneys and law students worked with the Davidson County Clerks to help more than 30 low-income individuals expunge more than 70 criminal charges. Clients also received help with fee waivers and driver's license reinstatement, resulting in more than $7,000 in free legal help being provided. Other local nonprofits also were on site to provide additional resources, like employment and housing help. Thank you to Martin Heller Potempa & Sheppard PLLC for sponsoring the event.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted yesterday to codify the right to same-sex and interracial marriages in federal law, Tennessee Lookout reports. The Respect for Marriage Act would require state governments to recognize marriages from other states regardless of the sex, race, ethnicity or national origin of those involved. The 267-157 bipartisan vote stemmed from concerns that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last month overturning the constitutional right to an abortion may impact other protections previously upheld by the court. Those opposed to the legislation cited Justice Samuel Alito’s pledge that nothing in the abortion decision “should be understood to cast doubt on precedents that do not concern abortion.” Supporters cited Justice Clarence Thomas’ concurring opinion that the court should reconsider cases dealing with contraceptives, same-sex marriages and private consensual sexual relationships. On Thursday, the House is expected to take up a bill that would codify the use of contraception.

In a recent ALM Mental Health and Substance Abuse Survey, 31.2% of lawyers surveyed felt they were depressed. That’s four times the depression rate of the general population. Why is this the case? The truth is, Gray Robinson writes in “Attorney at Work,” the same traits and factors that make a person a good lawyer can also cause depression. These include a sense of compassion, desire to fix problems, tendency to perfectionism and reluctance to accept failure. To balance these traits, lawyers need strategies for managing stress and maintaining good health, a supportive group of people around them, and a sense of humor.

The TBA's Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity presents a one-hour webcast on how solo practitioners or attorneys in small firms can expand their practice by accepting conservatorship work. Amy Bryant with the state trial court and Travenia Holden with the Holden Law Office in Lebanon will host an interview style discussion, which will include an overview of best practices for handling conservatorships. The webcast will take place Aug. 5 from noon to 1 p.m. CDT.

Federal Defender Services of Eastern Tennessee is seeking to fill three positions. The first is an assistant federal defender in Knoxville’s Capital Habeas Unit. This position represents clients who have been sentenced to death by state or federal courts in Tennessee and five other states. Five to 10 years of attorney experience or a federal clerkship is required. Prior capital habeas experience is preferred. The second opening is for an assistant federal defender in Chattanooga. Candidates should have at least three years of substantial criminal trial experience. Proficiency in Spanish is a plus. The third opening is for an executive director in Knoxville. Candidates should have extensive federal trial and appellate experience and be able to motivate, support and develop a diverse staff, and provide sound fiscal and operational management. Learn more about each of this openings on the TBA’s JobLink platform.

Meet TBA Assistant Executive Director Barry Kolar! Barry is the glue that holds the TBA’s Communications Team together, and he also assists in the management of all TBA staff. Additionally, Barry oversees the TBA’s website, the TBA Today daily newsletter and SO much more! He spent much of his career working in journalism and has a master’s in political science from the University of Tennessee. Barry is a world traveler and loves working with Sister Cities of Nashville, where he enjoys making one-on-one connections with people in other countries. He says that experience “really lets you see how much we all have in common.”

The #TeamTBA series offers members a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the TBA and how each staff members makes the association run. Check back every Wednesday for a new staff profile in TBA Today and on the TBA's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.