Tallahassee, Florida, lawyer Melissa Ellen Dembicer was reinstated to the practice of law on June 27. She had been placed on inactive status on Nov. 23, 2010. The Tennessee Supreme Court found that her petition for reinstatement was satisfactory and reinstatement was appropriate. The court made the reinstatement retroactive to June 13.

The Tennessee Supreme Court this week suspended 15 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee; 11 of them also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the June 28 fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. See the list of all lawyers suspended for fee and IOLTA violations in 2022 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

The Tennessee Supreme Court’s Justice for All Initiative, Belmont College of Law, the American Job Center, Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity’s Omicron Sigma Lambda Chapter and state Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, held an expungement clinic in Smyrna yesterday. The clinic, held at Parkway Baptist Church, provided an opportunity for those with criminal records to speak to attorneys about removing these infractions from their records. Also, according to an Alpha Phi Alpha representative, Krispy Kreme, Bethel University and Allied Universal were on site offering jobs to those whose records were expunged. A similar clinic will be held at Motlow Community College in the fall. The Nashville Post previewed the event.

Don’t miss this year's virtual Juvenile Law Basics forum, featuring the information you need to stay on top of developments in this practice area. This program is designed for newer Juvenile & Children's Law practitioners and will feature topics such as adverse childhood experiences and secondary trauma, guardian ad litem basics and neglect actions, guardian ad litem work in termination of parental rights cases, and much more. The forum will take place via Zoom on Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. CDT. Learn more and register for the program.

The Memphis Bar Association has released the results from its Judicial Qualification Poll for Shelby County’s contested judicial and court clerks’ races on the Aug. 4 ballot. All licensed, practicing attorneys in the county were polled and 1,199 participated in the survey. “The work of our judges ranks at the very top of importance for the stability of the American System of Justice. Lawyers appear every day in our courts and are best able to determine who is most qualified to preside over the cases brought by citizens seeking justice,” added David Wade, chair of the Judicial Practice & Procedures Committee which oversaw the poll. Read results of the poll.

Young lawyers in Tennessee and other Southeastern states are invited to attend the Southeastern States Young Lawyers Regional Summit in Orlando on Sept. 22-24. The event, which will be held at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club, will bring together young lawyers for compelling continuing education programs, collaboration and networking opportunities. Programming will focus on marketing your practice, managing non-attorney staff, handling finances and promoting diversity and inclusion in the profession. Social events include an opening reception on Thursday night and an optional “Network Around the World” at Epcot’s International Wine & Food Festival on Saturday. The $250 early registration fee includes up to five hours of CLE credit, materials, admission to Thursday's Welcome Reception, and breakfast, beverage break and lunch on Friday. Register for the conference and be sure to book through the room block for discounted room rates. For questions, contact TBA Young Lawyers Division Coordinator Ateia Aldridge.

The voter registration deadline for the upcoming Aug. 4 election is Tuesday. Early voting will take place July 15 through July 30. Races on the August ballot include primaries for governor, U.S. House of Representatives, Tennessee General Assembly and Democratic State Executive Committee. General elections will also be held that day for state judicial offices and applicable county offices. Get registration information and an election calendar on the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will host a free webinar on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. CDT focused on tax issues for new businesses. Participants will learn about state tax obligations and other resources that may help their businesses. Register here or see other upcoming webinars.

Lynn Paula Talley of Knoxville died Sunday after a long battle with cancer. Talley, a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, spent most of her career as an attorney with the Social Security Administration in Knoxville. She loved spending time with family and friends, traveling and volunteering in the community. She will be remembered for her involvement with the YWCA of Knoxville and her Cancer Support group. A viewing will be held on July 8 from 4-6 p.m. and a family viewing on July 9 from 10-11 a.m. at Lewis & Wright Funeral Directors, 2500 Clarksville Highway, Nashville TN 37208. A celebration of life will take place on July 9 at 11 a.m. All times central.

Tennessee’s longest serving judge, Montgomery County General Sessions & Juvenile Court Judge Wayne Chavis Shelton, will retire tomorrow, the Administrative Office of the Courts has announced. Shelton has served on the court since being appointed by Gov. Lamar Alexander in 1979. He earned his law degree in 1973 from Memphis State School of Law (now University of Memphis). He first worked with a law firm in Memphis and then moved to Montgomery County where he practiced with the late Thomas E. Stamper. Among his accomplishments, Shelton has served as president of the Tennessee Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, received the Judge Elizabeth McCain Memorial Award for service to the state juvenile courts, and received the council’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Read more about his career and tributes from colleagues.