A number of Tennessee lawyers were recognized for their pro bono service and contributions to the profession today during the TBA Annual Convention. Circuit Judge James G. Martin III received the Justice Frank F. Drowota III Outstanding Judicial Service Award; Nashville attorney and former TBA President Jacqueline “Jackie" B. Dixon received the Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award; Nashville attorney and former TBA President John Tarpley received the TBA Young Lawyers Division William M. Leech Jr. Public Service Award; Assistant Public Defender and Appellate Director Brennan Wingerter received the Claudia Jack Award; Knoxville lawyer R. Culver Schmid received the Justice Joseph W. Henry Award for Outstanding Legal Writing. And the Kingsport Times News received the Fourth Estate Award for its series Meth Mountain.

The TBA also presented its annual Public Service Awards at the Luncheon. Ann Pruitt, most recently the executive director for Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, received the Ashley T. Wiltshire Public Service Attorney of the Year Award. Ashley Goins Alderson, an attorney in the Nashville office of Stites & Harbison, received the Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award. And Belmont University College of Law 3L Gabriella Cannone received the Law Student Volunteer of the Year Award.

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, planned to honor victims of violent crime and their families in Chattanooga today during a ceremonial signing of their recently passed Truth in Sentencing bill. The law requires people convicted of eight specific crimes, including second-degree murder and carjacking, to serve 100% of the sentences imposed by a judge or jury. The Chattanooga Times-Free Press has more.

The Tennessee Bar Association offices will be closed on Monday for Juneteenth, a federal holiday in the United States commemorating emancipation of enslaved African Americans. The TBA will reopen on Tuesday.

Knoxville lawyer Tasha Blakney was sworn in as the 142nd president of the Tennessee Bar Association on Friday at the TBA Annual Convention. Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page administered the oath of office during the Lawyers Luncheon. Blakney, an attorney with Eldridge & Blakney Attorneys at Law, highlighted her plans for the coming bar year. She announced the relaunching of the Public Service Academy to help prepare lawyers who want to run for office and the popular CLE Ski program, set for January in Snowmass, Colorado. She announced the largest Court Square CLE series to date, with programs planned in 12 cities between September and May. She also announced the first ever TBA book club and a cultural and CLE trip to Cuba in March 2023. On the advocacy front, Blakney said the TBA would redouble its efforts to seek complete elimination of the Professional Privilege Tax and fair and prompt reimbursement for lawyers taking on indigent representation cases. Watch the full Lawyers Luncheon on the TBA Facebook page. Part 1 is available here and Part 2 is available here. See photos from the ceremony.

Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III announced today that Tennessee will receive nearly $5 million dollars in a settlement with Mallinckrodt, which sells and markets pharmaceutical products throughout the nation. The total value of the settlement is approximately $233 million, plus interest, to be paid over a period of seven years. The agreement settles allegations of fraud against Mallinckrodt with all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the federal government. Read more about the case.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands held its annual Breakfast of Champions in April and raised $127,000 to supports its work in Middle Tennessee. Nashville icon and Tennessee State University coach Eddie George spoke, sharing his story about overcoming adversity. Nashville NewsChannel 5 weekend anchor and investigative journalist Jennifer Kraus co-hosted the event with Executive Director DarKenya Waller. Several legal aid clients also shared their stories. Watch a follow up interview with George.

Nashville School of Law honored the classes of 2020 and 2021 at its Annual Recognition Dinner last week. Dean William C. Koch Jr. welcomed more than 600 guests to the special celebration at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page and justices Jeffrey Bivins, Sarah Campbell, Sharon Lee and Holly Kirby were on hand to celebrate the graduates. See photos from the event.

U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Bernice B. Donald served as the Bench Bar Luncheon speaker on day two of the TBA Annual Convention. President Sherie Edwards surprised Donald with a slide presentation of photos from her career provided by her law clerks, colleagues and attorneys she has mentored throughout the years. Donald gave a compelling presentation highlighting the rule of law, the impact of implicit bias and the importance of professionalism and service within the bench and the bar. During other events today, convention attendees heard from a range of lawyers serving in areas of leadership during the Bench Bar Program and received an update on issues of interest to lawyers from members of the state General Assembly. See photos from the day's events.

The U.S. Supreme Court has dismissed an effort by Republican attorneys general to mount a legal defense of a Trump-era immigration restriction that the Biden administration has since rescinded and declined to defend in court. The case was procedural in nature, The Hill reports, but at its heart was the so-called “public charge rule.” The 2019 rule imposed additional restrictions on poorer immigrants until the Biden administration ended the policy last year. The justices’ decision leaves in place a lower appeals court decision that went against the attorneys general.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee will host three clinics next week. On Wednesday, a Family Law Clinic will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Johnson City Family Justice Center. Attorney volunteers should contact Simeon Huff to sign up. On Friday, LAET will hold a Driver’s License Reinstatement Clinic at the Bradley County Justice Center from 2 to 4 p.m. Attorneys interested in volunteering should email Mary Frances DeVoe. On Saturday, the group will hold a Debt Relief Clinic at the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office from 9 a.m. and noon. Attorneys who would like to volunteer for that clinic should email Caitlin Torney. Additional information is posted online.