The TBA Mentoring Committee, in partnership with the TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD), held its inaugural "Sandwiches & Sidebars" event in the new TBA office in Nashville. Law students and members of the YLD and YLD Fellows enjoyed casual conversation and worked to expand their social network and build relationships in this laid-back setting. The event will be held quarterly in Nashville and the committee plans on holding "Sandwiches & Sidebars" in different cities across the state in the near future. See a photo from the event. For more information about the mentoring committee and other meet-ups visit the TBA website.

On July 17, Sevier County lawyer Robert Brandon White received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility. The board found that White violated the terms of a no contact order in a personal domestic matter, missed four scheduled court dates in different courts and did not provide notice to the court or opposing counsel, resulting in one notice to show cause and multiple rescheduled hearing dates. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 3.4 and 8.4(b), (d) and (g).

A ballot error is impacting 700 absentee voters in Shelby County, but supplemental ballots were sent out this week, WREG reports. According to the Shelby County Election Commission, most of the affected ballots did not include the 30th Judicial District races for circuit, chancery and criminal court positions, while a small portion of ballots omitted a referendum to amend the county charter. The commission blamed a “processing omission” for the mistake according to The Tennessee Journal.

Four weeks after a judge overseeing the legal battle involving Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and its creditors allowed a receiver to sell a Martha’s Vineyard property, company founder, co-owner and Chief Executive Officer Fawn Weaver has been dismissed. Relatedly, the receiver in the case terminated Fawn’s husband and co-owner of the company Keith Weaver. According to the receiver’s most recent report, the firings were effective June 1 and the couples’ access to the facilities has been restricted since that date. The report also notes the company is under some form of government investigation, which the receiver is cooperating with, according to the Nashville Post.

On July 17, Davidson County lawyer John David Carver received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility. The board found that Carver practiced law for two months, including participating in nine court hearings in three counties, while his license was administratively suspended for failure to comply with CLE requirements. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 5.5, 3.4 and 8.4(d) and (g).

Davidson County officials are asking a judge to order the Tennessee Department of Correction to take custody of more than 150 convicted inmates they say have been in county jail for months after being sentenced to state prison. The state’s delay is costing taxpayers $6 million a year, Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall tells WKRN. According to Hall, the average length of stay for a person after conviction is over 200 days. “They should be moving in 14 to 20 days,” Hall says. Metro Law Director Wally Dietz said the city is asking the court to require the state to meet what it believes is its legal obligation. The Tennessee Department of Correction declined to respond to the allegations, telling the news station it does not comment on pending litigation.

The newly appointed Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority Board held its first meeting this week to implement Tennessee's new airport governance law. The board also voted to withdraw from a lawsuit challenging the new state law that had been filed by the previous board. According to Local News 3, the City of Chattanooga remains a plaintiff in the suit. Mayor Tim Kelly's office says the former board also is still part of the lawsuit.

Nearly two months after Tony Carruthers' failed execution, his sister has filed a medical malpractice complaint with the Tennessee Department of Health against Dr. Mark Walton Fowler, the doctor who attempted to set Carruthers’ IV line. His sister also alleges that Carruthers suffered a brain stroke and has paralysis on the right side of his body after the failed procedure, according to the Commercial Appeal. In related news, Davidson County Chancellor Russell T. Perkins has ruled that the state must identify the doctor it plans to use for Darrell Hines’ Aug. 13 execution, but stayed the order until the Tennessee Supreme Court can address the issue. Attorneys for Hines have asked the state to disclose if it plans to use Fowler and whether it plans to use expired drugs in the execution. The Nashville Banner reports on Perkins' decision.

Volunteers are needed for a Veteran's Legal Advice Clinic on Aug. 12 from noon to 2 p.m. EDT. The clinic will take place at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office located at 1101 Liberty St., Knoxville 37919. Volunteers may participate in-person or by telephone. Use this form to volunteer. This clinic is a joint project of the Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) Access to Justice Committee, KBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD), KBA Barristers and its Access to Justice Committee, Tennessee Bar Association YLD, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office, the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law and  Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands and the TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) is partnering for a Power of Attorney/Advanced Directive Clinic on July 29. No wills will be done. The clinic will be held at St. Clair Senior Center located at 325 St. Clair St., Murfreesboro 37130 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. CDT. Interested volunteers should contact TBA YLD District Representative Alyssa Fox.