Smyrna Town Court Clerk Brittany Stevens has announced her candidacy for Smyrna municipal judge in the Aug. 4 election, Murfreesboro Post reports. Stevens has served as Smyrna’s court clerk since 2016. She touts her work improving efficiencies in the court system, including automating procedures, an online payments system and a public online record search portal. She says the clerk’s office also was the among the first in the state to partner with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations for an electronic data exchange for expungements. Stevens earned her law degree from the Nashville School of Law and was in private practice at her family’s law office until joining the clerk’s office.

The Shelby County Commission yesterday voted to approve state Rep. London Lamar, D-Memphis, as the new interim state senator for District 33. Lamar will fill the seat formerly held by Katrina Robinson and serve until the Nov. 8 election, the Commercial Appeal reports. Robinson had endorsed Rep. Torrey Harris to replace her but the commission eliminated him from consideration after candidate interviews and initial rounds of voting, Tennessee Lookout reports. The news outlet also is reporting that Lamar has indicated she will run for a full Senate term.

The state last week set three new execution dates for inmates in 2022, driving the total number of executions planned this year to five, the Tennessean reports. The state had temporarily halted executions during the pandemic but is currently planning one execution every other month beginning in April. The new dates include an Aug. 18 execution for Byron Black, a Dec. 8 execution date for Donald Middlebrooks, and an Oct. 6 execution date for Gary Sutton. The Tennessee Supreme Court last fall set execution dates of April 21 for Oscar Smith and June 9 for Harold Nichols. The Nashville Scene and Chattanoogan.com have more on those cases.

In honor of International Women's Day on Tuesday, the TBA will offer a rebroadcast of “A Discussion on Women in Law.” During this one-hour discussion, panelists talk about their experiences serving as women in the legal profession and how that experience has been impacted by their respective cultures. Participants include Joycelyn Stevenson, executive director of Tennessee Bar Association, and Madame La Batonniere Nathalie Lailler, president of the Caen Bar Association in France. Attorney Tabitha Robinson, a board member of Sister Cities Nashville, moderates the conversation. The theme of this year’s International Women's Day is #BreakTheBias.

The American Bar Association will host its Law Day 2022 Launch Program on March 8 at 3 p.m. CST. The virtual program will provide suggestions and guidance for local Law Day celebrations, including a panel discussion on the 2022 Law Day theme, “Toward a More Perfect Union: The Constitution in Times of Change.” The ABA provides resources for schools, state and local bar associations, civic organizations and others that are planning programs and activities for public audiences. Access the online 2022 planning guide. Envisioned in 1957 by then-ABA President Charles S. Rhyne as a national day to recognize the country’s commitment to the rule of law, Law Day was established by President Dwight Eisenhower the following year. Congress issued a joint resolution in 1961 designating May 1 as the official Law Day.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee is accepting applications for a full-time term law clerk for its Memphis office. The position is an excepted appointment to serve with Judge Denise E. Barnett. Applications must be submitted by April 1 through the Online System for Clerkship Application and Review (OSCAR). 

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments met today to consider seven applicants for two imminent vacancies on the Court of Criminal Appeals Eastern Section. After holding a public hearing and conducting public interviews, the council selected four individuals to forward to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. They are: 10th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Andrew Freiberg, 11th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Thomas Greenholtz, 6th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Kyle Hixon, and 5th Judicial District Assistant District Attorney Tracy Jenkins. The vacancies were created by the decisions of judges Norma McGee Ogle and D. Kelly Thomas Jr. to not seek retention in the August 2022 election. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more on each of the candidates.

The Tennessee Bar Association and Tennessee’s American Inns of Court are now accepting nominations for the 2022 Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award. The annual award is presented to a lawyer or judge whose life and practice display sterling character and unquestioned integrity, coupled with ongoing dedication to the highest standards of the rule of law and the highest standards of the legal profession in Tennessee. The award will be presented to a lawyer or judge residing in the grand division of the state where the TBA's Annual Convention is held (this year, the Middle Grand Division). Nominees must be alive when their nomination is submitted but need not be an active member of an American Inn of Court or the TBA. The TBA Annual Convention is scheduled to be held in Nashville the week of June 13. The deadline for submitting nominations is April 3.

Legislation to place residency requirements on Tennessee candidates in congressional primaries advanced yesterday with a House amendment to delay the requirements until after the November election, Knox News reports. The amendment would require eligible candidates to live in the state and district for at least three years prior to the election, but it would not apply to incumbents or new members elected before Nov. 9, 2022. A companion bill in the Senate received near-unanimous, bipartisan support on Monday and would take immediate effect if signed into law. The Senate version likely would disqualify at least one candidate from the Republican primary in the 5th Congressional District. Candidates seeking to run for Congress in the Aug. 4 primaries must qualify by April 7.

Hamilton County General Sessions Judge Gary W. Starnes has been awarded the Judge Leon Ruben Memorial Award for Excellence, an award intended to bestow an honor upon judges who distinguish themselves in service to the community and the Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference. The award is named after the late Judge Leon Ruben, who served as a sitting judge in Nashville for 37 years. He also served as a Metro Council member and was known for his excellent contributions to the community. "I am blessed and honored to receive this distinguished award from my colleagues and our judicial conference," Starnes said.