Large law firms are increasingly adding diversity and inclusion officers to their top leadership as efforts to diversify the legal profession have stagnated, an ABA Journal article says. Multiple surveys show progress for women and people of color is advancing slowly, and a growing number of firms are hoping that creation of chief diversity officer positions will help change that. “Firms are now realizing that this is something important that they need to do in order to be successful,” says Paulette Brown, who in 2015 became the first African American woman to serve as ABA president. “More leaders are actively involved. Firms have to be hyperintentional about these issues of diversity and inclusion.” Law.com looks at the experience of one firm — Nixon Peabody — that recently created a new chief diversity officer position.

The Chattanooga Bar Association has released the results of its annual judicial poll, Chattanoogan.com reports. Local attorneys were asked to rate 17 judges. The news source has the breakdown of approval rates for each judge in four categories: superior legal ability, good moral character, diligence and judicial temperament. Those with the highest rates across all categories were Circuit Court Judge Jeff Hollingsworth, who is not running for re-election; Criminal Court Judges Tom Greenholtz, Barry Steelman and Don Poole, who is retiring; Juvenile Court Judge Rob Philyaw; and General Sessions Court Judge Alex McVeagh.

Due to potential inclement weather, the Legal Aid Society's (LAS) McHugh Legal Clinic scheduled for tomorrow in Nashville has been canceled. Next week, LAS will hold three clinics. On Tuesday, a phone clinic will begin at 2 p.m. On Wednesday, a clinic specifically for veterans will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Operation Stand Down, 1125 12th Ave. S. Nashville 37203. On Thursday, a clinic will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Greenhouse Ministries, 309 S. Spring St., Murfreesboro 37130. All times central. To volunteer contact Kendra Cheek, 615-780-7131. See all January clinics.

Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) is seeking a new executive director who possesses vision and a demonstrated passion for expanding access to justice and advocating for the poor and other vulnerable populations. The director will be responsible for developing and expanding innovative programs and tools, addressing future funding challenges, and advancing the program’s role as a center for innovation, training and expertise in the state. Candidates with legal aid or public interest leadership experience and a law degree are preferred. Those interested should email a cover letter, resume and three references to Joy Reed at TALS. Read the full job description for more details and all application instructions.

Congratulations to Nashville lawyer Aaron Triplett, our final Year End CLE Giveaway winner. He will receive a $50 Amazon gift card. Thanks to all who took courses during the month of December and to event sponsors Clio and Geico for making the weekly drawings possible. Still need CLE? Check out all our offerings here.

Judge Max Fagan has announced his intentions to run for Robertson County General Sessions Court in the 2022 Republican primary. Fagan has more than 25 years of legal experience, both as an attorney and judge. He currently serves as a special judge designated by the Tennessee Supreme Court and a special master for the U.S. District Court for Middle Tennessee, the Robertson County Connection reports. A 1994 graduate of the Nashville School of Law, Fagan previously served as a general sessions judge in the county from 1998 to 2006. He also has held a number of related positions, including executive committee member of the Tennessee Council of Juvenile and Family Court and member of the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Judicial Council. He was a member of the TBA’s 2005 Leadership Law class.

Bass, Berry & Sims has named Nashville attorney Michael Holley the new chair of its Corporate & Securities Practice Group, the Nashville Post reports. He succeeds Kevin Douglas, who has served in the role since 2018 and will remain a member of the practice group. Holley earned both his bachelor and law degrees from the University of Mississippi. He joined the firm in 2006 and made partner in 2013. He primarily represents private equity firms, strategic investors and portfolio companies in finance and merger and acquisition matters.

Lincoln Memorial University’s Duncan School of Law will hold its annual law review symposium on Feb. 4. This year’s event, “Artificial Intelligence in the Law,” will explore the effect of algorithms on judicial decision-making. The school notes that algorithms are being used in various jurisdictions to determine whether to detain defendants pretrial, in sentencing and parole decisions, and to assess the statistical probability of future criminal behavior. The symposium seeks to assess whether such algorithms are effective, unbiased and helpful, and whether judicial decision-makers should embrace the technology. For more information about the event contact Stefanie Bowen.

Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Angelita Blackshear Dalton yesterday filed an order vacating murder and child rape convictions against Joyce Watkins and Charles Dunn, the Tennessean reports. The pair were convicted in the late 1980s of killing a four-year old girl who was related to Watkins. Both received life sentences. Dunn died in custody in 2015. The Tennessee Innocence Project and the District Attorney's Conviction Review Unit both conducted extensive investigations into the case, leading the defense and prosecutors to agree that Watkins and Dunn were innocent. The reviews showed shoddy investigative work, unreliable medical evidence from now-disgraced pathologists, and hints of racism from then-prosecutors toward the Black defendants. The matter will need to go back to court one last time for charges to be formally dismissed. The Nashville Scene has more about the original case.

The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a Kentucky district court ruling that the president does not have the legal authority to use procurement law to mandate vaccines for the contractor workforce, the Federal News Network reports. A three-judge panel on Wednesday voted 2-1 to uphold the lower court's ruling. In that November decision, Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove found the 1949 Federal Property and Administrative Services Act, a law that gives the president the power to promote “economy and efficiency” in federal contracting, couldn’t be used to justify a vaccine requirement. That decision blocked the mandate in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. Read the appeals court's decision.