The TBA took top honors in three categories of bar communications during the National Association of Bar Executives Communications Section’s Virtual Workshop. In the category of Authored Article, the TBA won for the January/February 2021 Tennessee Bar Journal piece “Stress, Law & Happiness: New TLAP Director Offers Hope Past the Pain” by TBA staff member and Journal editor Suzanne Craig Robertson. In the category of Special Projects, the TBA won for the 2020 redesign of the TBA.org website and new association management system supported by Member Central. And in the category Excellence in Regular Publications, the TBA won for its Tennessee Bar Journal magazine. In addition, TBA’s Assistant Executive Director Barry Kolar was named the 2021 recipient of the E.A. “Wally” Richter Leadership Award. The award is given annually for outstanding achievement in the field of communications, extraordinary service to NABE colleagues, and distinguished leadership of the section. Kolar leads the TBA’s communications team and served as chair of the NABE Communications Section in 2014.

The Knoxville Bar Association will hold a reception on Nov. 9 for new admittees sworn into the practice of law next month. The event, which will take place in the outdoor courtyard of The Press Room, will run from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Local attorneys are encouraged to attend and “mix and mingle” with these new lawyers. Light refreshments will be provided. RSVP here.

The Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands and the Tennessee Faith & Justice Alliance are seeking attorney and law student volunteers for a virtual naturalization clinic on Oct. 23. Shifts are available from 9:30 to 3:30 p.m. CDT. A mandatory virtual training will be held on Oct. 19 at 1 pm CDT. Sign up for a volunteer slot.

The Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission, Knoxville Bar Association and its Access to Justice Committee, Legal Aid of East Tennessee and the University of Tennessee College of Law will hold a Faith & Justice Alliance Advice Clinic on Oct. 23 at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St., Knoxville 37919. Masks will be required. Sign up here to volunteer.

Republican leaders in the House and Senate are still working to obtain the support needed to call a special session on COVID-19 issues, Tennessee Lookout reports. In the Senate, members appear to be split on whether to call for a special session, with some arguing that the Biden administration’s mandates need a response and others concerned that a special session would be used to impose new mandates on private businesses. Lawmakers are set to return to Nashville Oct. 18 for a session focusing on the Ford-SK Innovation plant planned for the Memphis Regional Megasite.

Greg Vital of Harrison was formally sworn into the Tennessee State Legislature yesterday, WDEF reports. Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Timothy Easter administered the oath of office in the House chamber. Vital replaces former Rep. Mike Carter who died earlier this year. He will represent House District 29, which includes Ooltewah and Collegedale. Vital is operator of Vital Buffalo Farm and co-founder of Morning Pointe Senior Living.

William E. Phillips II was sworn into office this week as the newest judge in the Third Judicial Circuit Court by Chancellor Douglas E. Jenkins, the Greeneville Sun reports. The ceremony was held in the old Hawkins County Courthouse in Rogersville, where Phillips practiced law for many years. Phillips is also Rogersville city attorney and will transition to the judgeship beginning this week. Phillips will serve out the remaining term of Judge Thomas J. Wright, who retired in September. Gov. Bill Lee formally appointed him to the court last Friday.

Join Eileen Burkhalter Smith with the Board of Professional Responsibility on Nov. 4 as she reviews the latest ethics updates. The live webcast will take place from noon to 1 p.m. CDT and offer one hour of dual CLE credit.

Women judges from across the U.S. and beyond gathered in Nashville last week for the 43rd Annual National Association of Women Judges Conference. The conference was originally set to take place last year to mark the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Numerous plenary and breakout sessions were held throughout the conference, including panels on developing recovery courts, ethics and professionalism, access to justice for LGBTQ youth and much more. Various sessions on women’s voting rights were held throughout the conference, capped off with a special reenactment of the Tennessee Vote on Ratification of the 19th Amendment. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more details on each session and the judges and attorneys who played a vital role in making the conference a success.

Five attorneys have applied for the Court of Criminal Appeals vacancy in the Western Section created by the retirement of the Hon. Alan E. Glenn. Applicants include: Donald H. Allen; Kyle Atkins; John W. Campbell; Vicki S. Snyder; and Robert W. Wilson. The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments will consider applicants at a public hearing on Nov. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST at the Jackson Supreme Court Building. The council will vote immediately after the hearing and forward three names to Gov. Bill Lee for consideration. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more on each applicant.