Hamilton County General Sessions and Mental Health Court Judge Lila Statom has been elected president of the Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference. The conference works with the Administrative Office of the Courts to provide continuing education opportunities for its members and assists and supports judges and government officials with legal and procedural issues affecting the court. Statom was appointed to the bench by former Gov. Bill Haslam in 2012 and was elected to a full term in 2014. Before her time as judge, Statom served as an assistant district attorney in Nashville and Chattanooga for nearly 24 years. Since her appointment, Statom has helped address mental illness and substance abuse among those in the criminal justice system and has been integral to expanding recovery courts. Read more from the AOC.

An email to faculty members at Middle Tennessee State University says that Rutherford County Juvenile Court Judge Donna Scott Davenport is “no longer affiliated with the University,” WPLN reports. Davenport has been an adjunct professor in MTSU’s criminal justice department for many years. Last week, WPLN and ProPublica released a report claiming Rutherford County and Davenport, who oversees the juvenile court system, have been “illegally arresting and detaining children for years.” In the email to staff about Davenport’s departure, MTSU President Sidney McPhee acknowledged the national attention the judge’s policies have recently drawn. Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron also released a statement to express his shared concerns over the report.

Nashville attorney Charles B. Reasor Jr., died on Oct. 5 after a suffering from congestive heart failure. He was 75. Reasor joined Nashville’s Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry after graduating from Vanderbilt Law School in 1975. He later founded the law firm of White & Reasor with David J. White and practiced there until his death. Reasor’s practice focused on commercial real estate transactions and commercial restructurings, and he lectured frequently on commercial workout techniques. He was a TBA and Nashville Bar Association member and was known to provide pro bono services to churches and other non-profits over the course of his 46-year career. A private interment was held for Reasor at his family's cemetery in Kentucky and, due to public heatlh considerations, there will not be a formal visitation. Those who wish to share their memories and sentiments may send notes to the family in care of White & Reasor PLC, Two American Center, Ste. 400, 3102 West End Ave., Nashville, TN 37203.

A new episode of The Law in Black and White podcast tackles health and wellness in the legal profession. “The Existential Crisis: Mental Health in the Legal Profession” features attorneys Brian Cuban and Scott Langley, who discuss why the legal industry, notorious for its competitive pressures, high stakes, and long hours, sometimes becomes characterized by burnout and extreme stress and what the profession can do to ensure the mental health of its attorneys. The podcast, created by alternative legal services provider Legal Innovators can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Memphis Bar Association is partnering with Vanderbilt Law School to host a Tennessee Free Legal Answer "Clear the Queue" event on Oct. 22 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. CDT. Volunteer attorneys will answer questions about qualifying civil legal issues from the Free Legal Answers queue. To volunteer, please contact Danielle Woods.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division is now accepting applications for its Diversity Leadership Institute (DLI) Class of 2022. DLI is a six-month leadership and mentoring program for Tennessee law students in their second, third or fourth years of study. Class size is limited to 20 to 25 students selected from across the state. The goal of the program is to have a diverse class, so selection is based in part on race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, background, geographical factors and law school attended. The application deadline is 5 p.m. CST on Nov. 24.

Memphis attorney Keisha Moses Richardson was today suspended from the practice of law by the Tennessee Supreme Court. She is suspended for two years retroactive to the date of her 2018 temporary suspension and indefinitely until she complies with a 2017 court order. A hearing panel found that Richardson charged an unreasonable fee, failed to expedite litigation, stopped communicating with her clients, violated a court order concerning custody of her child, engaged in the unauthorized practice of law while administratively suspended and failed to respond to disciplinary counsel. She must pay restitution to three former clients, the Board of Professional Responsibility costs and expenses and court costs within 90 days of the order.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today suspended Kevin William Teets from the practice of law for one year. A hearing panel found that Teets knew a bonding company had refused to remain on his client’s bond after conviction, but he intentionally misled the trial court to believe the bonding company would remain on the bond. The disciplinary complaint was filed in 2019 and, after the hearing panel’s decision, was appealed to the Davidson County Circuit Court, which affirmed the panel’s decision. Teets must reimburse the Board of Professional Responsibility for all proceeding costs and must pay court costs. He cannot return to the practice of law until reinstated by the Supreme Court.

A federal judge will allow Knox County Schools to exempt students and staff from wearing masks on a case-by-case basis if they have a documented medical condition, Knoxnews reports. However, the judge gave a stern warning to the Knox County Board of Education that the exemption policy should not be abused. In an order filed today, U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer allowed the Knox County Board of Education to reinstate the mask policy it set for itself last year but added a new requirement: the board must submit a list each month to the court that includes the exempt individuals' full names and "specific reasons for their exemptions." WBIR has excerpts from the opinion.

Two attorneys have applied to be considered for the circuit court vacancy in the 29th Judicial District, which includes Lake and Dyer counties. James L. Cresswell Jr. and Mark L. Hayes will be considered by the Trial Court Vacancy Commission at a public hearing on Nov. 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT in the circuit courtroom of the Dyer County Courthouse, 101 W. Court St., Dyersburg 38024. This vacancy was created by the Dec. 1 retirement of Judge Russell Lee Moore. The commission traditionally holds a public hearing only when there are at least three candidates, however, because the 29th Judicial District is one of the five smallest in the state, it has been determined that TCA 17-4-308(i) permits the commission to move forward with two candidates.