The TBA's Year End CLE Event includes a six-hour "Ultimate Ethics Package" designed to help Tennessee lawyers quickly earn dual credit. The 1-Click package includes an update from the Board of Professional Responsibility and courses on ethics in artificial intelligence, attorney wellness, leadership and professional development. Check out the specific courses included on the TBA website. Looking for something else? TBA also has six, eight, 10, 12 and 15-hour packages based on specific topics or practice areas, live webcasts and on-demand video all month long. Explore all the Year End options to complete your CLE requirement by Dec. 31.

Mark your calendars for the 2026 Estate Planning & Probate Forum, scheduled for March 6, 2026 in Franklin. This annual event will provide seven hours of CLE credit and include sessions on litigation and estate planning, public receivership, a probate panel, and a legislative update. Section members receive discounted registration. Get more information and register on the TBA's website.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a Tennessee public employee who claims she was unlawfully fired from her state government job for criticizing Charlie Kirk in a Facebook comment following his assassination. Monica Meeks was dismissed from her role at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance even though her Facebook profile did not link her to the job, ABC 3340 reports. The lawsuit names Tennessee Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance Carter Lawrence and argues that Meeks’ First Amendment rights were violated given that her post did not disrupt government functions. Other state and university employees have reported being terminated for comments about Kirk.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 8 declined to hear an appeal from a Tennessee woman challenging the rejection of her '69PWNDU' personalized plate, The Tennessean reports. Leah Gilliam argued that states’ rules for what is and isn’t allowed on personalized plates are often unclear and can amount to a “dizzying array of censorship.” She had asked the court to rule that her plate expressed her own views, not the government’s. The justices let stand a ruling from Tennessee’s highest court that vanity plates constitute government speech under the Supreme Court’s 2015 Walker precedent. The Tennessee Supreme Court issued its opinion in February, rejecting Gilliam’s First Amendment challenge to the state’s personalized plate program.

Herrin, McPeak, Shepard & Ketchie in Johnson City has announced a new firm name as attorneys Hunter S. Shepard and Rebecca J. Ketchie join K. Erickson Herrin and Samuel K. McPeak as partners, according to a news release. Shepard, a Johnson City native, focuses on local government and law enforcement defense in civil rights litigation, while Ketchie brings experience in local government representation and civil litigation and is a Tennessee Supreme Court listed Rule 31 family law mediator. In addition, Thomas J. Garland and Jeffrey M. Ward will join the firm in January 2026, adding decades of experience in government defense, civil litigation and mediation. Garland has practiced for nearly 40 years and published works on federal discrimination law. Ward, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, is a Rule 31 mediator and member of the Tennessee ADR Commission. The firm said it looks forward to continuing more than 40 years of service to the region.

Charges against former District Attorney Chris Stanford have been dismissed, ending a case stemming from accusations that he fired shots during a police pursuit of a triple-murder suspect, News Channel 5 reports. Stanford was indicted after prosecutors said he improperly intervened in a police pursuit of a triple-murder suspect in Smithville last year and was charged with reckless endangerment. The judge overseeing the case dismissed the charges after Stanford resigned from his post in October. Because he is no longer serving in office, the court found the statutory basis for pursuing the charge no longer applied.

Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Ron Durby died Dec. 9. Durby earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee and practiced with the Legal Aid Society and attorney Clarence Shattuck before being appointed Hamilton County clerk and master in 1986. He went on to serve 18 years as a general sessions court judge. Visitation will be held at Red Bank Baptist Church on Dec. 13, beginning at 11 a.m. EST.  A celebration of life service will follow at 1 p.m. with burial afterward at Hamilton Memorial Gardens. The church is located at 4000 Dayton Blvd., Chattanooga 37415. Read more about his life in this obituary.

Gov. Bill Lee said Tuesday he does not plan to halt the execution of Harold Wayne Nichols, who was convicted in the death of Karen Pulley and is set to die by lethal injection on Thursday. According to Chattanoogan.com, Lee said, “After deliberate consideration of Harold Wayne Nichols’ request for clemency, and a after a thorough review of the case, I am upholding the sentence of the State of Tennessee and do not plan to intervene.” In addition, the Nashville Banner reports that the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has denied two motions by Nichols. He now has been placed on death watch, the Tennessean reports. He was moved from his death row cell to a room next to the execution chamber, where he will be under 24-hour observation. His execution is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Dec. 11.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) and the Belmont College of Law are seeking attorney volunteers for a wills clinic at Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School in Nashville on Jan. 5, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CST. Volunteers will help draft simple wills, durable powers of attorney and health care powers of attorney for teachers using the Gavel platform. Those interested in participating or needing more information should email Ginny Blake at ginny.blake@belmont.edu.

The TBA will offer a one-hour webcast on Dec. 16 providing employment law attorneys an overview of the American Arbitration Association’s (AAA) updated Employment and Workplace Rules. Led by AAA Employment Vice President Cassie Lively and attorney and AAA arbitrator Mark Travis, the program will address recent rule changes expanding arbitrator authority over discovery, subpoenas and dispositive motions, and new administrative procedures. The session will offer insights from both administrative and arbitrator perspectives on the evolving landscape of employment arbitration. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.