William Russell "Bill" Rice died recently at age 86. After graduating from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Rice began working at the University of Tennessee (UT) Hospital in Knoxville as a billing agent. He later attended UT College of Law, continuing to work full time at the hospital. Rice earned his law degree in 1976. He joked that his record as a trial lawyer was one and zero, after successfully representing one client in one courtroom trial. Throughout his career, Rice served in a number of leadership roles, including as CEO of the UT Hospital, where he oversaw the development of new medical facilities. He later became chancellor of the UT Health Science Center in Memphis before retiring.

The 2nd Annual TBA Young Lawyers Division Trial College will take place on May 9, at Belmont University College of Law in Nashville. The event, running from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. CDT, will cover essential litigation topics, including trial preparation, crafting opening and closing statements, conducting direct and cross-examinations and working with expert witnesses. A panel of distinguished judges will provide judicial insights for trial success. For more details and to register, visit the TBA’s website.

Judge Robert Ernest Cupp Jr. died Feb. 4 at age 86. Cupp earned his law degree from the Tennessee College of Law in 1971. He worked in private practice, served as assistant district attorney general, director of Legal Services of Upper East Tennessee and assistant district attorney general in the First Judicial District. In 1998, he was elected criminal court judge for the district, a position he held for 16 years. Memorial gifts may be made to Grace Fellowship Church, 2314 S. Greenwood Dr., Johnson City, TN 37604; Shriners Hospital, 2900 N. Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607; or a charity of the donor's choice. Memories and condolences may be shared at Tetrick Funeral Services.

New research shows most legal professionals are satisfied in their current roles and fewer are planning to change careers in 2025. The latest Job Optimism report, which surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. professionals from various industries, found that 74% of legal professionals reported being happy in their current roles; 73% cited competitive pay, 70% cited a strong workplace culture, and 65% cited fair workloads and job expectations as key factors. The report also found that only 25% of legal professionals plan to seek a new job in the next six months, a significant decrease from 40% a year ago. The Smart Lawyer has more on the findings.

Knox County recently renewed and expanded its contract with the U.S. Marshals Service to double the number of immigration detainees it can house. The contract, according to Knox News, increases the number of detainees Knox County will hold for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from 50 to 103. The agreement works in tandem with the county's voluntary contract with ICE, which deputizes local law enforcement to detain undocumented residents or asylum seekers. Since November, the number of ICE detainees in the county jail has surged, more than doubling the previous high with 90% of the detainees coming from outside Knox County. According to the paper, arrests of local individuals are within the same range as previous months.

Bradley has announced the launch of its new Defense & National Security team, which will be led by partner Jack Harrington, a former assistant U.S. attorney. He works out of the firm's offices in Birmingham and Washington, D.C. The team is designed to assist businesses in the defense and technology sectors navigate heightened legal risks, compliance challenges and growth opportunities, according to a press release. Harrington, along with attorneys experienced in military, government and intelligence sectors, will provide guidance on national security risks, cross-border investment, export controls, cybersecurity, government contracting and compliance with international sanctions. The team also will collaborate with several other practice groups, including Cybersecurity & Privacy, Government Contracts and Financial Crimes & Economic Sanctions.

The Tennessee court system is facing a crisis in providing legal representation to indigent individuals who are constitutionally and statutorily entitled to legal counsel. The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) on behalf of the Tennessee Supreme Court has proposed a plan to help address the emergency and provide long-term stability through the development of a new structure for handling criminal conflicts and civil appointments for indigent clients. Specifically, the plan establishes an “Office of Indigent Conflicts and Civil Counsel,” with oversight by an “Indigent Representation Commission.” The plan highlights the anticipated outcomes, including an increase in the number of attorneys willing to accept appointments via the strategic use of retainers, flat fee and other types of contractual arrangements, and enhancing the quality of representation by providing training and mentorship for attorneys. The plan is structured to facilitate the work of the AOC, the courts, the district public defenders, the district attorneys general, and the private attorneys accepting appointments to be more efficient and effective as the need for indigent legal representation continues to grow. It also engages stakeholders in ongoing collaborations to improve function and accountability and prevent misuse of the system. The TBA has been working alongside the AOC to address this crisis and has key points for attorneys regarding the plan.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan on Tuesday declined the request of 14 Democratic state attorneys general to immediately impose wide-ranging restrictions on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Chutkan ruled that the states had not made the necessary showing of “clear evidence of imminent, irreparable harm,” The Hill reports. A separate judge on Friday rejected a request to block access to two federal departments and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, while according to Reuters, a judge on Monday declined to block access to student borrower data at the Education Department. There are more than a dozen pending lawsuits challenging DOGE’s structure or its access to various federal departments, according to The Hill.

Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison attorney John L. Farringer IV has been elected as the Tennessee Bar Association’s next vice president. He will lead the association as president in 2027-2028. Farringer is a Tennessee native practicing as a commercial litigator for over 20 years. He has been active in the TBA for many years, including as chair of the Access to Justice Committee, as a six-year member of the board of governors, and as the current associate general counsel with a special focus on issues related to indigent representation. He also was a member of the 2011 Leadership Law class and received the 2015 President’s Award for his work as chair of the Medical-Legal Partnership Working Group. Farringer has made access to justice a passion of his career, including handling complex indigent cases and serving as chair of the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission. After taking office as vice president at this summer’s TBA Convention, Farringer will become president-elect in June 2026 and take over the organization’s leadership in June 2027.

The 2025 Estate Planning and Probate Forum will take place next Friday, Feb. 28, at the Embassy Suites Cool Springs in Franklin. The daylong event will feature expert speakers covering topics such as community property trusts, AI developments, a probate panel, ethics, legislative updates and much more. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, offering opportunities for networking with colleagues from across the state. Sessions will run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. The program offers seven hours of CLE including two hours of dual credit. Section members receive discounted pricing. Not a member of the Estate Planning & Probate Section yet? Join here. For more information on the forum, to view the speaker line up and to register, visit TBA’s website.