The Board of Judicial Conduct has suspended Madison County General Sessions Judge Mark Patey due to “mental health issues.” According to a letter dated April 15, board chair Chancellor Jeffrey Atherton writes that that the board has received information that Patey is “suffering from mental health issues that substantially interfere with the prompt, orderly, and efficient performance” of duties. Therefore, the board “has determined that the public interest and proper administration of justice warrants suspending Judge Patey's judicial authority, effective immediately, until further orders …”. The move comes after Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeffrey Bivins assigned four judges to preside over civil and criminal cases in Patey’s court on April 1. WBBJ reached out to Patey on April 2 and has his response in this article.

A jury on Wednesday found Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary guilty of maintaining an illegal monopoly over major concert venues, following a lawsuit brought by dozens of states, including Tennessee. The Associated Press reports that the verdict could cost the companies hundreds of millions of dollars, as jurors determined customers were overcharged by $1.72 per ticket across 22 states. While Live Nation vowed to appeal and downplayed the financial impact, state attorneys general celebrated the ruling as a potential path to lower ticket prices for consumers. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issued a statement, saying, “Thanks to a relentless bipartisan coalition of states, [the companies are] finally being held accountable.” A separate penalty phase will determine whether the company must divest assets such as concert venues. The states decided to continue the suit after the U.S. Department of Justice settled with Live Nation and withdrew from the case in March.

Renew your TBA membership online today to avoid receiving a print membership dues statement. Attorneys not participating in the TBA's firm billing program can log in and renew through their MyTBA dashboard. Questions about member benefits? Reach out to membership@tnbar.org.

The Chattanooga Bar Association (CBA) recently held a Community Volunteer Day to support the Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County. Members gathered at the center to launch a stuffed animal and snack donation drive and learn more about the non-profit’s mission during a facility tour. The center provides a safe, child-friendly environment for children who have experienced severe abuse. Through a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed approach, children receive coordinated care and support in a single location. Read more and see a photo of the event.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has reinstated Washington, D.C., lawyer Marshall Dalton Collins to inactive status. The court reports that Collins filed a petition for reinstatement and paid the required reinstatement fee and all delinquent annual inactive registration fees, and the Board of Professional Responsibility found the petition to be satisfactory. Collins was reinstated to inactive status effective April 8. The court issued its order on April 15.

A story in yesterday’s issue of TBA Today announced a federal tax deadline extension for residents of Middle Tennessee counties impacted by this past winter’s storms. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) now has extended that deadline to June 8 and expanded eligibility to all counties in the state. The extension provides additional time for individuals, households and businesses to file their 2025 returns and make any required payments. Read more in the updated news release from the agency.

Justin Deshun Stiger, 33, of Memphis was convicted this week of making threats to murder two Memphis federal prosecutors and a Memphis federal judge after a jury trial in Memphis, according to the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. The middle district office handled the case because the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District was recused given that two of its prosecutors were victims. Evidence presented at trial showed that Stiger — who was in court to be sentenced for participation in a drug trafficking conspiracy —pointed to prosecutors and said they were “going to die.” When then U.S. District Judge Mark Norris had Stiger removed from the courtroom, Stiger threatened him saying “You’re gonna die too, judge.” When Norris asked if Stiger was threatening him, Stiger responded: “It ain’t no threat. It’s a promise.” Stiger faces a maximum sentence of 10 years for each of the three counts of conviction. He is set to be sentenced on June 18.

Early voting in the 2026 primary for state judicial offices and applicable county offices began yesterday, according to several news sources. The early voting period will run through the end of month. The last day to request absentee ballots is April 25. Election day is May 5. Track information unique to your area from the Tennessee Secretary of State’ office. Find contact information for your county election commission for more details.

TBA's solo health plan just got a major upgrade. Effective now, the solo plan has transitioned from Cigna to Anthem BlueCross BlueShield. The Anthem BlueCard PPO is a nationwide network offering expanded flexibility and services based on market demand and member feedback. The solo plan features monthly enrollment with four options — so if you are a solo practitioner, we encourage you to explore your options and enroll today. This upgrade also aligns TBA's solo plan with our group health insurance program, which offers BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and open for enrollment each fall.

In addition to compelling CLE, social events and networking opportunities, the 2026 TBA Annual Convention will include meetings of TBA's governing bodies. On Wednesday, the House of Delegates will meet in the afternoon. On Thursday, the TBA Access to Justice Committee will meet to make plans for the upcoming bar year. On Friday, the TBA Board of Governors and its executive committee will meet for its summer meeting, while the Tennessee Legal Community Foundation (TLCF) and TBA Member Insurance Solutions (TBAMS) will hold their respective board meetings. Also on Friday, the Young Lawyers Division will hold its annual membership meeting and Long Range Planning Committee meeting. Governance activities will wrap up with past YLD presidents participating in a gavel pass and champagne toast to honor incoming president Jennifer Sneed-Perry. On Saturday, the YLD Board's executive committee will meet, while all board members will participate in committee breakouts and the summer board meeting. Check out the full convention schedule.