The Tennessee Bar Association will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day. The office will reopen on Tuesday at 8 a.m. CDT. Visit the TBA.org website for information on CLE or other TBA programs and for staff contact information.

Over the past week, the Tennessee Supreme Court has reinstated 16 lawyers who had been suspended for failing to complete annual continuing legal education requirements in 2023. See the list of those reinstated online.

Former Judge Anthony Andrew "Andy" Jackson has died at age 74. After a successful career in agriculture, Jackson became a Dickson County Juvenile and Probate Court judge, where he served for 33 years. Those who knew Jackson praised him for his intelligence, independence and fairness and said he made a significant impact on the lives of countless individuals, the Dickson Post reports. Jackson also was instrumental in shaping the state's Juvenile Court Rules and served as a leader in the Juvenile Court Judges Association. Donations in his memory may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. A visitation with the family will be held on Sept. 13 from noon to 2 p.m. CDT at the Clement Railroad Museum in Dickson, with a Memorial Mass to follow at St. Christopher’s beginning at 2 p.m.

The 2024 Equal Justice University (EJU) kicked off today in Murfreesboro with an opening plenary featuring longtime advocate Ashley Wiltshire speaking on the history of access to justice efforts in Tennessee. A welcome lunch featured remarks by Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Bivins and presentation of the New Advocate of the Year Award to Tomi Robb with the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee. This afternoon, the Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission met and held a question and answer session for attendees. The evening will conclude with the annual Access to Justice Awards Reception and Dinner, where two additional awards will be presented. The conference continues tomorrow with TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr. speaking at lunch. See photos from today.

West Tennessee District Attorney General Fred Agee has requested a state investigation into Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, for allegedly posting documents online containing a defendant's personal information, including a Social Security number, potentially in violation of state law. Agee's complaint, filed with the state Comptroller’s Office and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, stems from Taylor's social media posts showcasing a plea agreement in a case Agee handled, which Agee says were intended to criticize him and potentially expose sensitive information. Taylor claimed the documents were shared to highlight what he perceived as lenient plea deals, and said he removed the documents when he became aware of privacy concerns. The request for investigation also explores whether the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office, where Sheriff Paul Thomas is indicted for a separate scheme, provided Taylor with the information. The Daily Memphian has more on this story.

Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert has once again filed a motion to dismiss an ouster petition against her. This time, she argues that the attorney hired by the Shelby County Attorney's Office lacks standing to bring the case, according to the Commercial Appeal. Halbert's attorneys claim that only the Tennessee Attorney General's Office, the Shelby County District Attorney's Office, or the Shelby County Attorney's Office can file such a petition. However, both the district attorney and the county attorney have stated they have a conflict of interest in the matter. The state attorney general has declined to intervene, citing the political nature of the case. Halbert's attorneys also argue that the county attorney's office did not have the authority to hire outside counsel without approval from the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.

Women are outnumbering men on state ballots this fall, with two women competing for Tennessee's U.S. Senate seat, and Vice-President Kamala Harris running in the presidential election. According to Knox News, reports find this increase in female candidates mirrors a national trend that may help close the gender gap in political representation. The paper cites data from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, which reveals that only 15% of Tennessee's state legislators are women. Additionally, a recent Vanderbilt poll highlights significant gender differences on policy issues. "The variations we observe among registered voters ... indicate that gender-based opinions could have substantial effects on voting and policy-making, both in our state and nationwide,” says Joshua Clinton, co-director of the poll.

Former Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Director Mark Gwyn, the first Black man to hold the position, has died at the age of 61. Gwyn led the TBI for 14 years and was pivotal in enhancing the agency's capabilities, including the establishment of the Technical Services Unit and Cyber Crimes Unit, The Tennessean reports. TBI Director David Rausch praised Gwyn for his profound impact, stating, "Mark had a profound impact on the Bureau, contributed to its growth and innovation." Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk called Gwyn's death a profound loss for the state. "As leader of the TBI, he was a tremendous resource and advocate for law enforcement across the state," Funk said. "His dedication to the public and their safety in every community was an inspiration to all of us in law enforcement."

Belmont College of Law is pioneering a new holistic approach to legal education to help students build resilience and self-awareness, the school writes. The approach uses Enneagram, a personality typing system, to guide students in understanding their professional identity, communication styles and stress management. Current second year law students will be the first class to experience the entire "Extended Enneagram Training” series, which is integrated into student orientation and continues throughout law school. The initiative comes in response to the American Bar Association's emphasis on cultivating professional identity in law students. By focusing on student wellness and whole person formation, Belmont says it aims to prepare graduates for the demanding and potentially stressful legal profession and address the high rates of substance abuse among lawyers.

Tennessee has fined private prison operator CoreCivic nearly $15 million since 2019 for contract violations at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, The Tennesean reports. The revelation comes amid news of a new civil rights investigation into the facility by the U.S. Department of Justice. Over the years, CoreCivic has been found to have chronic staffing shortages, improper use of force and other safety issues according to reports. While it has implemented measures to address these problems, including increased wages and recruitment efforts, it continues to face challenges in meeting standards. In response to these findings, Gov. Bill Lee stated, “It’s important that they do live up to them and that we continue to hold them accountable when they don’t live up to the standards.”