Tennessee’s population growth puts it on track for an additional U.S. House seat in 2032, Tennessee Lookout reports. According to the latest U.S. Census data, Tennessee’s population grew to 7.1 million people in 2023, which, if maintained, would mean it would gain another seat during the next redistricting cycle eight years from now. The paper reports that the state has not had more than nine House seats in some 80 years. After the Civil War, Tennessee had 10 congressional districts before losing one during the 1930 redistricting process, regaining it in 1940 and losing it again in 1950.

The 22nd edition of the Alimony Bench Book is now available. Published by the TBA’s Family Law Section, the book provides a ready resource for dealing with alimony cases in Tennessee. Current Family Law Section members can access their copy at no cost on the Family Law eCommunity page but must be logged into their TBA account. Others may purchase an electronic copy for $25 from the TBA Store.

Belmont Law Review at Belmont University College of Law will host its spring event on April 4 with a panel discussion on “Artificial Intelligence’s Breakthrough Into the Legal Field.” The panel will focus on recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and how these developments impact different areas of the legal world, including private law firms, professional responsibility concerns, and entertainment and copyright practice. The event will take place from 6-7:15 p.m. CDT in Room 157 of the Randall and Sadie Baskin Center, 1901 15th Ave. S. Nashville 37212. The event is free but attendees must register.

Judge Terry Fann has announced his candidacy for the 16th Judicial District Circuit Court, which serves Rutherford and Cannon counties. Fann is currently serving in the role after being appointed by Gov. Bill Lee in November 2023 to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Mark Rogers. Prior to his appointment, Fann tried cases in circuit and chancery courts as well as federal courts from his office on the historic square in downtown Murfreesboro. He also has been a volunteer legal counsel for the Child Advocacy Center. Fann earned his law degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis. Read more in his campaign announcement.

Two seats currently held by Memphis-based judges would be moved out of Tennessee's largest county and placed elsewhere in the state under a bill advancing in the state House, the Tennessee Journal reports. The measure would move the circuit court seat held by state Supreme Court designee Mary Wagner to the East Tennessee district composed of Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties, while the criminal court seat held by Melissa Boyd would go to Montgomery and Robertson counties. Learn more in an amendment to HB2002/SB2517 that passed the House Civil Justice Subcommittee last week.

Sevier County lawyer James Ralph Hickman Jr. was reinstated to the practice of law on March 22 with the condition that he engage a practice monitor and continue to comply with the terms and conditions of a judgment entered on June 30, 2023. Last summer, the Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Hickman for one year, with six months to be served on active suspension. Hickman filed a petition for reinstatement on Feb. 15. The Board of Professional Responsibility reported to the court that the petition was satisfactory.

On March 22, the Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Hawkins County lawyer Terry Risner after finding that he was substantially non-compliant with his Dec. 20, 2023, Tennessee Lawyer Assistance Program Preliminary Evaluation and Assessment Monitoring Agreement. Supreme Court Rule 9 Section 12.3 requires immediate summary suspension of an attorney’s license to practice law when an attorney substantially fails to comply with a TLAP monitoring agreement. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court. The court also granted a motion to file documents in this case under seal.

Connecticut lawyer Wesley Shelman Spears was suspended for two years, retroactive to Oct. 25, 2023, by the Tennessee Supreme Court on March 22. The court reports that Spears received a two-year suspension from the State of Connecticut Superior Court in the Judicial District of Hartford on Sept. 25, 2023. On Feb. 13, the Tennessee Supreme Court directed Spears to respond as to why the same discipline should not be imposed in the Tennessee. Spears failed to respond.

Knoxville lawyer Ford Little has been named to the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission where he will represent District 2, which consists of 11 counties. Little is an attorney with Woolf-McClane, where he handles construction law, commercial litigation and product liability/toxic tort cases. His appointment will run through February 2029, the Wildlife Resources Agency reports. Read more about Little’s career in a news release from the agency.

A news item in Thursday's issue of TBA Today incorrectly identified the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals judge that Kevin Ritz, current U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, will replace if confirmed to the court. Ritz was nominated by President Joe Biden last week to replace Judge Julia Smith Gibbons, who last August announced her intention to take senior status on the court following confirmation of a successor. Read the corrected story from the Daily Memphian.