Desmond Mills Jr., one of five former Memphis Police Department officers facing federal charges in the killing of Tyre Nichols, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris and pled guilty to civil rights and conspiracy charges, the U.S. Attorney’s Office states in a press release. Mills pleaded guilty to counts one and three of the federal indictment, which dealt with the use of excessive force and conspiring to witness tamper; the other two counts were dismissed. The Daily Memphian reports that he also agreed to plead guilty to the state charges, which include second-degree murder, acting in concert of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct and one count of official oppression.

Davidson County lawyer Robert Redman Laser III was suspended from the practice of law today by the Tennessee Supreme Court after the court found that he failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility about a misconduct complaint. He is precluded from accepting any new cases, and must cease representing existing clients by Dec. 1.

The law license of South Carolina lawyer Keith Lane Edmiston was reinstated to the active practice of law today. Edmiston had been placed on disability inactive status on Dec. 15, 2017. He filed for reinstatement on Feb. 7, demonstrating the disability had been removed. The Tennessee Supreme Court removed the disability status in April but maintained the inactive status until all disciplinary complaints were resolved.

Putnam County lawyer John Philip Parsons was reinstated to the practice of law today. He had been disbarred by the Tennessee Supreme Court on Oct. 13, 2017. Parsons filed a reinstatement petition on March 10 and a formal hearing was held on Sept. 7. The Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR) recommended he be reinstated. The court conditioned reinstatement on Parson’s engagement of a practice monitor who must meet with him once a month for one year to assess his caseload, timeliness of tasks, adequacy of communication with clients and accounting procedures, and provide monthly written reports to the BPR.

The law firm of Winston & Strawn has been sued in Houston federal court by an anti-affirmative action group over fellowships it offered to first year law students to help bolster diversity at the firm, Reuters reports. The suit, brought by the American Alliance for Equal Rights, is one of several filed by the group formed by conservative activist Edward Blum. Bloomberg Law reports that the firm defended its program in correspondence with the group and says it plans to continue offering the program. This article also notes the alliance threatened two other firms — Hunton Andrews & Kurth and Adams and Reese — if they do not make changes to their fellowship program criteria.

Nashville has established a new Community Review Board after the state legislators abolished civilian oversight boards, WSMV reports. Under the new law, jurisdictions may form police advisory and review entities to make recommendations for complaints against officers. In a media release, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell said it was his goal to maintain a “meaningful civilian review process.” He says that since taking office, he has been “working with Metro Legal, Metro Finance, and Human Resources to ensure as smooth and complete an implementation of the option of a Civilian Review Board available under state law as possible.” Jill Fitcheard, who served as executive director of the oversight board, will serve in the same position on the new board.

The November/December issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal is now available online and arriving in mailboxes soon! Our cover story is from Matt Sweeney and Mark Travis, breaking down what arbitration is — and what it isn't — and when to employ an arbitration clause in contract negotiations. Chuck Holliday explains how a small change in this year's updates to the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure could provide a boost to lawyers in their efficiency of serving opposing counsel, Wade Davies wraps up five Tennessee Supreme Court cases from this year and Russell Fowler connects Charles Dickens and Tennessee Gov. Andrew Johnson. If you're interested in running for TBA office in 2024, you can read about which positions are up for election. Learn what the Young Lawyers Division has been up to, enjoy a book review and more!

Metro Nashville’s original board governing the city’s airport is back in charge after a three-judge panel ruled that an alternative board created by the state legislature was unconstitutional. Tennessee Lookout reports that the panel found that state legislators violated the home rule concept by targeting Nashville. The Attorney General's Office tells another news source that it is reviewing the decision. Metro Nashville sued to block the law’s implementation at the time it was signed into law, but over the summer, the judges allowed the new board to gain control while they considered the case.

Knox County Criminal Court Judge Scott Green has denied Christa Pike’s motion to reopen her case and reduce her sentence, meaning she will remain on death row, according to the Tennessean. Pike, 47, is the only woman on death row and the last person sentenced to death in Tennessee who was 18 at the time of the crime. Pike’s attorneys argued that a recent Tennessee Supreme Court decision showed that age should be considered in sentencing. They also noted that she suffered from untreated severe mental illness and a history of repeated physical and sexual abuse. Green rejected the appeal, saying the Supreme Court’s decision applies only to juveniles. Pike was convicted in 1996 of murdering fellow student Colleen Slemmer at the Knoxville Job Corps. In 2004, she was convicted of attempted murder while she was incarcerated.

Don't forget, the deadline for applying to be part of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Leadership Law 2024 class is Friday. Contact Paul Burch if you have questions about the program or the application process.