The Tennessee Bar Association has named Nashville lawyer Sheree Wright to be its next Executive Director. A Senior Associate General Counsel at Vanderbilt University, Wright has been active in the TBA and the Nashville, Tennessee and national legal communities throughout her career. “We are extremely excited to have Sheree join the Tennessee Bar Association as our new executive director,” TBA President Tasha Blakney said in announcing the appointment. “Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a knowledge of the law as well as a genuine commitment to the Bar and the community. She is from Tennessee, was educated in Tennessee, has practiced law here, and has proven herself to be a well-respected leader. We know she will bring her considerable talents to the leadership of our association and will prove to be an incredible asset.” Wright holds undergraduate and law degrees from Vanderbilt University, where she has worked for more than 30 years after starting her career in private practice with a defense litigation firm. She previously served as president of the Nashville Bar Association and on the Board of Directors of the Lawyer’s Association for Women. At the TBA, she is a member of the Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and has been a frequent CLE speaker.

Three Tennessee teachers associations filed suit today over a new law that prohibits association dues from being voluntarily deducted from paychecks, the Tennessean reported. The dues provision was included in a budget bill set to go into effect July 1 that will raise the teacher pay rate to a minimum of $50,000 per year by 2027. In a Chancery Court complaint, the groups claim the deduction ban is in violation of the state constitution prohibiting a bill from becoming law if it "embraces more than one subject," arguing a pay raise is a "wholly different" subject than payroll deductions for professional organizations.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Monday suspended Knox County Lawyer Bryan Lee Capps from the practice of law upon finding that he misappropriated funds for his personal use and poses a threat of substantial harm to the public.

The Tennessee Supreme Court welcomed a new group of lawyers to the practice of law in ceremonies held across the state and in the virtual world in June. The court held five online admission ceremonies before turning to the physical world with sessions Thursday in Jackson and Memphis and today in Knoxville and Nashville. Special thanks to Memphis Bar YLD President Patrick Hillard, TBA Board Secretary Terica Smith, Knoxville Bar Association President Loretta Cravens, TBA President-elect Jim Barry and TBA President Tasha Blakney for introducing the new lawyers to the court at the virtual and in-person ceremonies. See photos from the events.

The TBA’s 2023 Convention gets underway Wednesday with a meeting of the TBA House of Delegates, training for new section chairs and a welcome reception for all attendees. Pre-registration for the event is now closed but those still interested in attending may register on site at the Marriott Knoxville Downtown Hotel, 525 Henley St., Knoxville 37902 beginning at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday. Those unable to attend this year’s convention in person are invited to join us for a livestream of the annual Lawyers Luncheon at noon EDT Friday on TBA’s Facebook page. Watch as President Tasha Blakney closes out her year of leadership, Tennessee lawyers are recognized for their contributions to the profession and TBA President-elect Jim Barry is sworn into office. Questions about this year’s event? Email convention@tnbar.org.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today transferred the law license of Davidson County lawyer Richard Allen Johnson to disability inactive status. Johnson may not practice law while on inactive status but may petition the court for reinstatement after showing that the disability has been removed.

The Trousdale Turner Correctional Center was on lockdown over the weekend after two separate incidents resulted in the death of an inmate and the hospitalization of two correctional officers, WKRN News 2 reports. A spokesperson for the facility, told the station that an individual was found unresponsive at approximately 4:41 a.m. on Saturday. Medical attention was given but the individual was pronounced dead shortly before 5:45 a.m. The Tennessee Department of Correction is now investigating the incident. The second situation, unrelated to the first, happened at approximately 8:11 a.m. when two correctional officers were assaulted by two inmates. The officers were taken to the hospital to be evaluated. The alleged assailants have been transferred to a different facility.

Metro Nashville has filed suit against Gov. Bill Lee and legislative leaders in an effort to stop the state’s planned takeover of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, the Tennessean reports. The law vacates the mayor-appointed airport board and creates a new system by which the governor and Republican legislative leaders appoint a majority of the board members. In the suit, the city argues the law violates the state constitution’s prohibitions of legislation targeting one local government.

Tennessee is expected to collect $419 million over 15 years as its share of a $17.3 billion multistate settlement with opioid manufacturers Teva and Allergan and pharmacies CVS and Walgreens. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced the settlement amount on Friday. Money is expected to start flowing to state and local governments by the end of this year. The settlement also imposes restrictions on future activities by the companies. Teva must stop marketing opioids and put a system in place to prevent drug misuse. Allergan must stop selling opioids for the next 10 years. CVS and Walgreens have agreed to monitor, report and share data about suspicious activity related to opioid prescriptions.

The Howard H. Baker Jr Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee is out with a new podcast episode hosted by former governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam. In this episode of “You Might be Right,” the pair discuss whether a new strategy is needed to address disparities in public education. They are joined by Robert Pondiscio, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and Dr. Carol Johnson-Dean, former school superintendent in Memphis, Boston and Minneapolis. The show was recorded live at the National Civil Rights Museum. Access the feed on the Baker Center’s website, Apple Podcast, Spotfiy or Sticher.