Nashville Soccer Club owner John Ingram wrote a letter to members of the Metro Council Wednesday expressing “significant concerns” regarding proposed upgrades at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, reported the Tennessean. The letter included Ingram's concerns about running two similarly sized stadiums adjacent to one another and the resulting competing for non-soccer and non-racing events. Legislation to approve a deal for the renovations was filed Friday with the Metro Council.

The Nashville Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) will host its annual Mediation Matters breakfast on Sept. 7 at 7 a.m. CDT at Hillwood Country Club, 6201 Hickory Valley Rd., Nashville 37205. Heather Howell Wright and Bill Norton, attorneys at Bradley, will serve as event co-chairs. A brief program outlining the organization’s service to the community and recognizing community heroes will begin at 7:30 a.m. Since 2021, the NCRC, in partnership with the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts, has been assisting general sessions civil courts throughout Middle Tennessee in providing free mediation for people involved in cases that include landlord-tenant and debt filings related to the COVID-19 pandemic and housing issues arising due to unemployment. Learn more about more about the event.

A public meeting about the proposed new federal courthouse in Chattanooga will be held June 14 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. EDT at the Mac Avenue Event Space, 1304 McCallie Ave., Suite A. The public will have an opportunity to learn about possible locations for the courthouse and provide input on potential environmental impacts. The Chattanooga General Services Administration says that the facility will include seven courtrooms, nine judge chambers and offices for court-related agencies and secured parking spaces as well as the GSA, reported the Chattanoogan. The courthouse also will house the district clerk, bankruptcy clerk, U.S. Probation Office, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office and Federal Public Defender's Office. 

Knox County lawyer Troy Lee Bowlin was reinstated to the practice of law yesterday. The Tennessee Supreme Court conditioned the reinstatement on continued compliance with an order of enforcement entered April 20. Bowlin was suspended that day for three years with 30 days to be served on active suspension and the rest on probation. On May 10, he filed a petition to terminate the period of active suspension. The Board of Professional Responsibility found the petition to be satisfactory and submitted a reinstatement order to the court.

The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) is accepting nominations for its three annual Access to Justice Awards: Janice M. Holder Award, B. Riney Green Award and New Advocate of the Year Award. Nominations and any supporting documents must be submitted by June 30. The awards will be presented at the 2023 Equal Justice University Conference. Learn more about the awards process.

Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Melissa Boyd will be off the bench for a few months dealing with an undisclosed illness, the Commercial Appeal reports. Her predecessor, Senior Judge Mark Ward, will fill in during the absence. Prior to losing reelection to Boyd in 2022, Ward spent 18 years on the court. He is slated to take over on June 7. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve the people of Tennessee in this new role," Ward said about the appointment.

An exciting addition to the TBA's Annual Convention is an event featuring several Tennessee lawyers and friends who have recently published new books. Convention attendees will have the opportunity to meet and talk with the authors, and purchase those books and have them signed. The book signing will take place on June 15 in the Atrium of the Knoxville Marriott from 10:30 a.m.-noon EDT and 1:30-2:30 p.m. EDT. Authors in attendance will include Wendy Bach, 'Prosecuting Poverty, Criminalizing Care;' Ben Barton, 'The Credentialed Court;' Amanda Swanson and Bill Haltom, 'Full Court Press;' Angelia Nystrom, 'Legal Ease and Life Hacks,' Nick McCall, 'Pogiebait's War,' Suzanne Craig Robertson, 'He Called Me Sister;' Georgiana Vines, 'East Tennessee Newsmakers;' and Ashley Wiltshire, 'Everyday Justice.' Our thanks to Union Ave. Books in Knoxville for their assistance with this event.

Vanderbilt University School of Law graduate Beth Cruz, class of 2010, has been named assistant dean and the Martha Craig Daughtrey director for public interest. Cruz will be responsible for creating public interest law opportunities and facilitating public interest law careers for students. She also will oversee pro-bono programs and contribute to the school’s externship and summer public interest stipend programs. Cruz returns to the school from the Nashville Public Defender’s Office, where she led the Education Rights Project. The public interest position honors Daughtrey and recognizes her commitment to public service, contributions to the school as a professor, and service as a judge in both federal and state courts. Spring Miller, who served as the inaugural assistant dean for public interest, has left to join the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. Read more from the school.

The 21st Judicial District Recovery Court in Williamson County has received a $5,000 “Helper Grant” from the Nashville Predators Foundation. The grant is named for Predators Senior Vice President Gerry Helper. His wife, Williamson County District Attorney Kim Helper, died in March. She had been an original member of the recovery court board and was a strong supporter. The funds will be used for “reentry baskets,” which are given to those entering the recovery court program, 99% of whom come directly from jail. Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has three cases set for its June 1 docket. The first two cases will be heard in Nashville beginning at 1 p.m. CDT tomorrow. The final case will be submitted on briefs. The cases are: Peggy Mathes et al. v. 99 Hermitage, LLC, Thomas Edward Clardy v. State of Tennessee, and Loring E. Justice v. Board of Professional Responsibility. Arguments will be livestreamed to the TNCourts YouTube page. Read more about the cases from the Administrative Office of the Courts.