Shelby County lawyer Joann Nicholson Bell was reinstated to the practice of law on Sept. 12 after being on inactive status since March 19, 2009. Bell petitioned for reinstatement and the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility determined that reinstatement would be appropriate. The court released the order today.

Former state Sen. Brian Kelsey is getting a three-month reprieve from reporting to federal prison while he appeals his case to the U.S. Supreme Court, Tennessee Lookout reports. Kelsey pleaded guilty to federal campaign finance fraud charges then sought to change his plea. A federal district court judge and a three-judge panel of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals denied that effort. When his motion to have the matter reheard by the entire appellate court was rejected, he was ordered to report to federal prison by Oct. 1. Now the original three-judge panel has granted him 90 days to appeal the decision to the nation's highest court. Kelsey pleaded guilty in November 2022 to funneling more than $100,000 from his state campaign account through two political action committees to bolster his bid for a congressional seat.

Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Felicia Corbin-Johnson has ruled against a motion for default judgment in the case of Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert. In finding against special counsel Robert Meyers, Corbin-Johnson said Halbert deserves a full hearing on an ouster complaint. She also used the opportunity to urge the state legislature to revise the more than 100-year-old ouster statute to make the process more clear. Meyers had sought to declare Halbert in “default” and immediately remove her from office based on the argument that her attorneys had not responded directly to the complaint. That hearing was held earlier this week. Read about the parties’ arguments from the Daily Memphian.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will host a free webinar on Sept. 24 on alcohol taxes. Department staff will discuss issues associated with entities that manufacture, sell and/or distribute alcoholic beverages, wine and beer in Tennessee. Learn more or register here. The webinar is one in a series of educational sessions held by the department each month.

The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday dismissed a petition for reinstatement filed by California attorney Bradley Roy Peacock. Peacock had filed for reinstatement on July 11. On Aug. 1, the court notified Peacock that he had outstanding obligations with the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and the Tennessee Department of Revenue and had until Sept. 16 to satisfy those obligations. On Sept. 18, the court reported that Peacock did not satisfy the outstanding obligations and thus would dismiss the petition.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is urging Rutherford County school officials not to remove "Beloved" and six other books from campus libraries, arguing that books may not be removed simply because they tell stories about race or racism or include references to sex and the human body. The Daily News Journal reports that the school board is set to meet tonight. In addition to “Beloved,” the other books to be considered are "Homegoing," "Queen of Shadows," "Skin and Bones," "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," "Tower of Dawn" and "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West." The ACLU also urged the board to bring back 30 books it previously removed from school libraries for being “obscene.”

Knox County lawyer Jonathan William Doolan was temporarily suspended from the practice of law today after the Tennessee Supreme Court found that he failed to comply with a Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program monitoring agreement. Doolan must immediately stop accepting new cases and cease representing existing clients by Oct. 19. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court. The court also issued an order approving documents in the case to be filed under seal.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan Taylor Fondren has been named acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee following this week’s resignation of Kevin G. Ritz. Fondren earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law and has served with the U.S. Department of Justice her entire career, first with the Drug Enforcement Administration and then with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. In 2014, she returned to her hometown of Memphis to join the U.S. Attorney’s Office as an assistant U.S. attorney. She has served in both the criminal and civil divisions, heading the Civil Rights Unit and leading the Financial Litigation and Bankruptcy divisions. In October 2022, she was named first assistant. Read more about her career in a press release from the office.

The TBA website, member database and discussion forums will be unavailable this Saturday night beginning at 9 p.m. CDT for required maintenance. The site is expected to be operational by 3 a.m., but no later than 6 a.m., CDT on Sunday. Any messages sent to TBA Talk or Section Talk forums will be queued and sent once the maintenance work is done. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Save the date for the annual Animal Law Forum, set for Oct. 4 at the Nashville Zoo. This unique CLE will provide updates on trends and advancements in animal law while allowing participants to network with each other and enjoy all the zoo has to offer. Topics at this year’s forum include a legislative update, veterinarians and animal cruelty, pet trusts, pet liability and attorney wellness. Zoo admission, breakfast and lunch are included with the program. Do not miss this event; you never know who is going to show up!