Signal Mountain High School Student Wins Inaugural Artist in the Courtroom Competition

The 2025 Tennessee High School Mock Trial Competition offered a new avenue to participation: the inaugural Artist in the Courtroom Competition. In an effort to involve as many students as possible, artists were not required to be part of a mock trial team or even to have a team from their school participate in the overall competition. Thirty young artists participated during the district level competitions across the state using pencil, colored pencil, pen, pastels or markers. They were given one round to practice drawing and submitted their artwork after the second round. The top three artists were announced at the state competition on March 22, and thanks to a grant from the National High School Mock Trial Championship, the TBA was able to award them monetarily.

From left, Harper Cowart, YLD President Sean Aiello, TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr.

Harper Cowart from Signal Mountain High School in Chattanooga won first place, and Clare Yang and Louis Frankel from Houston High School in Memphis won second and third places respectively. Cowart is eligible to compete in the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Phoenix, Arizona, in May. Her winning artwork is pictured above.

A video of all entries can be viewed here.

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MBA Named 2025 Tennessee State Mock Trial Champion

Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA) of Nashville was named the 2025 Tennessee State High School Mock Trial champion at the conclusion of the annual competition in March. The school prevailed over Agathos Classical School from Columbia. Tennessee State Supreme Court Justice Mary Wagner presided over the round, while members of the TBA Young Lawyers Division’s (YLD) Executive Committee, TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr., TBA Vice President Heidi Barcus and TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright served as jurors. Sevier County High School of Sevierville was awarded the 2025 Sportsmanship Award.

Special thanks to YLD Mock Trial Committee Chair Ashley Tipton, Vice Chair Michael Holmes, Long Range Planning Coordinator Judge Zachary Walden and members of the committee for organizing this year’s event, which involved 16 teams, more than 200 participants and more than 100 volunteers, including sitting Tennessee judges, lawyers and the YLD’s Diversity Leadership Institute’s law students. MBA now represent Tennessee at the National High School Mock Trial Competition in Phoenix, Arizona, in May. The team is coached by attorneys Tracy Hancock, Wade Cowan and Marisa Combs Smith.

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Legislature Passes Budget, Includes Funding for New Indigent Representation Plan

The Tennessee General Assembly passed the budget for FY2025-2026 which includes an additional $17 million to fund the new Plan for Indigent Representation in Tennessee. TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr. reacted to the development saying, “The TBA thanks the General Assembly and Gov. Lee for making indigent representation funding a priority, and is especially grateful to Chief Justice Holly Kirby, the Tennessee Supreme Court and the Administrative Office of the Courts for their leadership and development of the Indigent Representation plan, which will result in better solutions to improve the system of indigent representation in Tennessee.” The Tennessee Supreme Court and the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) released a statement saying the funding “will enable the Judicial Branch to address challenges with the retention and compensation of appointed counsel and enhance the delivery of indigent services across the state.” The details of the plan can be found at www.tba.org/IR-Resources.

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U.S. Supreme Court Swearing In

From left: Tim Fowler, Angela Williams, Chicoya Smith Gallman, Lauren Colaric, TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr., Deborah Yeomans-Barton, Trevor Howell, Mary Cheadle, Leif Jeffers

Eight Tennessee attorneys were admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court during the 39th annual TBA Academy in March. TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr. moved for admission of the members during a regular court session in Washington, D.C. The group heard oral arguments in a case brought by the government of Mexico against gun manufacturers Smith & Wesson and Colt accusing them of aiding illegal firearms trafficking to drug cartels and fueling gun violence in that country. Attorneys admitted before the high court were Humboldt attorney Tim Fowler; Jacksboro attorney Leif Jeffers; Johnson City attorney Deborah Yeomans-Barton; Mt. Juliet attorney Angela Williams; and Nashville attorneys Mary Cheadle, Lauren Colaric, Chicoya Smith Gallman and Trevor Howell. The visit to Washington, D.C., included a welcome reception, tour of the U.S. Capitol, the swearing in ceremony and a celebratory lunch.

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CLE Commission Petitions Court for Changes to Rule 21

The Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education (CLE) in April filed a petition with the Tennessee Supreme Court asking the court to make several changes to Rule 21, which governs operations of the commission. According to the commission, the amendments are primarily designed to overhaul the commission’s regulations, which were adopted in 2008; align Rule 21 and its regulations; and improve processes for attorneys. In April, the Tennessee Supreme Court issued a request for comments on the three rules change proposals. The deadline for submitting comments for any of these proposals is June 27. Written comments should reference docket No. ADM2025- 00453 and be emailed to appellatecourtclerk@tncourts.gov or mailed to James Hivner, Clerk, Re: Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 21, 401 Seventh Ave. N., Ste. 321, Nashville, TN 37219-1407. For more information or to see the proposed changes in red line, visit www.tba.org/ProposedChangesRule21.

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Exploration: YLD Board Member Explains Motivation Behind New CLE Series

Attorney wellness is not a mere lofty goal; it’s a necessity. As lawyers, we must all take steps to maintain our physical, mental and emotional health in this profession. Rule 1.1 of the Professional Rules of Conduct requires us to be competent,1 and competency is impacted by our overall health.

One of the simplest ways to support our health is by spending time outdoors. After discussion with TBA staff, members of the TBA’s Attorney Well Being Committee and folks from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the Exploration CLE Series was born.

The Exploration Series, sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (TBA YLD), is a new offering that combines three dual credit CLE presentations with the great outdoors across the state of Tennessee, with the goal of rotating locations through the state’s three Grand Divisions. The first in the Exploration Series was at Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park in Manchester and included lunch, a ranger-led hike, and presentations on current trends and ethical pitfalls for attorneys, mindfulness, and meditation. Attendees said, “This was the single greatest CLE I’ve ever been to. I found every minute of it enjoyable, educational and highly relevant to our practice,” and “Absolutely LOVED being outside and at a state park … Very original idea to have the mindfulness speakers.”

We are all aware of the high levels of stress, long working hours and demanding caseloads that come with the practice of law. As lawyers, we are trained to focus on the task at hand, zealously advocate for our clients, provide competent representation to clients and manage complex cases all the while juggling life outside of the office. All of these can contribute to burnout and other challenges. On top of this, lawyers are required to meet yearly CLE requirement of 15 hours, with three hours being for ethics/professionalism. Obviously, being a lawyer is a busy job. Packed schedules, stress, burn out, etc. increase the risk of dropping the ball, something slipping through the cracks, committing legal malpractice.

The TBA YLD sought to rethink CLE and wellness while remaining mindful of Rule 1.¹ and the notion of competency in order to offer something new. Since we are all required to get CLE credit, why not join the TBA YLD at the next offering in the Exploration Series at Fall Creek Falls State Park on May 30?! Visit cle.tba.org/catalog/course/6476 for more information and to register.

NOTE

1. Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts, Notice of 2023 Appellate Rules Package Ratification by the Tennessee Legislature, Rule 21: Rule for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education, tncourts.gov/rules/supreme-court/21. (Last visited April 7, 2025.)

— Patrick Morrison is an attorney with the Tennessee Department of Treasury and serves on the YLD Board of Directors as the Health & Wellness Coordinator.

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