Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Rob Philyaw on Tuesday announced that Court Administrator Sam Mairs has retired. Mairs began his career at the court as a probation officer in November 1992 and worked in increasingly responsible positions for over 30 years. Former Juvenile Court Judge Suzanne Bailey had appointed him administrator in March 2011. Philyaw said that during Mairs' tenure, he was “instrumental in several initiatives that directly affect children and families, including Youth Court, Recovery Court, family law mediation and Safe Baby Court ... Under his leadership, we have improved facilities, invested in staff and implemented system changes to meet the needs of Hamilton County’s citizens." Read more from Chattanoogan.com.

After five decades operating as Larry R. Williams PLLC, the Nashville firm announced they have rebranded as The Williams Firm. Jonathan Williams, son of the firm's founder, now serves as owner and lead trial attorney, alongside a legal team including attorney Gregory Hazelwood. "This rebrand isn’t a departure from who we are — it’s a recommitment to our mission," Williams said. "The Williams Firm continues the legacy my father built by providing aggressive, compassionate representation to real people facing real challenges. We remain family-owned, deeply rooted in Nashville and focused on helping clients navigate some of the most difficult moments of their lives." The firm's offices are at 315 Deaderick St., Ste. 1510, Nashville 37238 and can be reached at 615-256-8880 or www.lrwlawfirm.com. Read more in a press release from the firm.

Judge Steve Sword was honored at an investiture ceremony on June 2 following his appointment to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals by Gov. Bill Lee. The ceremony, held in the historic Supreme Court Building in Knoxville, celebrated Sword’s transition to the appellate bench after 14 years of service with the Knox County Criminal Court, WBIR reports. Surrounded by fellow judges, lawmakers and family, Sword reflected on the honor of continuing his judicial service and paid tribute to his wife, children and late predecessor, Judge James Curwood Witt Jr. Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Holly Kirby called Sword “one of our state’s finest.” He was appointed by Lee on Feb. 28 and confirmed by the General Assembly in March.

Federal sentencing dates have been set for the five former Memphis police officers charged in the 2023 death of Tyre Nichols, the Daily Memphian reports. Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith will be sentenced on June 16. Both were convicted of one count of obstruction of justice for witness tampering during the 2024 federal trial and face up to 20 years in federal prison. Demetrius Haley and Desmond Mills Jr. will be sentenced on June 17. Haley was convicted of four charges, including violating Nichols’ civil rights resulting in bodily injury, and faces up to 60 years in prison. Mills pleaded guilty before the trial and prosecutors are recommending 15 years for both his federal and state charges to be served concurrently. Emmitt Martin III, who also pleaded guilty, will be sentenced on June 18. Prosecutors have recommended a 40-year sentence on his federal charges, while Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy says he will wait until after federal sentencing to consider state charges. The sentencing dates come less than a month after Bean, Haley and Smith were acquitted of all state charges.

Gov. Bill Lee appointed Judge Jennifer Peck to the 11th Judicial District Circuit Court on May 9. She recently was sworn in by former Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Brandon Gibson, now chief operating officer in the governor’s office. Peck, a Chattanooga native, earned her law degree from Regent University in 2007 with the goal of becoming a judge. “I actually wanted to be a judge when I applied for law school,” she said. “It felt like a calling, a tug in my spirit, and that’s ultimately why I went to law school. It’s always been the goal.” Peck began presiding over cases in Hamilton County on May 12. Read more in Chattanoogan.com.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office nearly doubled its number of immigration detainees in May compared with January, marking the second consecutive month the jail has held more than 300 people on immigration-related matters, according to Knox News. The increase was driven in part by a surge in arrests in Middle Tennessee by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Last month, ICE and the Tennessee Highway Patrol conducted 468 traffic stops and made 200 arrests in Nashville and surrounding areas. The Knox County Sheriff's Office partners with the federal government to detain those arrested in other counties. The Knox County Jail reported 303 immigration detainees in May, including a single-day high of 53 on May 9.

Following its departure from downtown Nashville in May 2022 and a period in temporary offices, the TBA has found a new permanent home. The new building, officially closed on June 4, is located in the heart of Nashville’s West End Avenue corridor, providing convenient access and ample parking for members. Over the next six months, interior renovations will be planned to create modern office spaces, a state-of-the-art multimedia studio and a cutting-edge CLE and seminar classroom. The TBA is expected to begin operations at the new location in early 2026. In announcing the acquisition, TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr. said, “The Building Committee has worked tirelessly for the last few years to find TBA’s new home and I’m grateful for their time and expertise. This new space will help us meet the changing needs of our members as we look to the next several decades of practicing law in Tennessee.” Former TBA President Jim Barry, president of The Tennessee Legal Community Foundation (TLCF) — which purchased the building — said, “This investment ensures that TBA has a long-term home to serve our members and the broader legal community. The new space will facilitate top-notch legal education, member engagement opportunities and a stronger sense of community in our profession.” Special thanks to the committee of TBA leaders, members and real estate professionals whose thoughtful and comprehensive search led to the successful acquisition of this new home for your state bar association.

The TBA Criminal Justice Section recently hosted a unique and successful murder mystery CLE. Led by Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) professors Melanie Ried and Syd Beckman, LMU Law students played characters in a 1920s themed event where participants used Tennessee’s latest criminal laws to unravel the mystery and bring the killer to justice. The winning team consisted of lawyers Jade Peters, Nicholas Poe-Jones and Tim Fowler. Keep your eyes peeled for more fun events to come from the TBA Criminal Justice Section. View photos from the event here.

The Estes Kefauver Federal Building and Annex in downtown Nashville has been approved for sale by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) after a report recommended closure of the aging office building. The Tennessean reports that the building is one of 11 federal properties across the U.S. recommended for closure by the Public Buildings Reform Board. The building currently houses the Nashville offices of the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Veterans Affairs, though the building is only about 66% leased. The Annex is about 77% leased. The building served as Nashville's federal courthouse until the Fred D. Thompson U.S. Courthouse opened in 2022 on Church Street.

Chattanooga attorney Patrick Bryant Hawley reached a plea deal in connection with a sex crimes case involving a 14-year-old Pennsylvania girl and is expected to register as a sex offender, reports the Chattanooga Times Free Press. The charge carries a minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison. Prosecutors dismissed six other criminal counts involving animal crushing, coercion, enticement and the receipt, possession and distribution of child pornography. Hawley was temporarily suspended from the practice of law in November 2024.