Renew your TBA membership online today to avoid receiving a print membership dues statement. Attorneys not participating in the TBA's firm billing program can log in and renew through their MyTBA dashboard. Questions about member benefits? Reach out to membership@tnbar.org.

The Chattanooga Bar Association (CBA) recently held a Community Volunteer Day to support the Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County. Members gathered at the center to launch a stuffed animal and snack donation drive and learn more about the non-profit’s mission during a facility tour. The center provides a safe, child-friendly environment for children who have experienced severe abuse. Through a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed approach, children receive coordinated care and support in a single location. Read more and see a photo of the event.

A story in yesterday’s issue of TBA Today announced a federal tax deadline extension for residents of Middle Tennessee counties impacted by this past winter’s storms. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) now has extended that deadline to June 8 and expanded eligibility to all counties in the state. The extension provides additional time for individuals, households and businesses to file their 2025 returns and make any required payments. Read more in the updated news release from the agency.

Justin Deshun Stiger, 33, of Memphis was convicted this week of making threats to murder two Memphis federal prosecutors and a Memphis federal judge after a jury trial in Memphis, according to the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. The middle district office handled the case because the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District was recused given that two of its prosecutors were victims. Evidence presented at trial showed that Stiger — who was in court to be sentenced for participation in a drug trafficking conspiracy —pointed to prosecutors and said they were “going to die.” When then U.S. District Judge Mark Norris had Stiger removed from the courtroom, Stiger threatened him saying “You’re gonna die too, judge.” When Norris asked if Stiger was threatening him, Stiger responded: “It ain’t no threat. It’s a promise.” Stiger faces a maximum sentence of 10 years for each of the three counts of conviction. He is set to be sentenced on June 18.

TBA's solo health plan just got a major upgrade. Effective now, the solo plan has transitioned from Cigna to Anthem BlueCross BlueShield. The Anthem BlueCard PPO is a nationwide network offering expanded flexibility and services based on market demand and member feedback. The solo plan features monthly enrollment with four options — so if you are a solo practitioner, we encourage you to explore your options and enroll today. This upgrade also aligns TBA's solo plan with our group health insurance program, which offers BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and open for enrollment each fall.

The TBA Access to Justice Committee is accepting nominations for the 2026 Public Service Awards through tomorrow. The annual awards recognize outstanding commitment to access to justice in three categories: work performed by an attorney employed by an organization primarily involved in providing legal representation to the indigent, pro bono work performed by a private or corporate attorney, and a strong commitment to pro bono service by a Tennessee law student or recent graduate. Awards will be presented during the TBA Annual Convention in June. Submit nominations by April 17 on the TBA website.

The Shelby County Board of Commissioners on Monday voted 9-0-1 to begin the process of finding experts to study options for a new or renovated county jail and justice center, directing staff to draft a request for qualifications by June 15. The Daily Memphian reports that the process is expected to extend well beyond the current administration, as a new mayor and commission will take office in September, and the project — estimated to cost over $1 billion — could take a decade to complete. The commission also shuffled funds within the Sheriff's Office budget, moving money originally earmarked for jail shower repairs toward a shooting range renovation and backup generators, while approving an emergency fence installation at a jail annex in Millington.

Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk Vince Dean introduced two new QR codes to streamline common courthouse processes. The first allows defendants with dismissed traffic citations to scan a code, complete expungement paperwork on their own time, and receive electronic notification when the process is complete — eliminating the need to wait in line. The second code guides defendants through the driver's license reinstatement process, also allowing paperwork to be filled out and submitted electronically at their convenience. Chattanoogan.com has the story.

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) recently announced that Brent Jones will join the faculty as a visiting assistant professor of law. Jones has served as an adjunct professor of trial advocacy at LMU Law since 2019. He most recently served as an assistant United States attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, where he prosecuted federal cases involving drug trafficking, firearms offenses and money laundering. Jones currently serves in the U.S. Air Force Reserve with the Office of Special Trial Counsel. Jones earned his law degree from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Read more in a press release from LMU Law.

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals heard oral arguments April 7 and 8 at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Judges John W. Campbell, Camille R. McMullen and Robert W. Wedemeyer sat for the court. “This year marks 50 years since my graduation from the Law School, and it was an honor to be back and to talk to students, faculty, and Dean Jim Strickland. Judge Campbell and I are both Memphis Law grads and we shared some of our law school memories with the students,” Wedemeyer said after the proceedings. The law school hosted the oral argument for the court while the Jackson courthouse undergoes renovations. The change of venue provided a unique opportunity for law students to observe the appeals process and ask questions of both the attorneys and the judges. Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) or watch the arguments on the AOC's Youtube channel.