Tennessee Supreme Court officials yesterday launched the Tennessee Justice Bus — a new project from the Access to Justice initiative that will serve as a mobile legal clinic for rural and underserved communities, WPLN reports. Davidson County General Sessions Judge Ana Escobar spoke at yesterday’s launch, saying that those who represent themselves in matters like child support or evictions need more help. “People should not have to go to their local McDonald’s to get a reliable connection to file their lawsuit,” she said. The bus will make its first stop in Rutherford County on June 29. The public can gain access to the Justice Bus by emailing justicebus@tnbus.gov or following the bus on Facebook or Twitter.

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett was charged with driving under the influence on Friday as he was leaving the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Coffee County, the Tennessean reports. Hargett was booked into the Coffee County Jail shortly after 1 a.m. CDT on Saturday and released before 5:30 a.m. “Driving Under the Influence is a serious matter, and I regret the circumstances that led to my arrest,” Hargett said in a statement. “I respect law enforcement and will trust the legal process as we move forward.” According to the Tennessee Lookout, lawmakers will not seek Hargett's resignation following the arrest. 

Chattanooga lawyer Brittany Thomas Faith took office as president of the TBA’s Young Lawyers Division during last week's convention. Her signature project for the bar year will be the "Welcome to Tennessee" initiative. The three-pronged project seeks to: provide members with practical resources and integrate them into the TBA, provide quality public service aimed at making Tennessee a more welcoming place, and help young lawyers find their home in the TBA. Also taking office were President-elect Quinton Thompson of Memphis, Vice President Sean Aiello of Franklin, Secretary Ross Smith of Nashville and Treasurer Darius Walker Jr. of Nashville. Faith succeeds Billy Leslie of Nashville.

President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a bill that extends security protections to Supreme Court justices' immediate family members. The bill — the Supreme Court Police Parity Act of 2022 — was passed by the House earlier this week and the Senate passed the measure last month, CNN reports. It allows the families of Supreme Court justices to be covered by the security currently provided to the justices if the marshal of the Supreme Court "determines such protection is necessary," according to the text of the legislation.

Outgoing TBA President Sherie Edwards presented six President Awards during the Lawyers Luncheon to those who contributed to the success of her year in office. General Counsel Ed Lanquist and Associate General Counsel Greg Pease were recognized for their assistance with selling the TBA’s downtown office. Memphis attorney and former TBA President Lucian Pera was recognized for his work chairing the TBA Building Committee, which assessed new locations for the association’s offices. All members of the committee were also recognized. Brentwood lawyer Rebecca Blair and Nashville lawyer Lynne Ingram were recognized for co-chairing the Women in the Profession Committee. TBA staff members Mindy Thomas, Jennifer Vossler and Chelsea Bennett were recognized for their work creating and producing the Scaling Small Law program, and all TBA staff members were recognized for their work in the past year despite a major office move and working remotely. Finally, Edwards recognized her daughter Victoria Cundiff for writing about her struggles with mental health in last year's well-being issue of Tennessee Bar Journal.

An attempt to unanimously pass a bipartisan bill to shield the personal information of federal judges online failed after Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., blocked it for a third time, the Chattanooga Times Free-Press reports. The Thursday motion for unanimous consent was the second time this year that Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., has attempted that maneuver to pass the measure introduced after the murder of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas’s son at their home almost two years ago.

A number of Tennessee lawyers were recognized for their pro bono service and contributions to the profession today during the TBA Annual Convention. Circuit Judge James G. Martin III received the Justice Frank F. Drowota III Outstanding Judicial Service Award; Nashville attorney and former TBA President Jacqueline “Jackie" B. Dixon received the Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award; Nashville attorney and former TBA President John Tarpley received the TBA Young Lawyers Division William M. Leech Jr. Public Service Award; Assistant Public Defender and Appellate Director Brennan Wingerter received the Claudia Jack Award; Knoxville lawyer R. Culver Schmid received the Justice Joseph W. Henry Award for Outstanding Legal Writing. And the Kingsport Times News received the Fourth Estate Award for its series Meth Mountain.

The TBA also presented its annual Public Service Awards at the Luncheon. Ann Pruitt, most recently the executive director for Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, received the Ashley T. Wiltshire Public Service Attorney of the Year Award. Ashley Goins Alderson, an attorney in the Nashville office of Stites & Harbison, received the Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award. And Belmont University College of Law 3L Gabriella Cannone received the Law Student Volunteer of the Year Award.

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, planned to honor victims of violent crime and their families in Chattanooga today during a ceremonial signing of their recently passed Truth in Sentencing bill. The law requires people convicted of eight specific crimes, including second-degree murder and carjacking, to serve 100% of the sentences imposed by a judge or jury. The Chattanooga Times-Free Press has more.

Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III announced today that Tennessee will receive nearly $5 million dollars in a settlement with Mallinckrodt, which sells and markets pharmaceutical products throughout the nation. The total value of the settlement is approximately $233 million, plus interest, to be paid over a period of seven years. The agreement settles allegations of fraud against Mallinckrodt with all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the federal government. Read more about the case.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands held its annual Breakfast of Champions in April and raised $127,000 to supports its work in Middle Tennessee. Nashville icon and Tennessee State University coach Eddie George spoke, sharing his story about overcoming adversity. Nashville NewsChannel 5 weekend anchor and investigative journalist Jennifer Kraus co-hosted the event with Executive Director DarKenya Waller. Several legal aid clients also shared their stories. Watch a follow up interview with George.