The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands has named Jordan Stringer as the new managing attorney and pro bono director in its Nashville office. Stinger will supervise staff, oversee administrative functions, help coordinate client services and assist in oversight and quality assurance systems. He also will serve as director of the Volunteer Lawyers Program, developing strategic initiatives and managing staff to support pro bono lawyers. Stringer most recently was legal counsel for Equifax Inc. He also has experience working for nonprofit organizations, international law firms and industry. He earned his law degree from Emory University School of Law. Read more about Stringer in this release.

U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris this week granted a stay in federal court proceedings for Tyrone Chalmers, who was convicted in 1997 of robbing and killing a man in Shelby County, and is now on death row. The stay allows Chalmers to once again pursue arguments in state court that Tennessee lacks authority to execute him because of an intellectual disability, the Associated Press reports. Previous attempts have failed, and the Tennessee Supreme Court has rejected efforts to reopen post-conviction proceedings for him. Norris said the state’s recent law allowing retroactive application of a prohibition on execution of the intellectually disabled now provides a mechanism for Chalmers to pursue a mental disability claim.

More than $4 million of Nashville's latest round of federal COVID relief funding will help Davidson County renters and immigrants secure legal services, the Tennessean reports. Metro Council unanimously approved two American Rescue Plan Act funding resolutions, allocating $1.8 million to expand legal services for immigrants and $2.6 million to provide legal representation to low- and moderate-income renters facing eviction. Funding for immigrant services will be awarded to the Tennessee Immigration and Refugee Rights Coalition and Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors for pro-bono legal clinics and assistance with DACA, asylum, residency and citizenship applications. Funding for renters’ services will be awarded to the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands and Conexion Americas for a two-year pilot program providing outreach, education and legal aid to qualifying renters.

Admission ceremonies for those who passed the February 2022 Tennessee Bar Exam continued today virtually. Ceremonies took place at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page administered the oath at the first morning event while Justice Sharon Lee administered the oath at the second morning ceremony. Justice Jeffrey Bivins presided over the lunchtime ceremony. Justice Sarah Campbell wrapped up the day's events, administering the oath at the afternoon session. TBA Executive Director Joycelyn Stevenson was on hand at each event to virtually introduce several attorneys. See photos from today's ceremonies.

Admission ceremonies for those who passed the February 2022 Tennessee Bar Exam continued today virtually and at an in-person ceremony in Memphis. TBA Executive Director Joycelyn Stevenson virtually introduced several attorneys and Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Holly Kirby administered the oath of office. Additional virtual ceremonies will be held tomorrow.

The Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission today announced it will launch the Tennessee Justice Bus on Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. CDT at the Embassy Suites in Franklin. Outfitted with computers, a printer, internet access and video displays, the Justice Bus is a mobile law office that brings technology to rural and disadvantaged communities. Lawyers and volunteers will be able to provide on-the-spot access to legal help and meet Tennesseans where they are. The goal of the Justice Bus project is to address the technology gap faced by many rural and disadvantaged citizens. Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page, Justice Jeff Bivins, Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services Executive Director Laura Brown and former Administrative Office of the Courts Director Deborah Taylor Tate are set to speak at the launch event.

A new documentary from Al Jazeera English’s “Fault Lines” will explore juvenile sentencing in Tennessee, which leads the U.S. in longest mandatory jail sentences for juveniles convicted of murder, the Tennessee Lookout reports. “51 Years Behind Bars” will highlight the case of Almeer Nance, who is serving a mandatory minimum 51 years in prison for an armed robbery in Knoxville that left a man dead in 1996, when Nance was 16 years old. The Tennessee Supreme Court is currently considering a challenge to the 51-year mandatory minimum sentence for juveniles convicted of murder. The 25-minute documentary is available on YouTube.

The Tennessee Supreme Court will now make the final decision on whether Robbie Starbuck will be allowed back onto the ballot in the 5th Congressional District Republican primary, the Tennessean reports. Davidson County Chancellor Russell Perkins ruled last week that the party’s private meeting to remove Starbuck from the ballot violated the state’s open meetings act. That decision was appealed by the Secretary of State’s office. The high court yesterday temporarily blocked Perkins’ ruling and gave Starbuck’s lawyers until this morning to file a response. The justices will conduct an expedited review of the case. In a previous lawsuit, the Secretary of State’s office said June 10 was the deadline to finalize ballots. Early voting starts July 15.

Candidates who passed the February 2022 Tennessee Bar Exam are being admitted to the practice of law at ceremonies across the state this week. Today, in-person ceremonies were held in Knoxville and Nashville, and will continue tomorrow in Memphis. Virtual ceremonies will be held Thursday and Friday. TBA President Sherie Edwards, YLD President Billy Leslie and Executive Director Joycelyn Stevenson were on hand at the Nashville ceremony. Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Bivins administered the oath of office. In Knoxville, YLD Board Member Zack Walden with Eldridge & Blakney introduced new admittees on behalf of the TBA, while Justice Sharon Lee administered the oath of office. In addressing the new lawyers, Lee encouraged them to “Remember to keep your personal and professional life in balance. Use your license for good and your time to help others.” See photos from today's events.

Hackers are targeting lawyers with malicious “phishing” emails according to several bar associations. According to a warning sent by the Georgia Bar Association today, these emails have several “red flags”: the sender is not an employee of the association, the email of the sender includes a reference to the “americanbar.org” and the phone number in the email is not operational. Members of the Indiana State Bar and Mississippi State Bar also have reported receiving the same message. Please be careful before opening emails that contain the subject line “Request for Info” and look suspicious.