A recent report that found leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) helped cover up sexual abuse reports for two decades is claiming the convention acted on the advice of attorneys from a Nashville law firm, the Tennessean reports. The report, conducted by Guidepost Solutions, says Guenther, Jordan & Price advised SBC officials to ignore reports of sexual abuse, focusing only on “protecting the SBC from legal liability and not on caring for survivors or creating any plan to prevent sexual abuse within SBC churches.” Attorneys Jim Guenther and Jaime Jordan shot back at the claim saying professional standards necessitated them to "zealously protect our clients' legitimate interests." The law firm resigned from representing the SBC and its executive committee in October after 56 years, but still represents other Southern Baptist organizations, including the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Jordan wrote the Tennessean on Wednesday, saying “The advice we gave was framed and guided by decisions made by our client.”

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an order Tuesday requesting comments on a proposal to change the requirements for comity. The proposal, submitted by The Network of Enlightened Women, would amend Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7, Section 5.01(c) to remove the requirement that the lawyer maintain a full time law practice or full time law school teaching position. Comments should be submitted by July 25. Comments should reference the docket number and be e-mailed or mailed to: James M. Hivner, Clerk, Tennessee Appellate Courts, 100 Supreme Court Building, 401 7th Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37219-1407.

As he approaches retirement after nearly three decades at the University of Tennessee College of Law, Dean Doug Blaze reflects on what he calls the school’s “special culture of leadership.” Writing in the school’s Leading as Lawyers Blog, he says this culture of servant-leadership is embodied by colleagues who share four characteristics in common: (1) showing care and concern for colleagues, students, staff and clients; (2) promoting the law school and others over themselves; (3) being authentic and dependable; and (4) dedication to making the school the best it can be. These characteristics have made the school a wonderful place to serve, and though “change is in the air,” Blaze says he is excited about the future of the institution. “As I look around at my colleagues, I know the shared culture of servant-leadership will continue. The future is very bright. And it will be fun to watch.”

The Nashville law firm of Ferraro Hancock & Associates recently celebrated its 30th anniversary with a reception at Deacon's New South. The firm focuses on bankruptcy, litigation, real estate, business and transactional law, child custody and family law. The Nashville Post has a slideshow from the event. 

NewsChannel 5 is raising questions about how Davidson County General Sessions Judge Rachel Bell spent money from a $200,000 federal grant. The channel said it appears Bell used funds intended for a diversion program for office space in a building owned by her parents and made rent payments to Solutions Now, a company she owns. Dennis Dycus, who spent 39 years auditing local governments and nonprofits at the State Comptroller's Office, says the arrangement is unusual. "You can't pay yourself, and that appears to be what is happening here." Six months later, Bell hired a program director and was provided office space in the Justice A.A. Birch Courthouse and the nonprofit McGruder Center. Bell said the spaces she paid for housed items used for expungement clinics and Saturday Community Service Work dockets, but that the expenses were “pre-approved, reviewed and properly administered” by the Administrative Office of the Courts.” The AOC told NewsChannel 5 that it did not pre-approve the expenses and only learned this week of the connection between Bell and Solutions Now.

Gov. Bill Lee says he will sign legislation requiring “dark-money” groups that contribute to political campaigns to disclose their expenditures before elections. “I think that transparency’s a good idea,” Lee told Tennessee Lookout recently. The governor said he supports the bill in spite of opposition from some 501(c) groups. Opponents say the bill is an overreach and “improperly blurs the lines between election transparency and non-political, non-profit activity.”

Hamilton County Circuit Court Clerk Larry Henry tells Chattanoogan.com that a scam aimed at jurors is continuing to "harass and intimidate the residents of Hamilton County.” Henry reports that those responsible for the scam are demanding monetary payment in lieu of incarceration for those who have allegedly failed to appear for jury service. The perpetrators also provide online payment websites and have requested in-person payment at designated locations. Henry reiterates that this is not the procedure the court uses for those who fail to appear for jury service. He encourages anyone that receives such a call to contact the jury office at 423-209-6726.

The U.S. Senate yesterday voted to confirm Judge Stephanie Dawkins Davis to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit by a vote of 49-43. Davis will be the first Black woman to serve on the court from Michigan, and only the second Black woman on the court, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Davis began her legal career in private practice focused on product liability and commercial litigation and then joined the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. In 2016, she was appointed to the U.S. District Court in Eastern Michigan. Davis will replace Judge Helene N. White, who is retiring. Today, President Joe Biden nominated Ohio lawyer Rachel S. Bloomekatz to also serve on the court. Bloomekatz is a solo practioner in Columbus. She previously served as an assistant attorney general in the Office of the Attorney General in Boston, and as a law clerk on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court for Justice Stephen Breyer.

With Congress deadlocked over how to address racism and excessive use of force, President Joe Biden signed an executive order on policing today, the second anniversary of George Floyd's death. According to the Associated Press, most of the order is focused on federal law enforcement agencies, including directing them to review and revise policies on use of force. The order also restricts the flow of surplus military equipment to local police and creates a database to track officer misconduct. Though the administration cannot require local police departments to participate in the database, it is looking for ways to use federal funding to encourage cooperation. Read more from the White House.

United States 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Bernice Donald on Saturday addressed 121 graduates during the University of Tennessee College of Law’s commencement and hooding ceremonies in Knoxville. “Be courageous and selfless enough to always exercise a measure of empathy and respect for those who may hold views and positions different than yours,” Donald told the students. “It is my hope that you will chart an ethical path forward, and always take the long view, knowing that the decisions you make today will influence the rest of your life.” Members of the class of 2022 performed more than 8,850 hours of pro bono services throughout their law school careers. Read more on the College of Law’s website.