Rep. Robin Smith, R-Hixson, today resigned from the Tennessee House after she was charged on one federal count of honest services wire fraud, the Tennessean reports. Prosecutors allege Smith, Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, and Casada's former top aide Cade Cothren worked to set up a firm known as Phoenix Solutions, concealing its operator as Cothren engineered kickbacks to Smith and Casada. Smith and Casada allegedly received kickbacks from Cothren in exchange for using their official positions to pressure the House Speaker's Office to approve Phoenix Solutions as an official vendor and disburse state funds to the firm, according to court records. The Tennessee Journal reports that Smith has reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. A hearing on the matter is set for tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. CST in Nashville.

The TBA Leadership Law (TBALL) program kicked off the 2022 year last week with a three-day opening retreat at Montgomery Bell State Park. Now in its 19th year, the six-month leadership training program is designed to equip participants with the vision, knowledge and skills necessary to serve as leaders in the profession and in the community as a whole. The select group of 34 lawyers comes from across the state, representing diverse practice areas and backgrounds. During the weekend retreat, class members participated in a variety of leadership exercises and heard from presenters like Nashville attorneys Byron Trauger and Randy Kinnard, TBA President Sherie Edwards and a panel of judges that included Magistrate Jennifer Wade, Judge Mary Wagner and Judge Danielle Mitchell Sims. The group’s next session, titled “Issues in Policy & Politics,” will take place next month in Nashville. Meet the Class of 2022.

K&L Gates has named Lauren Patten as the new managing partner for its Nashville office. Patten, a Nashville native, joined the firm when it opened the office in early 2021. A member of the firm’s Complex Commercial Litigation and Disputes group, Lauren is a trial lawyer who handles complex commercial disputes, arbitrations and internal investigations, representing clients in both jury and bench trials in state and federal courts. Having recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of its establishment, the Nashville office now includes more than 40 lawyers across a variety of practice groups. She earned her law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 2008.

TBA Director of Public Policy & Government Affairs Berkley Schwarz and Adams and Reese attorneys and TBA lobbyists, Brad Lampley and Ashley Harbin, tackle this week’s news from the General Assembly on the latest episode of the TBA’s Legislative Updates. New this week: a meeting with House Speaker Cameron Sexton regarding elimination of the Professional Privilege Tax and the committee passage of two of TBA’s legislative initiatives, HB2357/SB2385 and HB2070/SB2056. To see a list of all of TBA’s bills, visit our online bill tracker. Legislative Updates airs every Thursday on the TBA’s Facebook page. It is also released as a podcast on the same day and can be found on the TBA’s website or wherever you listen to podcasts.

TurnSignl, an app that helps drivers record roadside interactions with law enforcement and immediately access lawyers via videoconferencing, won the Startup Alley pitch competition at the ABA Techshow 2022 this week, the ABA Journal reports. Jazz Hampton, CEO and general counsel at TurnSignl, said, “Our mission is simple and three pronged: It’s to protect drivers’ civil rights, to de-escalate roadside interactions and third, and most importantly, ensure every driver and law enforcement officer returns home safe at the end of the day.” App users gain 24/7 access to a network of attorneys who have all gone through third-party de-escalation training as a condition of being allowed onto the platform. The app is currently available to drivers in California, Georgia and Minnesota, but the company’s goal is to expand to all 50 states.

The state last week set three new execution dates for inmates in 2022, driving the total number of executions planned this year to five, the Tennessean reports. The state had temporarily halted executions during the pandemic but is currently planning one execution every other month beginning in April. The new dates include an Aug. 18 execution for Byron Black, a Dec. 8 execution date for Donald Middlebrooks, and an Oct. 6 execution date for Gary Sutton. The Tennessee Supreme Court last fall set execution dates of April 21 for Oscar Smith and June 9 for Harold Nichols. The Nashville Scene and Chattanoogan.com have more on those cases.

The American Bar Association will host its Law Day 2022 Launch Program on March 8 at 3 p.m. CST. The virtual program will provide suggestions and guidance for local Law Day celebrations, including a panel discussion on the 2022 Law Day theme, “Toward a More Perfect Union: The Constitution in Times of Change.” The ABA provides resources for schools, state and local bar associations, civic organizations and others that are planning programs and activities for public audiences. Access the online 2022 planning guide. Envisioned in 1957 by then-ABA President Charles S. Rhyne as a national day to recognize the country’s commitment to the rule of law, Law Day was established by President Dwight Eisenhower the following year. Congress issued a joint resolution in 1961 designating May 1 as the official Law Day.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments met today to consider seven applicants for two imminent vacancies on the Court of Criminal Appeals Eastern Section. After holding a public hearing and conducting public interviews, the council selected four individuals to forward to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. They are: 10th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Andrew Freiberg, 11th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Thomas Greenholtz, 6th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Kyle Hixon, and 5th Judicial District Assistant District Attorney Tracy Jenkins. The vacancies were created by the decisions of judges Norma McGee Ogle and D. Kelly Thomas Jr. to not seek retention in the August 2022 election. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more on each of the candidates.

The Tennessee Bar Association and Tennessee’s American Inns of Court are now accepting nominations for the 2022 Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award. The annual award is presented to a lawyer or judge whose life and practice display sterling character and unquestioned integrity, coupled with ongoing dedication to the highest standards of the rule of law and the highest standards of the legal profession in Tennessee. The award will be presented to a lawyer or judge residing in the grand division of the state where the TBA's Annual Convention is held (this year, the Middle Grand Division). Nominees must be alive when their nomination is submitted but need not be an active member of an American Inn of Court or the TBA. The TBA Annual Convention is scheduled to be held in Nashville the week of June 13. The deadline for submitting nominations is April 3.

Hamilton County General Sessions Judge Gary W. Starnes has been awarded the Judge Leon Ruben Memorial Award for Excellence, an award intended to bestow an honor upon judges who distinguish themselves in service to the community and the Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference. The award is named after the late Judge Leon Ruben, who served as a sitting judge in Nashville for 37 years. He also served as a Metro Council member and was known for his excellent contributions to the community. "I am blessed and honored to receive this distinguished award from my colleagues and our judicial conference," Starnes said.