In this episode of BarBuzz, TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright sits down with TBA President Heidi Barcus, the association’s 145th president, for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, service and the legal profession. A Knoxville attorney and shareholder at Lewis Thomason, Barcus reflects on being sworn in at the TBA Annual Convention in Franklin in June, her path from in-house counsel to private practice and how years of involvement with the TBA have shaped her approach to leading the organization. The discussion also highlights her presidential priorities, including boosting member engagement, supporting first-generation lawyers and those who did not pass the bar exam on their first attempt, and promoting professionalism and civility in the practice of law. Listeners can catch past episodes anytime in the BarBuzz archive.

The TBA has announced the selection of 34 attorneys from across the state for its 2026 Leadership Law (TBALL) program. Now in its 23rd year, TBALL is designed to equip Tennessee lawyers with the vision, knowledge and skills necessary to serve as leaders in their profession and local communities. The class will meet for its first session in January and spend the next six months learning about leadership in the legal profession, issues in the courts, policymaking in state government and the importance of community service. See the full list of class members.

Five Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) board members and the district have sued the Shelby County Election Commission, arguing that new state and county election changes unlawfully shorten their four-year terms by forcing them onto the 2026 ballot. The lawsuit claims the changes violate the Tennessee Constitution and were a coordinated effort by lawmakers and county commissioners to punish board members who voted to fire former Superintendent Marie Feagins. According to the Daily Memphian, attorneys are seeking an injunction to block the five seats from appearing on the 2026 ballot as partisan school board elections. Feagins in November announced she would run for Shelby County mayor.

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) has promoted Assistant Professor of Law Kayla Swiney to director of bar success. In this role, Swiney will oversee bar preparation initiatives and provide support to students and graduates throughout the bar exam and admissions process. Swiney’s leadership will be central as the law school transitions to preparing students for the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam, according to a news release. “I am so excited to take on the role of director of bar success and to assist our students from their first day of law school through the final stages of bar preparation,” Swiney said. “The implementation of the NextGen bar exam will allow me the unprecedented opportunity to work side by side with our graduates to ensure they feel supported, confident and ready to succeed on this new exam.”

Attorneys for Metro Nashville's legal department have reviewed an ethics complaint against Metro Councilmember Rollin Horton, filed by a group of his West Nashville constituents. The attorneys found that, if true, the allegations in the complaint did not rise to ethics violations and will recommend to the Board of Ethical Conduct that the complaint be dismissed. The complaint stems largely from a failed recall effort and cites incidents including an Instagram post that displayed a resident’s address, police being called on petition gatherers and alleged pressure on business owners. The Nashville Banner reports on the developments.

The Nashville Bar Association (NBA) named Sherie Edwards as its 2026 president at its Annual Meeting last week. Edwards, a former TBA president, received her law degree from Nashville School of Law in 1996, and completed her MBA at Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Business in 2012. She retired as vice president of corporate and legal at SVMIC in 2024 after 25 years with the company and plans to launch a mediation practice in early 2026. Edwards also is a board member at the Tennessee Justice Center, a member of the National Conference of Bar Presidents Executive Council, president-elect of the Harry Phillips Inn of Court, and a delegate to the ABA House of Delegates. Other new officers announced were 1st Vice President Ben Raybin, 2nd Vice President Judge Ana Escobar, President-elect Beau Creson, 1st Vice President-elect Cherrelle Hooper, 2nd Vice President-elect Josh Burgener, Secretary Victoria Gentry, Treasurer Billy Leslie, YLD President Ryan Loufbourrow, General Counsel Lela M. Hollabaugh, and new board members Jason Gichner, Callie Hinson, Jae Lim, Bart Pickett, Tabitha Robinson and Princess Rogers. The NBA also presented the John C. Tune Public Service Award to Rebecca Lyford. The award recognizes members who make outstanding contributions to the greater Nashville area community while distinguishing themselves as practicing attorneys. Read more in a press release.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments met in Jackson on Dec. 10 to select nominees for an upcoming vacancy on the Court of Appeals Western Section, which will occur with the retirement of Judge Kenny Armstrong on Feb. 9, 2026. After holding a public hearing and conducting interviews, the council selected three nominees to forward to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. They are: Eileen Kuo, Steven Wayne Maroney and Gadson William Perry. View the nominees’ applications on the Administrative Office of the Courts website.

Blount County Juvenile Court recently announced the appointment of Richard H. Robinson as magistrate judge for Blount County. The oath of office was administered by General Sessions Court Judge Kenlyn Foster. Robinson previously served as as a special master for Knox County's 4th Circuit Court. He is a 2005 graduate of the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law. “We are pleased to welcome Magistrate Judge Robinson to Blount County Juvenile Court,” said Foster. “He brings vast legal knowledge and experience to his new role, and more important, he is a genuinely kind person who shows great compassion for the children and families who appear before him.” Read more in a press release from the court. See photos from the swearing in ceremony.

Knox County Chancellor John Weaver directed that documents concerning the state’s execution procedures and recent executions be provided immediately to the legal team of Harold Nichols, who was executed Dec. 11. The October lawsuit from Nichols alleges that the Tennessee Department of Correction has refused to release key records. Nichols’ attorneys cite months of unanswered or denied requests. Weaver heard arguments in November and required all contested documents be submitted by Dec. 3. A future hearing will determine whether the records were withheld willfully, WATE reports.

The American Alliance for Equal Rights filed a federal lawsuit against the Women of Knoxville and its nonprofit community fund, The Women Foundation, claiming the group’s initiative to provide small loans to Black-owned businesses is discriminatory, Knox News reports. The program requires applicants’ businesses to be at least 51% Black-owned. In September, a white woman affiliated with the alliance sued the nonprofits in federal court, arguing the program discriminates by awarding money exclusively to Black-owned businesses. The funds, raised through private fundraising, do not include taxpayer dollars. The Southern Poverty Law Center and the Global Black Economic Forum have joined the lawsuit defending the Knoxville organizations. On Nov. 4, the alliance sent a letter to Knox County commissioners threatening legal action against the county. The nonprofits said the alliance misreads federal law and showed a “willful disregard” for the program’s specifics, adding that private charitable funds are not subject to the review the group seeks.