The Davidson County Circuit Court will hold a portrait unveiling for the late Judge Philip Smith, who presided over the 4th Circuit Court for 13 years. The event will take place on Aug. 14 at 2 p.m. CDT in Courtroom 607 at the Historic Metro Courthouse, 1 Public Square, Nashville 37201. A reception will follow. View the invitation.

The TBA Academy offers an exciting opportunity for a limited number of TBA members to be admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. The next admission ceremony will take place Dec. 1 in Washington, D.C. In addition to taking part in an admission ceremony before the U.S. Supreme Court, participants will gather for a special celebration dinner and a tour of the U.S. Capitol. Each attendee also will receive three hours of prepaid credits to use toward future TBA CLE programming. The group will stay at the Hay Adams Hotel. The cost to register is $1,250 for TBA members, which includes the application fee, one hotel night, dinner on Sunday, and breakfast, lunch and transportation to the court on Monday. Guests can be added to the trip for a cost of $500 each. Those interested in participating should complete the online interest form by Aug. 5. Applicants then will be contacted with instructions to complete the full application process. Participants will be selected on a first-come basis. Contact TBAAcademy@tnbar.org with any questions.

The Knoxville Municipal Court and the Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) will host a reception and portrait unveiling honoring City of Knoxville Municipal Judge John R. Rosson Jr., who served in the role for 37 years. The event will be Aug. 6 from 5 to 6 p.m. EDT at the City of Knoxville Municipal Court, located at 1650 Huron St., Knoxville 37917. Members of the local legal community are invited and should register on the KBA's website.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue is offering a free virtual seminar next week about 2025 legislative updates. The program will discuss recent legislative changes to statutes administered by the department or affecting state tax law. It will take place on July 29 beginning at 9 a.m. CDT.

The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) will hold its 2025 Bench & Bar Celebration on Sept. 4 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. EDT. The annual event honors the justices of the Tennessee Supreme Court and celebrates the state judiciary. The celebration will take place at the Knoxville Convention Center, 701 Henley St., Knoxville 37902. Learn more and access registration information online.

The 78th Judicial Conference of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will be held in Memphis Sept. 3-5 at The Peabody Hotel. The conference will open with a welcome reception on Tuesday evening, followed by two days of programming that include plenary and breakout sessions, luncheons and special evening events, including the Life Member Reception at Old Dominick Distillery and a formal banquet at The Peabody. Conference details, including hotel and registration information, can be found on the court's website. Register by Aug. 15. Call 513-564-7270 or email CA06-Conf@ca6.uscourts.gov with questions.

On Aug. 1, the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board will hear in-person arguments in three cases at the Tennessee Supreme Court Building, 401 7th Ave. N., Nashville 37219. All three are interlocutory orders granting benefits. First will be Chad Graves v. Southall Adventures, where both parties have appealed. Southall takes issue with a trial court order where medical causation was disputed, while Graves contests the decision to decline to designate an unauthorized doctor as the treating physician. Next, in Brittney Russell v. Werner Enterprises Inc., Werner appealed an order involving an assault while working, resulting in physical and mental injuries. Russell was delivering freight and had a confrontation with the manager of a retail store, followed by a shopper inserting herself into the argument. The shopper’s husband assaulted the employee. Finally is David Rainey v. US Express, where US Express appealed an order challenging rulings on whether a specific incident at work occurred as Rainey described and medical causation. The arguments begin at 9 a.m. CDT. Access the full docket.

The next legal clinic for veterans in Knoxville will take place Aug. 13 from 12-2 p.m. EDT at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St., Knoxville 37919. This is a general advice clinic sponsored by the Knoxville Bar Association, KBA Barristers, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, the University of Tennessee College of Law, the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office and the local Veterans Affairs office. Attorneys and law students are needed for the in-person clinic. Attorneys also may sign up to help clients by phone during the clinic hours. Sign up to volunteer here.

The American Bar Association (ABA) is launching a yearlong campaign and a two-year traveling exhibit to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The campaign will include a variety of programming and events. The initiative also will feature a traveling exhibit called “250 Years of Independence: Fortifying America’s Commitment to Democracy for All,” to explore the evolving meaning of independence and the role of the rule of law. For information about the initiative contact Betsy Adeboyejo at Betsy.Adeboyejo@americanbar.org. To explore hosting an event contact Anna Snyder, director of the Standing Committee on the Law Library of Congress, at anna.snyder@americanbar.org. Read more in a press release from the association.

Make plans now to join colleagues on July 31 for a panel discussion outlining how attorneys can serve nonprofit organizations. Produced by the Tennessee Bar Association and West Tennessee Legal Services, this program is the first in a three-part series to equip attorneys with the skills and confidence to create, strengthen and support the work of nonprofit organizations. Presenters first will provide an overview of nonprofit law, including the formation, governance and tax implications associated with operating a nonprofit organization. Next, a panel of nonprofit experts will discuss their experiences and recommendations for creating a nonprofit. Although the event is designed for legal professionals, all are welcome to join. Registration for this webcast is free but 1.5 hours of general CLE credit is available for a $50 processing fee.