The voter registration deadline for the upcoming Aug. 4 election is Tuesday. Early voting will take place July 15 through July 30. Races on the August ballot include primaries for governor, U.S. House of Representatives, Tennessee General Assembly and Democratic State Executive Committee. General elections will also be held that day for state judicial offices and applicable county offices. Get registration information and an election calendar on the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will host a free webinar on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. CDT focused on tax issues for new businesses. Participants will learn about state tax obligations and other resources that may help their businesses. Register here or see other upcoming webinars.

Civil rights attorney Fred Gray will receive the nation’s highest honor — the Presidential Medal of Freedom — on July 7, the National Bar Association announced today. The Alabama native became a global icon for Black American jurists, lawyers and law students during his long career, driving some of the country's most significant court decisions impacting the lives of Black Americans and other underserved communities. His accomplishments include representing Rosa Parks, and serving as the attorney for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., legal counsel for the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study victims, and president of the Alabama State Bar and National Bar Association. In 2006, Gray spoke at the Tennessee Bar Association’s Diversity Summit. In 2016, Lipscomb University renamed its Institute for Law, Justice & Society for Gray. Randall Spivey, academic director for the institute, wrote about Gray’s legacy in the October 2016 issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal.

The TBA is now accepting applications for the award-winning Public Service Academy (PSA), back after a two-year break due to the pandemic. The PSA is a bipartisan, statewide effort to encourage attorneys to take on public service leadership roles in their communities and run for office. Those accepted for the program will take part in a two-day program Sept. 8-9, and a two-day program Nov. 18-19. Both sessions will be in Nashville featuring top political and campaign experts. Applications are due by July 22, so apply now or encourage your friends and colleagues who have aspirations for public service to apply.

The Tennessee Bar Association offices will be closing at 2 p.m. CDT tomorrow and will remain closed on Friday and Monday for the July 4th holiday. The office will reopen at 8 a.m. CDT on Tuesday. Need to reach a staff member? All staff emails and direct lines are posted online.

A retirement celebration for Davidson County Seventh Circuit Probate Court Judge Randy Kennedy will be held on Aug. 23, 2- 4 p.m. CDT, on the sixth floor of the Historic Davidson County Courthouse. A committee is actively planning the event and more information will follow. Please contact Adam Hill with questions or ideas.

The TBA is hosting a new book club that will meet quarterly over the next 12 months. We want your input in choosing the first book. The first series of books involves a theme of racial relations and disparities through personal, societal and legal perspectives. We have created a webpage featuring three suggested books to kick off this initiative. Learn more and vote on the first book by July 11, then watch for more details to participate in this virtual book club.

The 2022 Equal Justice University will be held Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro. Registration is now open for the conference, which will include 30+ learning sessions, basic skills sessions for those new to specific practice areas or who want to refresh their knowledge base, networking opportunities and presentation of the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Service’s Access to Justice Awards. Get hotel details here.

The next Veterans’ Legal Advice Clinic — a joint project of Knoxville area legal organizations — will take place July 13 from noon to 2 p.m. EDT at the Knoxville Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St. This general advice and referral clinic is supported by the Knoxville Bar Association Barristers and Young Lawyers Division, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office, University of Tennessee  College of Law, Lincoln Memorial University-Duncan School of Law, and the local Veterans Affairs office. Sign up here to volunteer. Unvaccinated individuals are asked to wear a mask.

The Memphis Lawyers’ Chapter of the Federalist Society is hosting a virtual event on Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. CDT with state Sen. John D. Stevens, R-Huntington, who will present a legislative update. Attorneys interested in attending can register by contacting J. Gregory Grisham, 901-333-2076 or signing up online.