U.S. District Court Judge Thomas A. Varlan with the Eastern District of Tennessee will be honored with the 2026 Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award from the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) and Tennessee’s American Inns of Court. The award will be presented at the TBA’s Lawyers Luncheon set for June 12 as part of the group’s Annual Convention in Knoxville.

Varlan will be honored for his long tenure on the bench, including handling many of East Tennessee’s most publicized and significant trials, and exhibiting the highest level of integrity and professionalism in his work. Presentation of the award this year is timely given that Varlan has announced he will take senior status this fall. In a letter supporting Varlan for the award, the other judges of the district court praised his judicial temperament and selflessness exhibited while serving as chief judge of the district. In particular, they point to his decision to end his term as chief judge six months early so his colleague, the late Judge Pamela Reeves, could become the first female chief judge in the history of the district. Had Varlan served his full term, Reeves would not have been age-eligible to succeed him.

In announcing this year’s recipient, TBA President Heidi Barcus said: “Throughout his judicial service, Judge Varlan has exhibited the ideals embodied in this award, demonstrating character and integrity as well as dedication to the highest standards of the rule of law and the legal profession. The fact that he served with Judge Reeves and sacrificed his own interests to see her rise to the position of chief judge makes presentation of an award named in her honor all the more poignant.” The professionalism award honors 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 legal profession in Tennessee. It is named in honor of the late Judge Pamela L. Reeves, former chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee and the first recipient of the award. Reeves was an active leader in both the American Inns of Court and the TBA, where she was elected the first female president in 1988. Read more about Varlan's selection in a press release from the TBA.

A new study from Stanford Law School found that law professors preferred artificial intelligence-generated responses over answers written by fellow professors when evaluating common first-year law student questions. According to Reuters, professors from 14 law schools compared responses from faculty members and two AI platforms and selected the AI-generated answers as more beneficial to students 75% of the time. Researchers said the findings suggest AI is capable of sophisticated legal reasoning and could serve as an effective tutoring tool for law students. 

The Shelby County Election Commission will add a special election for criminal court judge to the Aug. 6 ballot following the decision by Criminal Court Judge Chris Craft to move up his retirement date from July to June 7, the Daily Memphian reports. Candidates may begin obtaining qualifying petitions on June 8 and must file them with the Election Commission by June 17. The withdrawal deadline for qualified candidates is June 20. The Division 8 race joins five other special judicial elections already on the August ballot: Chancery Part 2, Circuit Court Division 3, Criminal Court Division 1, General Sessions Civil Court Division 2 and General Sessions Criminal Court Division 7. See a list of all of candidates who have qualified with the Shelby County Election Commission for the August ballot.

The TBA's LGBT Section will host the 2026 LGBT Forum on June 26 in Nashville, kicking off Pride weekend with discussions on conversion therapy, the case of Chiles v. Salazar, constitutional rights and other issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. The program also will feature Nashville Metro Council Member-at-Large Olivia Hill, who will discuss her campaign to become the city's first transgender council member. Additional speakers include attorneys Maureen Holland and John Rice, as well as somatic psychotherapist Jeremy Lehmann. More information and link to register are available on the TBA website.

The 2026 Convention CLE lineup will offer 8.5 hours of credit, including a presentation from Livingston lawyers Emily and Evan Wright with Wright & Wright LLP. The pair will provide a practical overview of how attorneys can use AI tools effectively while maintaining independent judgment and meeting ethical obligations. Emily and Evan are managing partners of the firm. Emily handles civil, real estate, probate, criminal and juvenile law. Evan handles civil, real estate, probate, criminal and juvenile law. The firm also serves as counsel for Pickett County. Learn more about the convention and register here. Can’t make the full convention? Day passes for Thursday’s Tech Showcase are available and include access to this CLE session.

Can't join us for the full TBA Convention this month? Or maybe you need to add a guest ticket for a specific event? Individual tickets now are available for purchase for the following events: Wednesday's opening reception; Thursday's Public Service Breakfast, University of Tennessee Winston College of Law Breakfast, TBA's Tech Showcase and the evening reception at Smokies stadium; and Friday's breakfast and Lawyers Luncheon. Buy tickets here. Pre-registration for TBA's 2026 Convention in Knoxville will close this coming Sunday, June 7, at 11:59 p.m. CDT. Only on-site registration will be accepted after that.

Senior Judge Don R. Ash has been assigned to oversee the cases of 11 current and former Knox County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) employees, including former Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones, indicted on charges of conspiring to illegally spend drug funds and misuse department staff time. According to WBIR, Ash was assigned because Knox County judicial personnel have personal connections to several defendants. Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen similarly recused herself, and Steven Crump, executive director of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference, has been appointed district attorney general pro tem. The indictments — stemming from a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probe built on a prior federal investigation — came shortly after a county Republican primary in which two of the defendants ran for sheriff. That race ultimately was won by a KCSO employee who was not among those charged. Knox News has more on the case.

Cosby resident Sheila Grooms McMahan has announced her candidacy for Tennessee state representative in District 11. Newport Plain Talk reports that her campaign will focus on preserving the traditions and way of life that define East Tennessee while addressing the pressures facing rural families. McMahan has voiced strong opposition to private school voucher programs, arguing they divert critical funding from public schools and fail to benefit average families. She also said she will focus on property tax reform, the rising costs of utilities and everyday essentials, economic development, and reducing unnecessary government spending while prioritizing core services such as infrastructure, education and health care.

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam accusing them of shirking jury duty. A recent victim told the department that an unknown caller threatened them with arrest and used real personal information to pressure them into compliance. The sheriff’s office says real officers will never demand cash payment to avoid arrest, issue a “gag order” over the phone or threaten additional charges for hanging up. They urge residents who receive suspicious calls to hang up and reach out directly to the sheriff’s office. News Channel 5 has more on the scam.

The Defendant, Michele Lee Ridgeway, pled guilty to two counts of the sale of more than 0.5 grams of methamphetamine. The trial court imposed an effective sentence of eight years suspended to supervised probation. Thereafter, the Defendant allegedly violated the terms of her probation by possessing drug paraphernalia in her residence. Following a revocation hearing, the trial court fully revoked the Defendant’s suspended sentences and ordered her to serve the remainder of her sentences in confinement. On appeal, the Defendant raises two issues: (1) whether the State proved that she violated the conditions of her suspended sentences; and (2) whether the trial court abused its discretion in fully revoking her probation as a consequence of the alleged violation. Upon our review, we conclude that the State did not prove that the Defendant violated the terms of her probation. Because we resolve the appeal on that basis, we do not reach the second issue. Accordingly, we respectfully reverse and vacate the revocation order and remand the case for dismissal of the revocation proceedings.