Tammy Cothren Dabbs, Defendant, pleaded guilty to possession of 0.5 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to sell, and the trial court sentenced her to eight years suspended to probation. The trial court subsequently issued a probation violation warrant and multiple amended warrants alleging violations of probation Rule 8 based upon Defendant’s multiple positive drug tests for amphetamine and methamphetamine. At an evidentiary hearing, Defendant admitted to violating the terms of her probation, and the trial court determined the consequences of the violation. Defendant appeals, claiming that the trial court erred by ordering her to serve the balance of her eight-year sentence. Following a review of the record and applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the trial court

This is an estate recovery action initiated by TennCare, the State of Tennessee’s Medicaid program. The trial court denied the estate’s administrator’s exception to TennCare’s claim. Discerning no error, we affirm.

This is a parental rights termination case. Nathaniel D. (“the Child”) is the minor child of Haleigh D. (“Mother”) and Richard L. (“Father”). Mother later married Zachary D. (“Stepfather”). Meanwhile, Father sought to be a part of the Child’s life. In an agreed order of paternity, the Juvenile Court for Knox County (“the Juvenile Court”) stated that “any and all issues related to Custody, visitation, and child support are reserved and referred to the Custody Magistrate.” The issue of child support remained unaddressed. Ultimately, Mother and Stepfather (“Petitioners,” collectively) filed a petition in the Chancery Court for Knox County (“the Trial Court”) seeking to terminate Father’s parental rights. The Trial Court terminated Father’s parental rights on the sole ground of abandonment by failure to support. Father appeals. It is uncontested that Father failed to pay any support even though he had the means to do so. However, Father has successfully asserted and proven by a preponderance of the evidence that his failure to support was not willful. We reverse.

A landlord filed a detainer action in general sessions court against a tenant, seeking possession of the property and unpaid rent. The tenant agreed to move out, and the rent obligation was later discharged by a third party. The tenant filed an appeal to circuit court, and the circuit court dismissed the case, finding that the tenant did not appeal within ten days of the general sessions court’s judgment. The tenant appealed. On appeal, the tenant, appearing pro se, does not address the basis of the circuit court’s dismissal of the case, an untimely appeal from general sessions court to circuit court. Because the tenant has not challenged the basis of the circuit court’s ruling, we dismiss the appeal.

A hearing panel of the Board of Professional Responsibility found that James B. Johnson violated Rules 1.6, 1.16, and 8.4(a) and (d) of the Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct when he publicly filed confidential communications between him and his client as an exhibit to a motion to withdraw. The panel suspended him from the practice of law for three months with thirty days as an active suspension and imposed additional continuing legal education requirements. Finding no abuse of discretion, we affirm.

The U.S. Senate confirmed 48 of President Donald Trump’s nominees with one vote under new rules designed to begin clearing a backlog of executive branch positions that had been delayed, WSMV reports. The new rules allow the Senate to move multiple nominees with a simple majority vote — a process that previously would have been blocked with just one objection. The rules do not apply to judicial nominations or high-level cabinet posts. The Senate voted 51-47 to confirm the four dozen nominees.

Four Middle Tennessee family law attorneys — David Garrett, Jacob T. Thorington, Jason A. Talley and Kayla Redmon — have launched a new firm, Garrett Talley & Thorington, with offices in Franklin. The firm’s family law services represent clients in divorces, including uncontested divorces and complex divorces with high assets or intellectual property assets, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, child custody and child support, alimony and spousal support. David Garrett and Jacob T. Thorington also provide Rule 31 listed family law mediations, the Williamson Herald reports. The lawyers bring a combined 70 years of family law experience to the new firm. “We’re excited to announce this new association. We bring tremendous experience in guiding clients through what can be some of the most difficult times in their lives and providing legal solutions that are specifically designed to meet their unique goals. We share not only experience, but the desire to provide the best guidance possible to our clients,” Garrett said.

An official investiture ceremony was held for Hamilton County Circuit Court’s newest judge, Jennifer Peck, the Chattanoogan reports. Peck, a native of Chattanooga who grew up on Signal Mountain and attended Baylor School, founded Peck Legal Group after graduating from Auburn University and earning her law degree at Regent University. She later served as deputy commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce before being appointed to the bench by Gov. Bill Lee in May and began hearing cases that month. She fills a vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Michael Dumitru, who recently took office as a new federal magistrate judge in East Tennessee.

A total of 101 people born in foreign countries became U.S. citizens Wednesday at a naturalization ceremony at Tusculum University in Greeneville. According to the Greeneville Sun, a large crowd watched as the U.S. District Judge Clifton Corker administered the Oath of Allegiance to the people from 44 countries in the theater at the Annie-Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center on campus. Corker reflected on American history, from the signing of the Constitution in 1787 to the struggles for civil rights, while encouraging the group to exercise freedoms such as speech, religion and voting. Several new citizens shared their personal journeys as well. Following the proceedings, many of the new citizens waited patiently in line to have their photographs taken with Corker and took the opportunity to register to vote in the lobby of the theater.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Sept. 19 affirmed the suspension of Davidson County attorney James B. Johnson for disclosure of confidential client communications. The violations stemmed from Johnson's representation of a client in a divorce proceeding in Shelby County beginning in February 2021. At some point, Johnson and his client began to have disagreements regarding his performance and decisions. Johnson filed a motion to withdraw from representation in March 2021. In support of that motion, Johnson attached emails between him and his client that discussed the scope of his representation, legal opinions and advice, his client’s position on matters at issue in the case, and personal insults between the two. The client then filed a complaint with the Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR), which filed a formal disciplinary petition. The BPR alleged that Johnson disclosed the confidential communications without his client's permission and recommended that he be suspended from the practice of law for three months, with 30 days to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The BPR also recommended that he complete six additional continuing legal education hours. Johnson appealed to discipline first to the Davidson County Circuit Court and then to the state Supreme Court, both which upheld the suspension. Read the court's decision or a press release from the BPR.