The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee last week announced that Penelope R. Convertino, age 22, of Murfreesboro, has been charged with making a threat to murder a federal official with the intent to impede, intimidate and interfere with U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn while she was engaged in the performance of her official duties. “Our public officials should be able to do their jobs without receiving vile death threats,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “Threatening public officials with deadly violence cannot and will not be tolerated. We will not hesitate to hold those who make these kinds of violent threats accountable for their crimes.” Read more in a press release from the office.

Ginny Blake, District 9 representative for the TBA Young Lawyers Division, last week organized a Tennessee Free Legal Answers Clinic which was held at Belmont University College of Law. Twelve Belmont law students were partnered with five volunteer attorneys to research and answer questions submitted by Tennesseans across the state. See photos from the event.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) recently announced in an email to TBA that it has received two new grants to help fund improvements to its services for low-income residents of Middle Tennessee. The Lawyers Trust Account has awarded LAS a $50,000 grant, which will fund the printing of forms and packets for pro se litigants, as well as a series of legal explainer videos for LAS's website. Additionally, Legal Services Corporation's (LSC) Pro Bono Innovation Fund has awarded LAS a $106,717 grant to implement recommended changes to its pro bono program. The recommendations came from a consultant who analyzed the program, which was funded by a previous LSC grant.

The Nashville Bar Association (NBA) recently announced the members of the 2026 Nashville Bar Foundation (NBF) leadership class. In 2014, NBF established the Leadership Forum — a nine-month leadership program for lawyers with three to eight years of experience — to bring together emerging leaders who participate in monthly workshops to help them realize their potential and benefit the legal profession and the local community. NBF President Laura Smith says, "We are proud to welcome the 2026 Nashville Bar Foundation Leadership Forum class. This distinguished group of attorneys represents the future of leadership in our profession. We are confident that their contributions will strengthen both the legal community and the broader Nashville community for years to come." Read more about the class in a press release.

Herzfeld, Suetholz, Gastel, Leniski and Wall (HSGLaW) recently announced it has moved to new office office space in Nashville's midtown. “Our roots in Nashville run deep, and we’re thrilled to reaffirm our commitment to this community by moving into a new, purpose-built space,” said founding member Tricia Herzfeld. “Nashville is not just where we work — it’s our home. We look forward to continuing to stand up for working people in Tennessee and across the nation from this new base.” In addition to its Nashville headquarters, HSGLaW maintains offices in Cincinnati, Louisville and Washington, D.C. The firm now is located at 1920 Adelicia St., Ste. 300, Nashville 37212. Visit www.hsglawgroup.com for more information.

Retired Court of Appeals Judge Alan Highers died Aug. 27 at age 88. He received his law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Highers practiced law with Gerber & Gerber and with Neely, Green & Fargarson in Memphis until he was appointed chief magistrate at the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County. In 1982, Gov. Lamar Alexander appointed him to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Western Section, and he later became the senior appellate judge in Tennessee. Highers retired in 2014, after 37 years of judicial service. Memorial gifts may be sent to The Highers Scholarship at Freed-Hardeman University, 158 East Main St., Henderson, TN 38340.

The 22nd Annual TBA Leadership Law (TBALL) program has launched its annual call for nominations for the 2026 class. Nominees should have from five to 15 years of experience in practice. Nominations are due Sept. 19 and should be submitted using this online form. Candidates from rural communities are especially encouraged, as their perspectives are vital to representing the full scope of Tennessee’s legal profession and maintaining the success of this impactful program. Last year, 35 lawyers from across the state were accepted into the program. The new class will kick off in January 2026 with an opening retreat at Montgomery Bell State Park and end next June with a commencement ceremony during the TBA Annual Convention in Knoxville. Email TBALL coordinators Tanja Trezise or Jarod Word with any questions.

The Journal’s “back page” content looks a little different in 2025! Introducing “Closing Statements.” We’ll post a question here in each issue and invite you to submit your answer. Perhaps you’ll see your closing statement in the next issue! For this issue, we asked "How do you unwind? Do you have a creative or competitive pursuit?"

Federal tax law is a constant political battlefield, and changes are more frequent and more drastic than they used to be. Tennessee now makes annual updates to trust legislation, and keeping up is a bigger lift than it used to be. Eddy Smith explains important developments in T&E practice in Where There's a Will.

Every year, the Tennessee Legislature passes legislation that impacts tort law, and the 114th General Assembly was no exception. In Day on Torts, John Day shares a summary of seven bills that personal injury and wrongful death lawyers on both sides of the “v” need to know.