Eads attorney Charlotte Knight Griffin took office as president-elect of the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) last week during the group’s Annual Convention in Franklin. She will advance to the presidency in June 2026. Knight Griffin began her career in private practice in Memphis after earning her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law (now Winston College of Law). She joined Memphis Light, Gas and Water as a staff attorney in 1978 and retired in April 2023 after 45 years of service. Knight Griffin has been active in the TBA for many years, most recently serving as vice president, speaker of the House of Delegates and a member of the Board of Governors. She is a past chair of the Local Government Practice and Litigation sections, a charter fellow of the Young Lawyers Division (YLD), a past executive officer of the YLD and president of the TBA YLD Fellows. Read more about her career in this press release.

Knoxville attorney Heidi Barcus took office as president of the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) during the group’s Annual Convention in Franklin last week. Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Dwight Tarwater administered the oath of office at the annual Lawyers Luncheon. Barcus has been active in the TBA for many years, serving most recently as TBA president-elect, Second District representative on the TBA Board of Governors and as a member of the TBA’s Law Office Technology & Management Section and Tort and Insurance Practice Section. She also has been active in the Knoxville Bar Association and American Bar Association. She handles health care, litigation, product liability and professional liability matters as a shareholder with Lewis Thomason. Read more about her career in this press release.

A Davidson County jury convicted the Defendant, Michael Denver Richardson, as charged of first degree premeditated murder, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal, the Defendant argues: (1) the trial court improperly admitted four of his prior convictions for impeachment purposes; (2) the trial court erred in admitting certain evidence at trial; (3) the trial court erred in denying his motion for judgment of acquittal; (4) the trial court erred in denying jury instructions on self-defense and defense of another; and (5) cumulative error requires reversal of his conviction. After review, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

This case is about a court’s authority to modify a final criminal judgment. Nearly four decades ago, Pervis Payne received two death sentences for brutally murdering a single mother and her two-year-old daughter. Because of the possibility that the death sentences might be commuted to life sentences in future proceedings, the court aligned the sentences to be served consecutively. Years later—after this Court held that the execution of persons with intellectual disabilities violates the federal and state constitutions, see Van Tran v. State, 66 S.W.3d 790, 812 (Tenn. 2001)—the Tennessee legislature established a procedure whereby certain death-sentenced inmates could receive an intellectual disability determination to evaluate the constitutionality of their sentences. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-203(g) (2021). Payne made use of that pathway and was adjudicated intellectually disabled. The trial judge presiding over that adjudication vacated Payne’s death sentences and imposed two life sentences in their place. But the court did not stop there: it also revisited the earlier consecutive sentencing determination and ordered that Payne’s sentences be served concurrently instead, which would make Payne eligible for parole in 2026. We hold that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to realign Payne’s sentences. Once a criminal judgment becomes final, it may not be modified unless a statute or rule authorizes its modification. The trial court had authority to adjudicate Payne intellectually disabled under Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-203(g). It also had authority to vacate Payne’s death sentences and substitute sentences of life imprisonment under Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-2-205(e) (1982). No statute or rule, however, gave the trial court authority to realign Payne’s sentences, so we vacate that part of the trial court’s judgment.

June 9, 2025 - June 13, 2025.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division Fellows held its annual meeting Friday night as part of the TBA's 2025 Annual Convention. The group elected Memphis attorney Mason Wilson as president, Chattanooga attorney David McDowell as vice president, Memphis attorney Nicole Grida as secretary and Nashville attorney Jamie Durrett as treasurer. Outgoing president Michelle Greenway Sellers of Jackson inducted seven new fellows: Nashville attorney Anthony Adewumi, Chattanooga attorney Brittany Faith, Franklin attorney Charles Ferguson, Knoxville attorney Matt Knable, Nashville attorney Princess Rogers and Nashville attorney John Wilks. Nashville attorney Joycelyn Stevenson was named an honorary fellow. Stevenson was TBA's executive director from 2017-2022 and now serves as managing shareholder of Littler Mendelson's Nashville office. See photos from event. Earlier in the day, the group presented the 2025 William M. Leech Jr. Public Service Award to 21st Judicial District Circuit Court Judge and Chancellor David Veile. Read more about that recognition in this press release.

The federal sentencing hearings for five former Memphis police officers charged in the 2023 death of Tyre Nichols have been canceled after a judge recused himself last week. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith were expected to be sentenced in federal court this week for their roles in Nichols’ death. According to the Daily Memphian, U.S. District Judge Mark Norris recused himself June 13, and the hearings were officially canceled with a notice filed today. A status conference is scheduled for June 20. U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman is now overseeing the case.

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued a decision in State of Tennessee v. Pervis Tyrone Payne affirming the trial court’s modification of Payne’s death sentences but vacating its order that the sentences be served concurrently instead of consecutively. Payne was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in 1987 for the murders of Charisse Christopher and her 2-year-old daughter, and the attempted murder of Christopher’s 3-year-old son. The court ruled that while a 2021 law allowed the trial court to reduce Payne’s death sentences due to intellectual disability, it did not authorize the court to change the sentencing alignment. As a result, Payne’s life sentences must be served consecutively, delaying his eligibility for parole. Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Paula Skahan had ruled in February 2022 that Payne would serve his two life sentences concurrently, which would have made him eligible for parole in five years. His death penalty sentence was officially vacated in November 2021.

Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, Deputy Commissioner Andy Holt and State Forester Heather Slayton toured storm-damaged farms in Unicoi and Washington counties to witness firsthand the cleanup efforts underway and assess the remaining needs following the devastation of Tropical Storm Helene. Joined by State Reps. Renea Jones, R-Unicoi and Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough, the officials visited several sites, including Miller Farm and Scott’s Strawberry and Tomato Farm, reaffirming the state’s commitment to helping farmers and forest landowners recover, according to the state Department of Agriculture. The storm, which hit the region in September 2024, caused an estimated $547 million to $1.8 billion in agricultural and timber losses across more than 150,000 acres. The Department of Agriculture has petitioned the USDA for a block grant to cover losses and is working to secure additional federal aid. Gov. Bill Lee’s $100 million Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund also will support ongoing recovery, with first round recipients to be announced in July.

The American Bar Association (ABA) has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government and more than two dozen federal departments and agencies asking a federal court to declare unconstitutional what it called the Trump administration’s "ongoing unlawful policy of intimidation against lawyers and law firms." The group argues these attacks have had a chilling effect across the legal profession “causing harm to the justice system at large and limiting access to representation for individuals and organizations whose positions the administration disfavors.” Read more about the suit in a press release. According to Bloomberg Law, the group is being represented by Susman Godfrey, one of four law firms that sued the administration over an executive order that targeted its work.