The annual Robert Ballow Excellence in Writing Awards were presented to Nashville School of Law (NSL) 4L students on March 19. Six students were recognized for their performance in the Rigorous Writing Exercise (RWE) program. The RWE is a project all NSL students embark on as a requirement of graduation. Working with a volunteer mentor from the legal community, students research and write a 15-20 page paper on the topic of their choice. See the list of winners and read their work. Former TBA President and current Tennessee Bar Foundation Treasurer Jackie Dixon was named the 2024 Mentor of the Year. The honor is conferred in recognition of a mentor’s exceptional service to the program; Dixon is in her sixth year as a mentor.

The Metro Nashville School Board last week voted unanimously to rename Brick Church Middle School for the late Judge Richard H. Dinkins in time for the 2025-2026 school year. According to the board, Dinkins had a profound impact on Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) as the lead attorney in a long-running school desegregation case that led to nearly three decades of court supervision of the district before he helped settle it in 1998. He later became the first Black judge on the Tennessee Court of Appeals in 2008 and served with distinction until his retirement in 2022. Dinkins died in 2023.

HB811/SB227, sponsored by Rep. Rusty Grills, R-Newbern, and Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, proposes that charitable organizations across the state, such as churches and homeless shelters, might be held accountable if an undocumented immigrant they knowingly house commits a crime. A spokesperson for the Nashville Rescue Mission told Fox17 that the bill would punish organizations and strain resources. In response, Grills said, "The intention of this bill is not to incriminate those who provide temporary housing for a homeless shelter. It's to deter criminal activity." The sponsors say they plan to add amendments to the bill for more clarity, including possibly expanding what liability entails. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bill last week. The House Civil Justice Subcommittee is set to consider the bill tomorrow.

Mason & Associates Law Firm, which focuses its practice on elder law and estate planning, has moved to 880 Greenlea Blvd., Suite B, Gallatin 37066 in the Greensboro Village Business Center. The firm can be reached at 615-989-7054 or info@planyourlegacy.com.

Twenty-seven attorneys general, including Tennessee Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti, signed onto a U.S. Supreme Court amicus brief filed March 18 by Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. The Nashville Banner reports in its newsletter that the brief calls for the reversal of U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg’s decision that deportation of Venezuelan immigrants to a prison in El Salvador is unconstitutional. The attorneys general argue in the brief that allowing the temporary restraining order to stand undermines public safety and national security. Read more in a press release from the Georgia AG's office. In imposing the temporary ban on March 15, Boasberg raised concerns over due process and reports of possible misidentification. The Trump administration today acknowledged that a Maryland man was wrongly deported to El Salvador due to an "administrative error," despite his protected status, The Hill reports. A split three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit kept the ban in place last week. On Friday, the administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on the case according to the Associated Press.

The TBA Access to Justice Committee is accepting nominations for the 2025 Public Service Awards. The annual awards recognize outstanding commitment to access to justice in three categories: work performed by an attorney employed by an organization primarily involved in providing legal representation to the indigent, pro bono work performed by a private or corporate attorney, and a strong commitment to pro bono service by a Tennessee law student or recent graduate. Nominations and supporting documents will be accepted through April 10. Awards will be presented during the TBA Annual Convention in June.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division will host a new installment in its Rookie Series on April 4 at noon CDT. "Beyond the Courtroom: Exploring Different Career Paths with a Law Degree" will feature a panel of young attorneys who are shaping their careers in fields beyond the courtroom. From in-house counsel and lobbying, to sitting on the bench as a judge and working in academia, panelists in a variety of fields will offer insights into the wide range of opportunities available to law students and young attorneys. Get more information and register. Then join TBA Young Lawyers Division President Sean Aiello on April 16 at noon CDT for the next installment of the Rookie Series. Focusing on the complexities of criminal and civil contempt, this online presentation will address recent developments, pitfalls and practical application of the contempt process with a focus on the interplay with domestic relations statutes. Get more information or register for the webcast. Looking for other introductory CLE programs? Check out the full roster of Rookie Series offerings.

The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) and Tennessee’s American Inns of Court are accepting nominations for the 2025 Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award. The annual award is presented to 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 highest standards of the legal profession in Tennessee. This year's award will be presented to a lawyer or judge residing in the Middle Grand Division. Nominees must be alive when nominations are submitted but they need not be an active member of an American Inn of Court or the TBA. The award will be presented at the TBA's Annual Convention, which will be held in Franklin June 11-14. The deadline for submitting nominations is April 7. Read about past recipients of the award.

Built by Lawyers, Powered by Pros® — the ABA Retirement Funds Program has been providing flexible, tailored retirement plans exclusively to the legal community for over 60 years. The program innovates with a purpose, helping plan participants save more and worry less. Its unique culture is dedicated to the program’s mission of helping every legal professional attain their financial goals. Visit abaretirement.com to learn more or contact Jessica Danner directly at 508-954-4222 or via email at jessica.danner@abaretirement.com.

The TBA will host its 29th Annual Labor and Employment Law Forum on May 2 at the Bradley L. Barrett Training Center in Nashville from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CDT. The forum will provide insights into current labor and employment law topics. Sessions include a case law update and presentations on values-based professionalism, arbitration for employment lawyers, workplace privacy and DEI. More information about the schedule and speakers now is available on the TBA website.