The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) on behalf of the Tennessee Supreme Court has proposed a new structure for handling the appointment of attorneys in indigent cases. One question that has been raised is why the AOC chose to propose a new system rather than work to raise the hourly rate of compensation. In a recent interview with TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr., AOC staff explained they were encouraged to look at different approaches and be experimental, proactive and forward thinking. In addition to increasing compensation, the proposed plan also is designed to increase the number of attorneys willing to take cases and get those attorneys paid quicker and on a more regular basis. The AOC staff also noted that several states that have raised their hourly rates — in one case, double of what Tennessee pays — still struggle to find enough lawyers to take cases. As part of this plan, the AOC is asking for an additional $17 million in recurring funding, which will allow it to build out the new system and increase compensation — a win for lawyers and the judicial system. Watch the full interview or learn more about the plan and indigent representation in Tennessee.

The Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) has announced the appointment of Caitlin Torney as its new director of career services and alumni relations. Torney earned both her undergraduate and law degrees from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Since 2020, Torney has served as director of pro bono for Legal Aid of East Tennessee. She also has served as co-chair of the Knoxville Bar Association's Access to Justice Committee since 2023. LMU Law Vice President and Dean Matt Lyon said, “[Caitlin] is uniquely situated to build on the foundation our Career Services Office has created with employers throughout our region and beyond, while also expanding pro bono and service opportunities for our students and graduates.” Read more in a press release from the school.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights reports it has opened two investigations into American universities. The first is looking at 60 universities — including the University of Tennessee (UT) — over allegations of antisemitic discrimination and harassment. UT was included on the list due to it being “under investigation or monitoring in response to complaints.” According to Knox News, a university spokesperson confirmed a student complaint was filed in 2023, but that the school has “cooperated fully” with the department. A second investigation was opened into 45 universities — including Vanderbilt University — alleging the institutions engaged in race-exclusionary practices by partnering with “The Ph.D. Project,” an organization that provides doctoral students with insights into obtaining an advanced degree. The department says the program limits eligibility based on the race of participants.

The Energy, Environment & Land Use (EELU) Program at Vanderbilt Law recently announced the launch of the Private Climate Governance (PCG) Lab, which will serve as a hub for innovative scholarship, resources and student learning opportunities in the emerging field of private climate governance. According to the school, the lab provides feasible solutions to private actors — ranging from individuals to corporations, financial institutions, religious organizations and advocacy groups — that can effectively contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. “Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time, and it is more important now than ever to engage everyone in the fight,” said Ethan Thorpe, inaugural fellow for the lab. “The Lab will provide a platform for educational and practical resources that support interdisciplinary climate action,” he said. Read more in a press release.

The Family Safety Center of Memphis and Shelby County abruptly ceased operations on March 5. The agency served as a “one-stop shop” for victims of domestic violence, aiding victims in obtaining orders of protection in coordination with police and the district attorney’s office, and connecting families to housing, food and other resources. The Tennessee Lookout reports that federal funding for victims of crime in Tennessee has dwindled in recent years from a peak of $68 million in 2018 to $16 million last year. The center received $742,000 in federal crime victim funding in 2020, according to the Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs (OCJP), which distributes federal funding to Tennessee nonprofits. This year, that funding was about $132,000. The OCJP received notice March 6 that the center had shuttered the previous day. Ethel Hilliard, the center’s executive director, “stated that the closure was due to a board decision related to financial issues,” an OCJP spokesperson said. A group of advocates is asking the state legislature to provide additional funding.

A bill allowing interest rates to increase at payday lending places is now headed to Gov. Bill Lee's desk, reports News Channel 5. HB775/SB694 would allow for any amount of $100 or more to have an effective borrow rate of 36%. Sponsored by Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro, and Sen. Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, the bill passed in the Senate along party lines, but in the House a few Republicans voted against the measure for a breakdown of 61-26-8. One Republican opponent, Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, said he opposed the bill for raising interest rates on the working poor. House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, said it was time to update state law: "We adjust [the rate] from time to time, to allow those companies to still be able to survive, even though they were taking very high risk loans for folks ... Those companies have to come to us, and prove to us there has to be an adjustment before we’re comfortable raising that limit."

Wally Dietz, legal director for Metro Nashville Government, suffered a minor stroke at the office on Monday and was taken to the hospital. Alex Apple, spokesperson for Mayor Freddie O’Connell, stated the following in an email to The Nashville Banner: “Director Dietz became ill at work, and he is in the hospital, but he is doing well.” The paper reports that during his nearly four years with Metro Legal, Dietz’s most prominent role has been advocating for the jurisdiction in legal actions against the state. The city is due in appellate court later this week to fight a state law that would cut the size of the metro council in half.

The Tennessee Senate passed SJR25 on Monday, the first step in putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot for voters. The measure would amend the constitution to allow judges to deny bond to suspects accused of committing heinous crimes. Under current law, judges only have authority to decline bail in capital offenses. In advance of the vote, the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference issued a press release and a resolution in support of the measure, telling Fox17 it is "the singular most important criminal justice bill we have evaluated in over a decade." Opponents of the bill say it will lead to overcrowding in jails and be too costly, and likely will not have an overall impact on crime. The next step is a vote in the House. The House Judiciary Committee approved its version on Feb. 26. If approved by the House, the measure would need to pass again in the 114th General Assembly before being placed on the next gubernatorial ballot. To be adopted by voters, the proposal would have to win a majority of those voting in the governor’s election.

As the Adoption Law Section chair, thank you for being a part of our group and putting in the extra work to make Tennessee the best state for adoption! We had a wonderful Adoption Law Forum in the fall, with a variety of important topics. It was well attended and the discussion was enlightening. If you were unable to attend, please log in and review the video in the TBA CLE Course Catalog. Programs are available individually or as a convenient 1-Click Package. Don't forget that all section members receive a discount on section-sponsored CLE!

Our section is participating again in the legislative session, providing feedback on proposed bills and initiating our own. Our bill this year makes the important change to permit a pre-adoptive placement to consent to vaccinations, as well as unifying definitions around the failure to support ground and ensuring that Rule 72 can apply to attorney fee affidavits.  

Our goal remains improving adoptions for Tennessee. We welcome any input throughout the year to effectuate necessary legislative changes.

Thank you for being part of our section. We hope to see you at this year's forum and welcome any ideas for future programming.

Julia Spannaus

The Lawyers' Association for Women Marion Griffin Chapter (LAW MGC) Foundation is now accepting applications for grants for 2025. Grants may be awarded in amounts up to $3,500 annually per applicant. All 2025 applications are due on or before close of business on May 16, and should be submitted via email to lawmgcfoundation@gmail.com. Recipients will be notified in advance and acknowledged at the 2025 Annual LAW New Admittees’ Breakfast. Grant proposals should support the foundation's mission, which includes advocating for the participation of women in the legal profession and educating about issues affecting women in the legal profession. Please review the full mission statement and grant guidelines prior to submitting an application, and note that there are separate application forms for individual and organizational applicants.