The right of a criminal defendant “to present a defense” is a fundamental tenant of the criminal justice system in the United States. But what does that mean? Wade Davies explains in the issue's "Crime & Punishment" column.

Lawyers can have a profound effect on their communities through active engagement in local initiatives and civic activities. TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr. encourages readers to commit to being active participants in their communities. Engaging in local initiatives and civic activities is not only a responsibility but also an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. By providing pro bono services, educating the public, advocating for change, mentoring young individuals and volunteering, lawyers can elevate the legal profession’s role in society.

Get news from the TBA, including announcements of future leadership, an upgraded legal research tool launch, a tiny new addition to the TBA staff, mock trial information and an update on the Justice Drowota Trust.

Read about the lawyers who have recently been reinstated, disbarred, suspended, censured or transferred their licenses to disability inactive status.

Tennessee Bar Association members who have died recently are memorialized.

With its long-awaited opinion in Terry Case v. Wilmington Trust, the Tennessee Supreme Court ushered in a sea change concerning constitutional standing in the state and clarified that Tennessee law does not recognize an independent cause of action for “wrongful foreclosure,” resolving a split of authority that had been bubbling up at the Tennessee Court of Appeals for decades. J. Hunter Robinson and Erik Halvorson take a close look at this decision that will have substantial impacts in Tennessee for years to come.

A  person’s reputation, or “good name” (hopefully), can be a thing of great value. In this age of social media, where it is so easy to “put things out there” potentially to be seen by a large number of people, it is not just celebrities and politicians who may end up being harmed by defamatory statements. Those harms may come in various shapes and forms, and if “actual injury” can be proved, then the affected person may justifiably consider filing a defamation action. Bob Lype demonstrates the complexities and subtle distinctions of defamation law.

Remorse or the lack of it is a key factor in lawyer disciplinary hearings. David Hudson Jr. and Bill Spaniard argue that counsel for lawyers facing discipline need to have heart-to-heart conversations with their clients about whether the lawyer needs to issue an apology and candidly show regret and remorse for the conduct that negatively impacted a client. However, they point out that at other times, lawyers must consider whether the underlying charges are accurate, overblown or subject to different interpretations. In those cases, the lawyer and client may consider fighting the charges with zealous advocacy within ethical bounds.

In this installment of "History's Verdict," Russell Fowler takes readers back to the late 1970s and early 1980s and the lawsuits surrounding the usage of Elvis' name, image and likeness after his death.

In his Call for Public Defense, Brian Mounce reminds us that defending even the seemingly indefensible is essential to safeguarding the rights of all. It is a principle rooted in the founding of our nation and is an integral part of our society. Mounce is currently of counsel at Relentless Advocacy PLLC. He received his law degree from Tulane and Master of Science degree from the London School of Economics. Previously, he served as an assistant federal defender and an assistant solicitor general in the Tennessee Attorney General's Office. Mounce is TBA YLD's delegate for West Tennessee.