The ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service has honored Chattanooga attorney Richard Gossett for his exceptional dedication to pro bono service through his participation in ABA Free Legal Answers. Gossett answered 1,355 civil legal questions on the Tennessee site of ABA Free Legal Answers in 2024, the Hamilton County Herald reports. A letter from the committee described his contribution as “fantastic.” Gossett, a retired banking attorney who spent a lengthy career at Baker Donelson, has a long history of volunteer work in the legal field. Now in its ninth year, ABA Free Legal Answers has facilitated over 400,000 civil legal questions submitted by users to more than 15,000 pro bono attorneys across 43 jurisdictions, including a federal portal addressing veterans' benefits and immigration issues. The committee presents this annual recognition to individuals, law firms, corporate law departments and other organizations that have provided “extraordinary” pro bono service through the virtual legal advice portal.

TBA members and guests traveled to Havana, Cuba, Feb. 6-10 for an international CLE experience. The TBA contingent stayed at the Hotel Grand Aston La Habana in the Vedado neighborhood along the Malecón, Cuba’s infamous sea wall. Seven hours of CLE included an introduction to the Cuban legal system, U.S.-Cuba relations, fundamentals of civil and criminal law, and more specialized topics like human rights, anti-money laundering and economic reform. Highlights in addition to the educational programs included a walking tour through Old Havana. On the tour, the group enjoyed a private performance by a renowned Cuban flamenco troupe, then wound their way through the Cuban streets beginning at the Plaza de San Francisco and concluding at Plaza de la Catedral. Travelers went on excursions outside of Havana, with one group going to the town of Cojimar to visit Ernest Hemingway’s house, while the other group traveled to the eco-community of Las Terrazas in Sierra del Rosario. On the last full day in Havana, travelers were able to choose their own adventure, taking either a tour of Cuba’s classic American cars or visiting the Museum of Cuban Art. The trip ended with a farewell dinner at the tour guide's house. One traveler said of the program, “This trip was amazing; I learned so much about the Cuban people and society. The CLEs were engaging and interesting. Everyone was awesome." See photos from the trip. Interested in learning more about TBA's next CLE abroad destination? Complete this form to receive updates.

The TBA’s Practice Management Center is now “Law Firm in a Box” — a unique tool offering TBA members a host of resources for launching and growing a law firm. Checklists, buying guides, comparison charts and more are available in each of the tool’s six segments: Opening a Firm, Building a Firm, Managing a Firm, Protecting a Firm, Winding Down a Firm and Accessing Expert Advice. Don’t lose access to this valuable member benefit, which now can be found on the TBA website.

The indigent representation proposal from the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) on behalf of the Tennessee Supreme Court is designed not only to ensure that the state meets its obligations under the law, but also provides for a phased implementation to strategically address the special needs of some communities and case types. During last year's effort to increase the compensation rate for appointed attorneys, the AOC was encouraged to consider alternatives, including ones that would better address the needs of smaller and rural communities. This proposal seeks to respond to those concerns by providing flexibility and stability to focus on building capacity in those areas, as well as others requiring tailored solutions, such as complex cases. The proposed plan requires a recurring appropriation of $17 million, and over time, the dollars used to pay today’s claims would be used to expand contracting options. Learn more about the plan and indigent representation in Tennessee. Watch for more details about the plan in upcoming issues of TBA Today.

Both the state House and Senate Judiciary Committees have passed measures that would amend the state constitution to expand the list of crimes for which judges have discretion to deny bail, the Tennessee Journal reports. Under current law, judges have authority only to decline bail in capital offenses. SJR25, introduced by Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 25, while HJR49, introduced by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, passed the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 26. The proposal would allow judges to deny bail on 24 new offenses, mainly violent ones in which 100% of sentences must be served, and another 16 offenses in which 85% of the sentence is mandatory. If considered by the full chambers, the resolutions would have to pass by a constitutional majority in this General Assembly and a two-thirds vote 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. According to the Times Free Press, Senate Judiciary Chair Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, opposes the measure, saying it will pack county jails and put local governments in a financial bind.

MURPHY, Circuit Judge. For many decades, Larry Smith provided valuable service to his employer, Newport Utilities, by repairing downed powerlines during weather emergencies. Eventually, however, Smith began to suffer from seizures. When he had two on-the-job incidents within months of each other, Newport Utilities put him on leave and later forced him to retire. Smith sued Newport Utilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), alleging that it had discriminated against him based on his disability. But the district court held that Smith posed a safety threat in his position and that Newport Utilities could not reasonably accommodate him. We agree and so affirm the court’s grant of summary judgment to the company.

The Defendant, Vincent Olajuan Morrison, appeals his convictions for aggravated burglary, employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, and especially aggravated robbery, for which he received an effective sentence of thirty years’ incarceration. On appeal, he argues that (1) the evidence adduced at trial was insufficient to support his convictions; (2) the trial court erred by admitting certain statements through the victim’s testimony, which violated the rule against hearsay and the Confrontation Clause; (3) the State’s cross-examination of a defense witness improperly shifted the burden of proof to the Defendant; (4) the trial court violated the “spirit” of Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986), by permitting the Defendant to be tried by an all-white jury; and (5) his sentence is excessive. After review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

A Gibson County jury convicted Defendant, Eric Wayne Herndon, of violation of an order of protection and aggravated stalking. Defendant received an effective sentence of two years’ confinement. On appeal, Defendant contends that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions for violation of an order of protection and aggravated stalking. After review, we conclude that the evidence was insufficient to sustain Defendant’s conviction for violation of an order of protection, and we reverse that judgment and dismiss that conviction accordingly. We also conclude the evidence was insufficient to sustain Defendant’s conviction for aggravated stalking, but we determine that the proof was sufficient to support the lesser-included offense of stalking, which was charged to the jury. Accordingly, we reverse Defendant’s conviction for aggravated stalking, and we remand the case to the trial court for entry of an amended judgment reflecting a conviction for stalking and for resentencing on this modified conviction.

A Rutherford County jury convicted the Defendant, Alonzo Fishback, of especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony, for which he was sentenced to a total effective sentence of seventy- five years. The Defendant appealed his convictions, and this court affirmed, and he then unsuccessfully sought post-conviction relief. The Defendant filed a motion pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36.1, arguing that his sentence was illegal because the proven facts of his case did not meet the necessary requirements to be convicted of especially aggravated kidnapping. The trial court denied this motion, stating that the Defendant’s claim was not colorable under Rule 36.1. The Defendant maintains his argument on appeal. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

The Petitioner, Christopher Bassett, appeals from the Knox County Criminal Court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief from his convictions for one count of first degree murder; five counts of attempted first degree murder; three counts of attempted second degree murder; two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm; eight counts of employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony; and eight counts of employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony having been convicted of a drug offense, and his effective sentence of life plus thirty-five years. The Petitioner alleges that the post-conviction court erred by denying relief on his ineffective assistance of counsel claims. We affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.