LaFollette City Judge Kathy Parrott tendered her resignation in a letter dated Dec. 30, 2024, the same day the city council was to discuss whether to fire her or not, the Mountain Press reports. Parrott wrote to council members that her resignation would be effective at the end of the day Tuesday “due to reasons I have discussed with you and interested council members.” Parrott was appointed to the position in 2016. At that time she was serving as Caryville city attorney and a partner in the law firm of Pryor Parrott.

A new state law that was set to go into effect on Jan. 1 has been blocked by a federal judge, the Tennessean reports. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl Lipman in Memphis said the law — which requires websites with content deemed "harmful to minors" to verify the age of each user — was an unconstitutional "scorched earth" approach to free speech rights. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, who has defended the law, argues it is a common-sense approach to “stop kids from accessing explicit obscene content while protecting the privacy of adults who choose to do so.” According to the paper, Skrmetti has filed an appeal with the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Bill Anderson, who was first elected to the bench in 2010 and was not up for reelection until 2030, will retire as of March 1, the Daily Memphian reports. In a letter to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, Anderson says he planned to retire in 2025 since being reelected in 2022. Of his 51-year career in the legal system, he says that opening a veteran’s court 12 years ago was one of the best things he did. Anderson has come under fire for decisions to release suspected criminals without bail, including from elected members of the General Assembly. In February 2024, he was reprimanded for stating in a Shelby County Commission meeting that he "detest[s] the bail bond system in Shelby County." The Board of Judicial Conduct expressed concern that the statement could "undermine public perception and confidence" that a judge would approach cases "fairly and impartially."

The TBA’s Immigration Section will host a one-hour webcast on Jan. 21 looking at the ever-changing environment of employment and immigration enforcement, including the likelihood for increased enforcement scrutiny under the incoming administration. Section Chair Terry Olsen with the Olsen Law Firm in Chattanooga, Michael Eastridge with Global Justice Advocates in Johnson City and Todd Photopulos with Butler Snow in Memphis will discuss best practices for managing unannounced visits from federal immigration agencies as well as standards and strategies for conducting internal audits. Immigration Section members get registration discounts. Not a section member? Join here.

Save the date to join colleagues on May 9 for the 2nd Annual TBA Young Lawyers Division Trial College. The program will be held at Belmont University College of Law and will cover a range of litigation topics, including putting together a trial notebook, planning for and presenting opening and closing statements, conducting direct and cross examination and working with expert witnesses. A panel of distinguished judges will wrap up the day with judicial insights for trial success. Registration will start at 8 a.m. CDT followed by programming from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the Randall and Sadie Baskin Center, 1901 15th Ave. S., Nashville 37212. Click here for more information and to register.

Doyle E. Richardson died Dec. 28, 2024, at age 89. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1957 and entered Vanderbilt Law School that same year. In 1958, he was called to active military service and assigned to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Among his duties was vetting German scientists brought to the U.S. to work in the rocket program. After completing military service, Richardson re-entered law school and graduated in 1964. He practiced law at several Tullahoma firms, was mayor of Tullahoma from 1986-1987 and served as a member of the TBA Board of Governors. Visitation will be Jan. 3 from 5-8 p.m. CST at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home, 401 N Jackson St., Tullahoma 37388. A memorial service will be held Jan. 4 at 1 p.m. at First Christian Church, 120 West Grundy St., Tullahoma 37388. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the George W. Malcolm Cemetery, 3725 Old Monroe Madison Hwy., Madison, GA 30650 or First Christian Church.

The Tennessee Bar Association is now offering membership at half dues rates. Join for $157.50 and get membership through June 30. Enjoy this discounted rate and still receive three free hours of CLE, TBA Today daily news, unlimited access to legal research in all 50 states, and more. Lower dues rates also are available based on law-related income. When you join the TBA, you join the largest legal network for Tennessee lawyers. Get started here!

The 114th Tennessee General Assembly opened Jan. 14. The TBA Board of Governors approved legislative proposals submitted by the Adoption Law and Family Law Sections and the Probate Study Group to put forward as legislation during this session. Read more about the proposals, and about TBA's grassroots advocacy efforts surrounding indigent representation.

The Journal’s “back page” content looks a little different in 2025! Introducing “Closing Statements.” We’ll post a question here in each issue and invite you to submit your answer. Perhaps you’ll see your closing statement in the next issue! To get us started, we asked some of our TBA leadership "Why did you become a lawyer?"

In this issue's "Family Matters," Marlene Moses and Ansley Tillett assert that equitable does not mean equal when it comes to the division of marital estates in Tennessee, and that considerable deference is given to a trial court’s factual and credibility findings on discretionary decisions, including alimony determinations.