Hamilton County commissioners plan to discuss at a meeting on Wednesday a proposal from County Mayor Weston Wamp to replace long-serving county attorney Rheubin Taylor with Janie Parks Varnell. Taylor has served as the county attorney since 1993 and his contract expires in June. When Wamp took office in September 2022, he attempted unsuccessfully to fire Taylor, citing Taylor's handling of public records and his work on noncounty legal business. The commission supported Taylor, and a judge ruled Taylor could serve out his term. The proposal calls for Varnell to start in January and transition into the role. Though Taylor's term expires in June, some are considering keeping him on as a contract counsel through the end of 2025. Wamp recently scheduled a private meet-and-greet — which he says was strictly informational — for commissioners to interact with Varnell. Some feared the gathering violated Tennessee’s open meeting laws. The Chattanooga Times Free Press has the story.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee (ACLU-TN) last week announced Kathy Sinback’s departure from the role of executive director. In a release, Sinback said, “It was an honor for me to build on the work of the legendary Hedy Weinberg and to help position ACLU-TN for future success. It is evident now more than ever that we need nonpartisan organizations like ACLU-TN to unite people around common values such as freedom, democratic participation, due process and respect for our neighbors.” The ACLU-TN Board of Directors has named Phyllida Burlingame as interim executive director and is initiating a search for a permanent executive director.

University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law has released Season Two of its "Show Cause" podcast. Episodes include discussions about the risks to Tennessee's wetlands, helping pediatric victims of gun violence through a partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety and LeBonheur Children's Hospital, and a new disability rights legal clinic launching in the spring. Listen to all episodes here.

This interlocutory appeal concerns a discovery dispute. After reporting a wrist injury at work and receiving some authorized care, the employee filed a petition seeking additional medical treatment and temporary disability benefits. Thereafter, the employer served written discovery requests on the employee, to which he responded in part. The employer then filed a motion to compel discovery responses, arguing that the employee’s responses were deficient in certain ways. Following a status hearing during which this discovery dispute was discussed, the trial court entered an order granting, in part, the employer’s motion to compel discovery, and the employee has appealed. Upon consideration of the record, we affirm the trial court’s order and remand the case.

Joey Dewayne Callahan (“Defendant”) appeals from his Marshall County Circuit Court convictions for possession with intent to sell or deliver more than 0.5 grams of methamphetamine, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession with the intent to use drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, and reckless driving, for which he received a total effective sentence of fifteen years’ incarceration. Defendant contends that the evidence was insufficient to establish his intent to sell the methamphetamine. Following a thorough review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

This is a termination of parental rights case. Father appeals the termination of his parental rights on the grounds of: (1) abandonment by failure to provide a suitable home; (2) substantial noncompliance with the permanency plan; (3) persistence of conditions; (4) failure to manifest an ability and willingness to assume custody or financial responsibility; and (5) abandonment by an incarcerated parent. We affirm.

December 2, 2024 - December 6, 2024.

A number of legal organizations will hold free legal clinics this week. On Tuesday, the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) will hold a walk-in clinic at the Gallatin Civic Center from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. CST. On Wednesday, LAS will hold a clinic for veterans from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST at Operation Stand Down in Nashville, while Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) will hold a clinic at the John T. O’Connor Senior Center from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST and a clinic for veterans from noon to 2 p.m. EST in Knoxville. On Thursday, LAS will hold a walk-in clinic from 3 to 4:30 p.m. CST at Greenhouse Ministries in Murfreesboro. On Saturday, LAS will hold its McHugh Clinic in Nashville from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CST while the Memphis Bar Association will hold its Second Saturday Clinic from 10 a.m. to. noon CST at the Benjamin Hooks Central Library.

Members of the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) joined the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands on Saturday evening to celebrate the group's 55th anniversary. TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr. was in attendance at the gala — held at the historic Fisk University in Nashville — to honor LAS' dedication to justice and the progress made in the last past, as well as to inspire the work ahead. Congratulations to LAS Executive Director DarKenya W. Waller on a successful event.

Davidson County lawyer Patricia Rae George was reinstated to the practice of law on Dec. 2. She had been placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on May 27, 2003. George filed a reinstatement petition. The Board of Professional Responsibility found it to be satisfactory.