Nashville School of Law (NSL) 3L Scott Vincenti has been awarded the inaugural Bill Koch Harry Phillips American Inn of Court (AIC) Scholarship. The scholarship, years in the making, honors NSL Dean William C. Koch Jr.’s three decades of service as president of the Harry Phillips American Inn of Court in Nashville. “I am grateful for the many contributions that funded this scholarship, and I am delighted that Scott Vincenti is its first recipient,” said Koch. Each year, the scholarship will be awarded to a full-time third or fourth-year student who has worked hard to stay in good academic standing, ranks in the top 20% of the class, and shares a statement of financial need. Read more in a press release from the law school.

U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan previously announced he would assume senior status on Oct. 5, 2026, after more than two decades on the federal bench in East Tennessee, allowing him to hear a reduced caseload. According to a new opinion piece in Knox News, his tenure has left a lasting imprint on Knoxville’s legal community, where he has been recognized for his public service, mentorship and long-standing civic involvement. Varlan earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School and has served as a district judge for 22 years following a legal career. Varlan served as Knoxville’s law director for a decade before entering private practice and later being confirmed to the bench by the U.S. Senate.

State lawmakers are preparing for Savanna’s Law to take effect Jan. 1, 2026. According to WBIR, the law creates a public registry of domestic violence offenders. It is named for Savanna Puckett, a Middle Tennessee sheriff’s deputy killed by her ex-boyfriend in 2022, who had a history of domestic assault arrests. The law establishes a registry for individuals convicted more than once of domestic violence. Sen. Becky Duncan Massey, R-Knoxville, co-sponsored the legislation. A victim advocate at the Anderson County Family Justice Center noted that many abusers never face criminal charges and that victims often seek civil orders of protection instead. “There’s nothing you can do that can solve everything. But if we can do something that solves some of it, that’s important,” Massey said.

From Lennon and McCartney to Jagger and Richards, the greatest rock and roll collaborations offer more than unforgettable music—they reveal the dynamics of trust, communication and ethical boundaries that are just as vital in the practice of law. Join the CLE Performer, Stuart Teicher, on Dec. 26 at 3 p.m. CST for a CLE program that connects the Rules of Professional Conduct to real-world examples from legendary rock partnerships. Explore how these iconic collaborations can teach attorneys about managing conflicts of interest, maintaining competence and fostering effective communication. Get ready to learn ethical lessons that will leave you humming a better tune in your legal practice. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.

TBA staff enjoyed their annual holiday party earlier this month and wish all TBA members a happy holiday season! The TBA will be closed Wednesday and Thursday in observance of the Christmas holiday. Offices will reopen Friday at 8 a.m. CST. Online CLE programming will remain available throughout the holidays.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Nov. 21 suspended 16 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee, 11 of whom also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. Lawyers reinstated in the last month include eight suspended this year, one suspended in 2024 and one suspended in 2018. Access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

The legal profession demands excellence under pressure, but over time, unrelenting stress can erode clarity, focus and well-being. Left unchecked, chronic tension undermines productivity, clouds judgment, strains relationships and increases the risk of ethical missteps. Join your colleagues to develop mindful law practice management skills and tools that strengthen focus, organization and long-term success in your law practice and beyond. This webcast on Dec. 29 at 9 a.m. CST explores how intentional awareness can transform how you organize your workload, manage communications and navigate conflict. Visit the TBA website for more information.

The American Bar Association’s (ABA) Task Force on Law and Artificial Intelligence (AI) recently released its final report. The “Year 2 Report on the Impact of AI on the Practice of Law” focuses on the future of AI and the law. The task force, created in August 2023, brought together lawyers and judges from across the ABA to address the impact of AI on the legal profession and the practice of law. The report addresses these areas and provides insights and resources that will help equip the legal community to address these developments. It also lists AI-related programs and events recommended by the task force and from across the ABA, many of which are available to lawyers, judges and members of the public at ambar.org/aiLaw. Read more in a press release from the ABA.

The Justice Frank F. Drowota Trust, a charitable fund dedicated to providing supplemental financial support to direct providers of civil legal services, has announced five grant recipients for 2025. This year’s awards highlight organizations that continue to advance justice for low-income Tennesseans through advocacy, representation and community outreach. Recipients are: Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Legal Aid of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, West Tennessee Legal Services, Community Legal Center (CLC) and the Tennessee Justice Center. The trust also announced the launch of its website, DrowotaTrust.com. The site serves as a comprehensive resource, offering information about the mission, history and purpose of the trust, as well as profiles of Trustees Buck Lewis, Sharon Lee and Claire Drowota, news updates, and a secure link for donations. To discuss donations from a bequest, RMD from retirement accounts or other form of gift contact Lewis at blewis@bakerdonelson.com.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Dec. 23 deported Diego Hernandez Garcia of Maryville to El Salvador in violation of an order from U.S. District Judge Clifton Corker. Hernandez Garcia was returned to the U.S. late that same day. Knox News reports that the judge had ordered ICE to keep Hernandez Garcia in the U.S. until the court decides whether he was legally shielded from deportation when he was arrested Dec. 11. Corker originally ruled Dec. 12 that Hernandez Garcia must be released immediately until a hearing could be held Dec. 18 on his case. He reversed his decision hours later after federal authorities told him Hernandez Garcia's protection from removal — called deferred action — had been revoked Dec. 11, the same date as his arrest.