The TBA Attorney Well Being Committee will host a “Seasonal Support for Lawyers: Helping with the Holiday Blues” webcast on Dec. 18 from 11 a.m. to noon CST. The free session will offer an empathetic discussion about the increased pressures many legal professionals face during the holiday season and provide guidance on navigating stress for a healthier experience. Panelists will address real challenges confronting lawyers today and highlight resources available to support attorney well-being. Contact TBA staff member Jarod Ward at jword@tnbar.org with any questions.

Davidson County residents wanted on state warrants for nonviolent offenses will have an opportunity to address those cases during Nashville Safe Surrender 2025, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, 2021 Herman St., Nashville 37208. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST on Dec. 12, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 13, offering participants the chance to surrender, consult with an attorney and appear before a judge at the same location, with the possibility of returning home the same day. According to News Channel 5, Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake said the program allows individuals to take responsibility for outstanding warrants ahead of the holidays and reduce the stress those warrants place on families.

The TBA’s Sunrise Series continues next Tuesday with “Deal or No Deal: Ethics on Trial,” a fast-paced program that puts legal ethics to the test through real-world scenarios. Led by Joel Oster, the “Comedian of Law,” the session presents attorneys with the facts of actual cases and asks them to decide whether to accept a deal or take their chances at trial, exploring ethical pitfalls such as improper juror contact, courtroom misconduct, dishonest advocacy, inappropriate client relationships and substance abuse. The webcast replay will be available Dec. 23 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. CST and is accessible online on the TBA website.

The TBA has announced the selection of 34 attorneys from across the state for its 2026 Leadership Law (TBALL) program. Now in its 23rd year, TBALL is designed to equip Tennessee lawyers with the vision, knowledge and skills necessary to serve as leaders in their profession and local communities. The class will meet for its first session in January and spend the next six months learning about leadership in the legal profession, issues in the courts, policymaking in state government and the importance of community service. See the full list of class members.

The TBA is offering the "Experience TBA Convention" Package, a convenient year-end option that delivers three and a half general and four and a half dual hours through highlights from this year’s Annual Convention. The package features a lineup of sessions on timely and essential topics, including famous Tennessee trials, trailblazing women in the law, artificial intelligence in legal practice, the 2025 legislative update, attorney wellness, legal technology, and diversity, equity and inclusion. Check out the specific courses included on the TBA CLE website. Looking for something else? TBA also has six, eight, 10, 12 and 15-hour packages based on specific topics or practice areas, live webcasts and on-demand video all month long. Explore all the Year End options to complete your CLE requirement by Dec. 31.

Tommy Thompson, one of Tennessee’s longest-serving district attorneys, died Dec. 12. He was 78. Thompson had been appointed district attorney in the state’s 15th Judicial District (which includes Jackson, Macon, Trousdale, Smith and Wilson counties), in 1977 and remained in that position for 44 years. He retired in 2021. A 1969 graduate of Vanderbilt Law School, Thompson began his professional career as an assistant district attorney in Nashville and later practiced law with his father in his hometown of Hartsville. Visitation will be held on Dec. 19 from 2-8 p.m. at Anthony Funeral Home, 337 McMurry Blvd. E, Hartsville 37074 and on Dec. 20 from 10 a.m. to noon at Hartsville First Baptist Church, 773 E. McMurry Blvd. Funeral services will follow the visitation on Dec. 20 at the church. Interment with military honors will take place after the service at Hartsville Memorial Gardens, 25 Cemetery Ln. Memorial donations may be made to the 15th Judicial District Child Advocacy Center, the Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of the donor’s choice. The Tennessean has more on Thompson's life.

Five Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) board members and the district have sued the Shelby County Election Commission, arguing that new state and county election changes unlawfully shorten their four-year terms by forcing them onto the 2026 ballot. The lawsuit claims the changes violate the Tennessee Constitution and were a coordinated effort by lawmakers and county commissioners to punish board members who voted to fire former Superintendent Marie Feagins. According to the Daily Memphian, attorneys are seeking an injunction to block the five seats from appearing on the 2026 ballot as partisan school board elections. Feagins in November announced she would run for Shelby County mayor.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Dec. 15 censured Alabama lawyers William Jefferson Cranford III and Matthew Brett Reeves. According to the court, Cranford drafted, signed and personally filed two motions for a client that included fabricated citations generated by using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The citations were added to the motions by another attorney, but the court found that Cranford had an obligation to check the citations before signing the motions and filing them. It also determined that he failed to act with diligence and caused a delay in his client’s case. In addition, the court found that Reeves personally used AI to add citations to two motions. The court found that the citations were fabricated and Reeves took no action to check their accuracy. It also determined that he failed to act with diligence and caused a delay in his client’s case. The actions of Cranford and Reeves were deemed to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 3.2 and 8.4.

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) has promoted Assistant Professor of Law Kayla Swiney to director of bar success. In this role, Swiney will oversee bar preparation initiatives and provide support to students and graduates throughout the bar exam and admissions process. Swiney’s leadership will be central as the law school transitions to preparing students for the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam, according to a news release. “I am so excited to take on the role of director of bar success and to assist our students from their first day of law school through the final stages of bar preparation,” Swiney said. “The implementation of the NextGen bar exam will allow me the unprecedented opportunity to work side by side with our graduates to ensure they feel supported, confident and ready to succeed on this new exam.”

Attorneys for Metro Nashville's legal department have reviewed an ethics complaint against Metro Councilmember Rollin Horton, filed by a group of his West Nashville constituents. The attorneys found that, if true, the allegations in the complaint did not rise to ethics violations and will recommend to the Board of Ethical Conduct that the complaint be dismissed. The complaint stems largely from a failed recall effort and cites incidents including an Instagram post that displayed a resident’s address, police being called on petition gatherers and alleged pressure on business owners. The Nashville Banner reports on the developments.