Judge Thomas Wyatt will retire at the end of June after 12 years on the Tennessee Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims and a legal career spanning more than four decades. Wyatt earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law in 1980 and served as a law clerk to the late Court of Appeals Judge Herschel P. Franks before entering private practice in Chattanooga, where he focused primarily on personal injury, Social Security disability and workers’ compensation law. Appointed to the newly created Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims in 2014 and reappointed in 2020, Wyatt was recognized throughout his career for fairness, professionalism and service to the legal community, his colleague Judge Audrey Headrick says. Following retirement, Wyatt plans to volunteer with community ministries, continue teaching Sunday school, visit every courthouse in Tennessee and document those experiences in a book. Read more in the Hamilton County Herald.

The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) will host its Bench & Bar Celebration on Sept. 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. EDT at the Knoxville Convention Center, 701 Henley St., Knoxville 37902. The event will honor the justices of the Tennessee Supreme Court and celebrate members of the local judiciary who have dedicated their careers to the administration of justice. For more information or to register, visit the KBA website. View a flyer for the event.

Online video recordings from the 2026 TBA Annual Convention will be available next week, giving lawyers who did not attend the event an opportunity to view select CLE sessions. Watch for programs on evaluating AI products before buying, conscious lawyering with AI, privacy issues, tips for time management and a 2026 legislative update. Looking for something else? Visit cle.tba.org for upcoming webcasts, in-person and virtual CLE programs, and other TBA events.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday barred a former Louisiana inmate from suing prison officials who cut off his dreadlocks, in what he argued was a violation of his Rastafari religious beliefs, WSMV 4 reports. The justices condemned what happened to the former inmate, but ruled that a federal law designed to protect the religious rights of inmates does not permit lawsuits for money damages against individuals even when rights are violated. In a 6-3 decision, the court agreed with lower courts that,  without exception, the law Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, cannot be used to hold those who violate inmates’ rights financially responsible. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority, while Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, arguing the decision weakens incentives for prison officials to comply with federal protections for inmates' religious rights.

Unemployment rates in 69 of Tennessee’s 95 counties improved from April to May, and that rate held steady in another 18 counties, according to data released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development on Thursday. In Davidson County, the May unemployment rate was 2.7%, with an estimated 11,725 workers unemployed. That was down 0.1% from April and down 0.1% from May 2025. It also was below the state’s overall unemployment rate, which was 3.6% for the fourth straight month. Williamson County, at 2.4%, had Tennessee’s lowest unemployment rate. Cheatham, Dickson and Knox counties were not far behind at 2.5%. Perry, at 5.3%, was the only county with an unemployment rate above 5%. The national unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%.

A number of lawyers have been reinstated after being suspended for administrative violations, including 10 suspended for failure to complete required continuing legal education hours and 12 suspended for failure to pay the annual professional privilege tax. Reinstatements for CLE compliance include one lawyer suspended in 2018, one in 2022, five in 2024 and three in 2025. Reinstatements for paying the professional privilege tax include 12 suspended in 2026. See the updated lists at the links above. TBA has administrative suspensions dating back to 2005. Be sure to check the Board of Professional Responsibility's website for the most up to date information on lawyers' licenses.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on June 25 suspended 18 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 six suspended this year and three suspended in 2025. TBA has administrative suspensions dating back to 2005. Be sure to check the Board of Professional Responsibility's website for the most up to date information on lawyers' licenses.

On June 25, the Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Sullivan County lawyer Samuel Ervin White from the practice of law for six years, with four years to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation with conditions. In one matter, the court found that White failed to comply with a reinstatement order imposing numerous conditions, including engaging a practice monitor and a certified public accountant, both of whom were to file reports with the court. In a second matter, the court found that White repeatedly misled his client to believe a petition had been filed and set for hearing, delayed filing a petition for over two years, and failed to promptly refund a client's retainer. These actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5(d), 1.16, 3.2, 3.4 and 8.4.

The TBA Mentoring Committee encourages attorneys interested in serving as either a mentor or mentee to take advantage of networking opportunities throughout July. Members also are encouraged to support the legal community through volunteer service at two TBA YLD pro bono clinics this month. On July 9 in Cookeville, a Name Change Clinic will be held from 3:30–6:30 p.m. CDT. Contact TBA YLD District Representative Amber Vargas for details. On July 11 at the Sumner County Sheriff's Department in Gallatin, an Essential Documents Clinic will be held from 9–11 a.m. CDT. Contact TBA YLD District Representative Grace Burnett for information. Finally, the inaugural Sandwiches and Sidebars event will be held on July 20 from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. CDT at the new TBA office, located at 3010 Poston Ave., Nashville 37203. This casual gathering offers a great opportunity to meet new people, expand your professional network, and connect with fellow members of the legal community in a relaxed setting. Drop in as your schedule allows — whether for a few minutes or the entire event. Attorneys at every stage of their careers, from young lawyers and law students to mid-career and experienced practitioners, are welcome to attend.

The Tennessee County Attorneys Association (TCAA) recently selected Henry County attorney Rob Whitfield as the County Attorney of the Year, the Paris Post-Intelligencer reports. Whitfield, a past president of the association with 12 years on the job, was honored for being a stabilizing force in county government despite turnover among mayors and developing a strong system of dealing with delinquent tax properties in the county. The selection was made by the TCAA board of directors and announced during the group’s state conference in Knoxville. “Anytime you get recognition from your peers, it’s lovely,” Whitfield said.