The TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) is now accepting applications for its Diversity Leadership Institute (DLI) Class of 2026. DLI is a six-month leadership, professional development and networking program for all Tennessee law students in their second, third or fourth years of study. There are no costs to particpate in the DLI program. Class size is limited to 8-10 students selected from across the state. Learn more about the program. The application deadline is 5 p.m. CDT on Nov. 2. There will be a mandatory zoom meeting on Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m. CST for all applicants. All are encouraged to apply. This year's DLI coordinators are TBA YLD Board Members Morgan Hanna and John Murphy.

Tennessee is one of just nine states meeting the Anti-Defamation League's standards for combating antisemitism, according to a new report from the group. Axios reports that in addition to Tennessee, the group designated only California, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New York, Texas and Virginia as "leading states." The designation means that these states are responding to rising antisemitism through laws, policies and public commitments. According to the group, hate crimes in the United States last year hit their second-largest total since the FBI started keeping data. Tennessee state Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, tells the paper that Tennessee "will not tolerate hate or intimidation against our Jewish communities, whether it's on our streets, in our schools or on college campuses."

Flash flood warnings were in effect across Tennessee yesterday after deadly floodwaters trapped cars near Chattanooga. During the storms that began on Tuesday, a mother, father and child in Chattanooga were killed when a tree fell on the car they were in during the rain and flooding. According to the Oak Ridger, historic floods have swept through the eastern part of the state. The Associated Press also has reporting on the flood's impacts.

The Tennessee Supreme Court is seeking public comments on a petition filed by the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA), which would amend Rule 9, section 10.1 to allow bar associations geographically located in the state to receive certain information from the Board of Professional Responsibility. The deadline for submitting written comments is Oct. 13. Comments should reference docket number ADM2025-01205 and be emailed to appellatecourtclerk@tncourts.gov or mailed to Clerk of the Supreme Court James Hivner, RE: Proposed Amendment to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9, § 10.1, 100 Supreme Court Building, 401 7th Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37219-1407. Read the court’s full order.

Nashville lawyer Rose Palermo has announced that her son Andrew Cheatham has joined her boutique law firm. With the retirement of her attorney husband Denty Cheatham, the firm has been renamed from Cheatham Palermo & Garrett to Cheatham & Palermo. Andrew Cheatham will focus his legal work on international and family law issues. He is based in Washington, D.C. and primarily assists clients there and New York. He also will continue his solo practice in the nation’s capital. Palermo will continue to work in Nashville. She and her husband launched the firm in 1973. Read more about the firm’s transition in the Nashville Post.

The Tennessee Ethics Commission voted Tuesday to dismiss a set of complaints against Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor of Memphis over public comments he made about “No Kings” protesters. The Tennessee Journal reports that the commission found that the grievances were outside the panel’s jurisdiction and warned against the “weaponization” of the body for political disputes.

TBA staff member Laura Labenberg has been promoted to the position of Director of the Young Lawyers Division and Law Student Development, a move applauded by both TBA and Young Lawyers Division (YLD) leadership. Labenberg joined the TBA in September 2022 in a coordinator role supporting the Young Lawyers Division (YLD) and law students across the state. She previously served as a professor of rhetoric at Hofstra University and executive director of an educational nonprofit in New York. Earlier in her career in higher education, Labenberg served as a grants coordinator and conference coordinator. She earned her doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies at Hofstra University. According to TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright, the promotion reflects Labenberg’s outstanding service to the TBA and YLD over the past three years.

Tennessee lawyers participated in the National College of Bar Presidents (NCBP) and American Bar Association (ABA) annual meetings over the past week. Among the many events was a reception hosted by the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) to honor Sherie Edwards, who served as TBA president from 2021-2022 and treasurer from 2011-2018. Edwards retired as vice president of corporate and legal for State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company last year. She is currently president-elect of the Nashville Bar Association and will take office as president later this year. She serves on the NCBP Executive Council and several not-for-profit boards, and will be starting a mediation practice later this fall. Thank you to our reception sponsors: Silver Sponsor Lewis, Thomason; Bronze Sponsors Belmont College of Law, Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law and Wiseman | Ashworth | Trauger | Moore | Silvus; and Patron Sponsors Tasha Blakney, Katie Edge, Marcy Eason, Randy Noel, Charles Swanson and Danny Van Horn. Also during the Annual Meeting, Nashville lawyer and ABA House of Delegates Chair Jonathan Cole presided over that body, which considered a range of proposals. See photos and read more about the NCBP and ABA meetings.

Save the date for this year’s Disability Law Forum, which will take place Oct. 23 as a live virtual event. The program will run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT. Stay tuned for more details coming soon to the TBA CLE website. Disability Law Section members enjoy discounted registration. Not a section member yet? Join here.

The deadline to file petitions to run to replace former U.S. Rep. Mark Green Ballot in the 7th Congressional District was Tuesday. The primary ballot is now set with 11 Republicans, four Democrats and four Independents. The group includes six sitting state representatives, according to The Tennessee Journal. WPLN looks at each of the candidates. Rep. Green resigned from Congress on July 20. The primary election is set for Oct. 7, with the general election scheduled for Dec. 2.