Memphis attorney Charlotte Knight Griffin was sworn last week as the 146th president of the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA). The oath of office was administered by former Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page during the TBA’s Annual Lawyers Luncheon. Knight Griffin began her career in private practice in Memphis after earning her law degree from the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law. She joined Memphis Light, Gas and Water as a staff attorney in 1978 and was named the manager of legal services in 2000. She retired in April 2023 after 45 years of service. Knight Griffin has been active in the TBA for many years, most recently serving as president-elect, vice president, speaker of the House of Delegates and a member of the Board of Governors. She has been involved in legal organizations at the local, state and national levels and is a fellow in the Tennessee, Memphis and American bar foundations.

Class members of the 2026 Rural Judicial Fellows Program were recognized during the TBA Annual Convention in Knoxville. As part of the Young Lawyers Division's summer fellowship program, the fellows attended the convention and participated in special programming alongside the 2026 class of the Diversity Leadership Institute. They also took part in TBA YLD meetings and the annual dinner hosted for the TBA YLD and YLD Fellows. This year’s Rural Judicial Fellows are Johnny Byrd, Rachel Carpenter, Laila Irigoyen and Alana Perez from Belmont University College of Law; Sarah Harper from Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law; and Savannah Beaty from University of Tennessee Winston College of Law. For more information about the program visit the TBA website. See a photo from the event.

The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) Diversity Leadership Institute (DLI) Class of 2026 celebrated its graduation during the TBA’s Annual Convention in Knoxville. Graduates included Sara Ali-Amghaiab and Carole Rizkallah of Belmont University College of Law; Naimad Delgado, Charleston Pritchett, Cayla Scott, Sierra Sidoti and Carlee Sullins of Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law; Abigail James of University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law; Ronal Bueso, Marilyn Harrison-Bates and Cecilee Tinajero of Nashville School of Law; and Dimend Little of University of Tennessee Winston College of Law. Throughout the six-month program, class members participated in leadership and professional development opportunities, including dedicated programming at the annual convention and attendance at Young Lawyers Division (YLD) meetings. They also took part in the TBA YLD Winter Meeting, where they assisted with Mock Trial 101 and volunteered at the Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition as their class service project. In addition, participants engaged in virtual programming throughout the year. See a photo from the graduation ceremony. DLI is a six-month leadership and mentoring program designed for Tennessee law students in their second, third or fourth years of study. Learn more about the program on the YLD website.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on June 10 approved more than $50 million in funding to support 39 recovery projects in Tennessee communities affected by Tropical Storm Helene and past disasters. Notable recovery projects FEMA will fund include $20.2 million to Tennessee Emergency Management Agency for emergency protective measures and debris removal efforts following Helene and April 2025 severe storms, and $8.9 million to the Tennessee Department of Transportation for the removal of more than 107,000 cubic yards of construction and demolition debris and 17,000 cubic yards of vegetative debris generated by Helene. Read more in a press release.

Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti co-led a bipartisan coalition letter with more than 30 state attorneys general in urging Congress to pass the Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act of 2026. The coalition argues that current bankruptcy venue rules enable corporate debtors to select jurisdictions with little connection to their actual operations, a practice they said contributes to forum shopping and creates burdens for creditors, employees, retirees and small business vendors who may lack the resources to litigate in distant courts. The attorneys general said the proposed legislation would ensure bankruptcy cases are heard closer to affected communities, allowing those impacted to participate without undue burden. The letter also supports a provision allowing state government attorneys to appear in bankruptcy courts without admission fees or local counsel requirements, which the coalition said would improve states’ ability to represent their interests in federal bankruptcy proceedings

Michelle Foreman is challenging state Rep. Lee Reeves, R-Franklin, for the Republican nomination in Tennessee House District 65, according to the Williamson Scene. Foreman said her top legislative priorities include increasing transparency in the state’s school voucher program, despite unsuccessful efforts by both Republicans and Democrats to advance related legislation this year. Reeves supported the school voucher program championed by Gov. Bill Lee in 2025. Foreman told the news outlet that she is concerned about special-interest funding in the race leading to misleading campaign messaging. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.

A federal lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s ban on religious charter schools will move forward after U.S. District Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. denied a motion by the Knox County Board of Education to dismiss the case, according to Chalkbeat Tennessee. The lawsuit was filed by Wilberforce Academy of Knoxville after the board requested assurance that the proposed charter school would operate as a nonreligious institution in compliance with state law. Atchley ruled that the academy was not required to submit a formal charter application before challenging what it argues is an unconstitutional barrier to applying. A trial is scheduled for January 2027. Other parties, including parents and charter school officials, argue opening the door to religious charter schools will result in charter schools being “classified and treated as private schools,” and effect Tennessee’s public school funding formula and disability protections.

Just in time for Juneteenth celebrations, the National Museum of African American Music has launched Black Music Month 2026, a monthlong celebration marking both Black Music Month and the museum’s fifth anniversary. Held throughout June in downtown Nashville, the celebration features more than 15 events, including artist conversations, live podcast recordings, exhibitions, film screenings, community programs and industry gatherings. This year’s theme is “The Soundtrack Continues — 250 years in the making. Five years in the telling. Far from finished,” which honors the ongoing influence of Black music on American culture. Read more about the events throughout the month on the Music Row website.

Attorneys can learn how to use artificial intelligence (AI) more effectively in legal writing during a webcast on June 24 from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. The program will explore practical strategies for using AI to improve drafts, identify typos and ambiguity, test legal reasoning, monitor tone and streamline the editing process without sacrificing accuracy or professional judgment. The session also will examine effective prompting techniques, common pitfalls that can make AI-generated writing less efficient and ways lawyers can balance AI's capabilities with the human judgment required for effective legal communication. Visit the TBA website for more information and to register. 

The TBA will be closed on Monday following this week's Annual Convention. The office will reopen Tuesday at 8 a.m. CDT. Visit the TBA website for information on CLE or other TBA programs and for staff contact information.