Eugene W. Ward, Nashville attorney and husband of Grand Ole Opry star Jeannie Seely, died Dec. 13 at age 92. He received his undergraduate degree from Lincoln Memorial University in 1956 and his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1959. Ward practiced law in Morristown for two years before being appointed to assistant general counsel at the Tennessee Public Service Commission. He later served as general counsel, and then in 1986, moved to Nashville Electric Service (NES). He retired in 2011 as general counsel and vice president. Ward was a member of the Nashville and Tennessee Bar Associations, as well as the American and the Tennessee Valley Public Power Associations and the Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association. Services will take place at Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5110 Gallatin Pk., Nashville 37216 on Dec. 19. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. CST with a celebration of life at 1 p.m. The family requests that memorial donations be made to Shriner's Hospital for Children or the Opry Trust Fund.

The TBA has announced the selection of 35 attorneys from across the state for its 2025 Leadership Law (TBALL) program. Now in its 22nd year, Leadership Law 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. Read more about the new class members.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has adopted amendments to Rule 54. The court noted that the changes were requested by the Administrative Office of the Courts. The rules will take effect immediately. View the red-line changes to the rule in the court’s order.

The Tennessee Supreme Court immediately suspended Hamilton County lawyer Alan Christopher Norton from the practice of law until further order. The court took the action after it found that Norton posed a threat of substantial harm to the public. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court. Previous reporting indicated that Norton was charged with forgery after an investigation found he allegedly forged a judge's signature on court documents.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has adopted amendments to the Rules of Appellate Procedure and the Rules of Civil Procedure, which now are subject to legislative consideration. If approved by the General Assembly, the rules will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Make plans now to attend the 2025 Estate Planning and Probate Forum, which will be held Feb. 28, 2025, at the Embassy Suites Cool Springs in Franklin. The daylong event will feature expert speakers covering topics such as community property trusts, AI developments, a probate panel, ethics, legislative updates and much more. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, offering opportunities for networking with colleagues from across the state. Sessions will run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. The program offers seven hours of CLE including two hours of dual credit. Section members receive discounted pricing. Not a member of the Estate Planning & Probate Section yet? Join here. For more information on the forum, to view the speaker line up and to register, visit TBA’s website.

The TBA will host a webcast replay of Making “Difficult Communications” Less Difficult and Best Practices and Strategies for Success on Dec. 30 from noon to 1 p.m. CST. The presentation will explore five key barriers to healthy communication in the workplace and offer strategies for building stronger relationships. It also will address unconscious biases and common communication mistakes made by attorneys and employers, while providing practical tips for improving communication skills. Finally, the session will cover de-escalation techniques, equipping legal professionals with valuable tools to navigate challenging conversations more effectively. For more information and to register, visit TBA’s website.

The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) has announced a change to the Tennessee Child Abuse Hotline. During designated weekend hours — Fridays at 11 p.m. CST through Sundays at 11 p.m. CST — the hotline will transition to an online-only reporting system for the public. The pilot program aims to increase the efficiency of the hotline and reduce long wait times for callers, according to a press release. Callers wishing to report child abuse or neglect during weekend hours will hear a recorded message prompting them to submit information through DCS’s secure online referral portal. The hotline will remain staffed during weekend hours, and online reports will continue to be reviewed in real-time. The change only affects the hotline’s public line. The dedicated line for law enforcement and medical personnel will remain available during weekend hours.

State Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, filed two bills last week related to Tennessee's bail system. The first bill, HB33, would require judges to assume that anyone charged with an offense "involving the use or display of firearms" should not be released on their own recognizance. A magistrate or judicial officer who decides to release someone with such charges on their own recognizance would "be required to list out written findings in a bail order for each applicable factor," the Commercial Appeal reports. The second bill, HB34, would allow judicial system officials to consider a defendant's juvenile record in determining bail. Currently, Tennessee law does not allow courts to consider juvenile criminal records in bail proceedings.

Miles Mason Family Law Group (MMFLG) in Memphis has moved to a new office on the fourth floor of the Crescent Center at 6075 Poplar Ave., Suite 403, Memphis, TN 38119. In a press release announcing the move, Miles Mason said, "We couldn’t be more thrilled to see MMFLG settling into their brand-new space! Transforming a previously all-white, contemporary office into a warm and welcoming environment, we added calming blue accents and homey touches to create a cozy atmosphere." Mason says his daughter's firm, Anne Mason Design, helped create the new environment with residential elements throughout the office so clients would feel safe and at ease.