TBA hosted its inaugural Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Law (TCAIL) Friday at the Tennessee Bankers Association Training Center in Nashville. The daylong program covered topics from AI in ethics, to the judiciary, to access to justice. AI Task Force chair A.J. Bahou kicked things off with an introduction to using AI in the practice of law, complete with real-time AI demonstrations. Bill Ramsey of Neal & Harwell, Clinton Sanko of Baker Donelson, Kyle Turner of Vanderbilt Law School, and David Wood of Prudent Jurist focused their panel discussion on practical changes that AI will bring to the practice of law. Their topics included how various technologies will enable lawyers to engage differently with technology to support client needs, how AI will transform legal research, and how tools are changing in document review and discovery. The second panel focused on AI in the courtroom and featured Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sarah Campbell, Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Tom Greenholtz, Circuit Judge Jimmy Turner and former judge Penny White now with the University of Tennessee (UT) College of Law. Up next, UT Law professors Ben Barton and Eliza Boles discussed AI's ramifications in the access to justice sphere, while Brian Faughnan focused his session on current and likely future ethical implications for attorneys. The day wrapped up with a session on digital evidence and AI use in public safety with Matthew Drewes, an enterprise business solutions architect for the state, and Richard Littlehale with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. See photos from the event.

TBA Young Lawyers Division’s Rookie Series is back this week with a new installment. Join colleagues on Dec. 13 for Personal Injury Law Part 2. The live one-hour webcast will start at noon CST and provide insights into handling more difficult personal injury cases. Topics include complex liability scenarios, strategies for catastrophic injury claims, and advanced litigation techniques such as motions in limine, effective deposition strategies and expert witness challenges. The program will wrap up with a session on navigating difficult negotiations while maintaining professional integrity. Those who missed Personal Injury Law Part 1 can catch up here.

Still looking for ethics credits before Dec. 31? The Tennessee Bar Association is bringing you "12 Days of Ethics," featuring innovative and engaging programs you won’t want to miss. Choose from courses with fun titles and unique themes, including True Crime Stories; Friends…An Ethical Sitcom?; From Bonnie and Clyde, to Bernie Madoff — What the Biggest Thieves in History Teach About Attorney Ethics; Taylor Swift is a Genius. Even About Legal Ethics; What Emojis Teach About Lawyer Legal Ethics; Cat Proverbs and Attorney Ethics; and What Overrated Rock Bands Teach About Attorney Ethics. Be sure to check TBA’s social media channels over the next 12 weekdays to see the available programs. Visit Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn with the hashtag #TBA12Days, or browse the TBA CLE Course Catalog for a full preview of more than 200 CLE programs by Tennessee lawyers for Tennessee lawyers.

TBA is offering a CME and CLE Year End Package, which includes Mediation Ethics providing 4 dual credits and 4.75 general credits. Designed for Tennessee lawyers, the package offers quick, convenient and quality CLE opportunities to meet both CME and CLE requirements. Topics covered include dispute resolution updates, artificial intelligence, best practices in mediation and arbitration, ethics grievances and more. To learn more about this package and the courses included, visit TBA’s website.

TBA’s Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR) will host the "Ethics Update: Current Developments" webcast on Dec. 9 from 2 to 3 p.m. CST. Eric Fuller from the BPR will lead the session, offering a review of the latest ethics updates. For more information and to register, visit TBA’s website.

A new site on Vine Street is being considered for a proposed federal courthouse in Chattanooga. According to the Chattanoogan, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced two shortlisted sites: the Hawk Hill Stadium site and the TVA site, and has added an additional location for consideration, which requires an environmental assessment (EA). The proposed courthouse would include seven courtrooms, nine chambers and 40 secured parking spaces, and would be located within the city limits of Chattanooga. The public is encouraged to submit written comments on the findings presented in the draft supplemental EA and draft "Finding of No Significant Impact" (FONSI). Any substantive comments received by the Dec. 18 deadline will be addressed in the final EA. Information on how to submit comments can be found on the GSA website.

Attorney Timothy Williams Flohr died recently at the age of 46. Flohr earned his law degree from the University of Memphis School of Law and practiced in Greeneville for several years before moving out of state. He was also a member of the Tennessee Bar Association. A memorial service is planned for Flohr on March 8, 2025, at Greeneville Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 201 N Main St., Greeneville 37745. Memorial donations may be made to the Greene County Food Bank, c/o Greeneville Community Ministries, 107 N. Cutler St., Greeneville, TN 37743.

The terms of four Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education members — Stephanie Coleman, Jay Ebelhar, Lynda Minks Hood and David Veile — will expire on Dec. 31. These members are not eligible for reappointment. To replace them, the Tennessee Supreme Court has adopted an order appointing new members to serve three-year terms starting Jan. 1, 2025, and ending Dec. 31, 2027. They are: Amy J. Farrar, founding partner of Tennessee Center for Estate & Elder Law in Murfreesboro; Joseph W. Smith, senior attorney at Miles Mason Family Law Group in Memphis; Mary Ann Upchurch, executive director of the Memphis Bar Association; and Wencke West, a Cleveland attorney in private practice. The court also has reappointed Julie Bennett, chief legal officer and corporate secretary at Ballad Health in Kingsport, as chair of the commission for a one-year term beginning Jan. 1 and ending Dec. 31, 2025.

CSX Transportation has been ordered to stop rail cleanup efforts in the Nolichucky River Gorge until it obtains the proper permissions, according to a letter sent to the company by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Knox News reports. The company began restoring tracks shortly after Hurricane Helene damaged large portions of the key CSX rail line, but multiple environmental groups filed a lawsuit last month, alleging the work is “extremely damaging” to the river. A CSX spokesperson told the paper the company continues to work with regulators, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and TDEC, to ensure the rail lines are recovered from the river in a “safe and responsible manner.”

Another Tennessee lawmaker is pushing to eliminate the state’s grocery tax. State Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, on Thursday introduced a bill that would end the state tax on groceries without raising taxes on businesses, WSMV reports. The proposal would also allow counties to implement a grocery sales tax if approved by local lawmakers. Currently, the state sales tax on food and food ingredients is 4%. State Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, refiled a similar measure last month after it failed last year.