The 32nd Judicial District court recently held a portrait unveiling and reception for Judge Michael “Mike” E. Spitzer, who retired last year. Judge William K. Lane III, who replaced Spitzer, writes that Spitzer played a critical role in the establishment of the judicial district and was the first judge to be elected in the district, which serves Hickman, Lewis and Perry counties. The district was created to help with a growing caseload in the 21st Judicial District due to Williamson County's rapid growth. Spitzer previously sat as one of five judges in the 21st District. See a photo of Spitzer and his family at the ceremony.

A news item in yesterday's issue of TBA Today about Robertson County Attorney Clyde Richert misstated the length of his legal career and county service, and implied he was retiring from law practice. In an email to TBA, Richert says he has practiced law in Springfield for 49 years and has served as Robertson County attorney for 36 of those years. He is retiring from his role as county attorney effective July 1 but will continue his private law practice for now.

On June 3, the Tennessee Supreme Court transferred the law license of Florida attorney Harvey Randolph Fallin, to disability inactive status. Fallin may not practice law while on disability inactive status. He must comply with the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 28, regarding the obligations and responsibilities of attorneys transferred to disability inactive status.

Blount County lawyer David Arthur Walker was temporarily suspended from the practice of law on June 3. The Tennessee Supreme Court said it took the action after finding that Walker was substantially non-compliant with a Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program monitoring agreement and poses a threat of substantial harm to the public. He is immediately precluded from accepting new cases and he must cease representing existing clients by July 3. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court.

Knox County lawyer Troy Lee Bowlin was temporarily suspended from the practice of law on June 3. The Tennessee Supreme Court said it took the action after finding that Bowlin misappropriated client funds and posed a threat of substantial harm to the public. Bowlin is immediately precluded from accepting new cases and he must cease representing existing clients by July 3. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court.

President Donald Trump announced today that he plans to name acting U.S. Attorney General (AG) Todd Blanche as the “permanent attorney general.” According to Bloomberg Law, a video posted by White House adviser Dan Scavino showed Trump making the announcement during a Rose Garden event. Blanche, a former personal lawyer to Trump, has served as acting attorney general since the president dismissed former AG Pam Bondi in early April. Before that, Blanche had been Bondi’s chief deputy.

Next week’s TBA Convention will include a new element for lunch on Thursday. After grabbing a boxed lunch, attendees will be able to choose one of three Lunch & Learn opportunities. In the Summit Ballroom, Josh McIntyre, an attorney and senior manager of bar partnerships at Clio, will present “Increasing Law Firm Productivity with AI.” The session will focus on productivity, highlighting how AI streamlines workflows and scales operations without compromising the essential human touch or quality of work. In Salon C, Melanie Watson, a judicial education coordinator with Our Family Wizard, will present “Co-Parenting in the Digital Age: Improving Outcomes & Reducing Litigation with Our Family Wizard.” Watson will discuss the all-in-one co-parenting app that allows families to share a schedule, track expenses and stay connected. Finally, in Salon B, the TBA Attorney Engagement & Opportunity Committee will hold a session to hear from lawyers and answer questions about its work. Make plans now to join one of these informative breakouts next week!

Since the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, programs intended to help minority students, job seekers, workers and business owners have been challenged, upended and sometimes declared illegal. This one-hour webcast from the TBA will explore the outlook for race-conscious employment policies and what the implications are for Tennessee lawyers. Join Casey Duhart with Acadia Healthcare Inc., Mohamed Faizer with the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, and John Winemiller with Merchant & Gould for this informative session. Learn more and register on the TBA website.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met in Jonesborough to select nominees for a vacancy in the 1st Judicial District Criminal Court. After holding a public hearing and conducting public interviews, the commission selected three lawyers: Blountville attorney Tessa Nichole Lunceford, Erwin lawyer Robert Mitchell Manuel and Jonesborough lawyer Lawrence Scott Shults. The candidate selected will fill a vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Stacy Street to the appellate bench. The 1st Judicial District covers Carter, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties. Learn more about the candidates. 

A lawsuit against freight railroad company CSX Transportation is set to go to trial in August. A jury could determine the company’s role in the deaths of Waverly flood victims in 2021, the Tennessean reports. The plaintiffs allege that a debris-filled culvert owned by CSX acted like a dam, creating a large pool of floodwater. When the bridge and culvert gave way, they say it formed a “deadly tidal wave” that hit the heart of the small town. CSX has denied liability for the deaths in legal filings. The company’s attorneys write that the flood was tragic, there is no evidence that CSX played any role in the disaster.