The Tennessee Bar Association this year will again honor the work of Tennessee journalists through the Fourth Estate Award: Honoring Courageous Reporting on Justice and the Law. This year's prize, honoring reporting in 2023, includes a $250 honorarium for the winner. The TBA strongly supports freedom of expression under the First Amendment, as exercised by lawyers on behalf of their clients and by journalists on behalf of the public, and particularly wants to recognize and encourage journalists who promote public understanding of the rule of law and our system of justice through vigorous exercise of their First Amendment rights. The deadline for entry is April 25. Attorneys who have relationships with reporters or observed a particularly compelling piece of journalism in 2023 are encouraged to submit a nomination. Read about past recipients here and read the TBA's full press release.

The Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission is accepting applications for a circuit court judge in the 18th and 22nd Judicial Districts. The position in the 18th Judicial District, which serves Sumner County, is a new seat that will be in effect as of Sept. 1. The position in the 22nd Judicial District — which serves Maury, Giles, Lawrence and Wayne counties — will be created with the retirement of Judge David Allen on Aug. 3. Those interested in either position should complete the application and submit it to the Administrative Office of the Courts by noon CDT on April 17. The commission will hold a public hearing to consider applicants for the 22nd District seat on May 20 at 9 a.m. CDT at Columbia Central High School, 921 Lion Parkway, Columbia 38401. It will hold a public hearing to consider applicants for the 18th District seat on May 21 at 9 a.m. CDT at Volunteer State Community College, 1480 Nashville Pike, Gallatin 37066. Get more information about applying.

The Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice (ATJ) Commission is partnering with West Tennessee Legal Services and the Governor’s Faith Based and Community Initiative to host a free expungement clinic on April 19 in Jackson. The clinic is for those who have charges in Madison County General Sessions or Circuit courts. Registration is open until April 5. The groups are hosting the clinic in conjunction with Help4TNMonth, which is observed each April to bring public awareness to the need for free and reduced fee legal services, and celebrate the organizations that provide these services throughout the year.

Combining existing law firms into a single business involves a lot of moving parts and personalities. Use this list to make sure you don’t overlook anything important. Find this and more in the Opening a Firm section of TBA’s Law Practice Management Center.

The Memphis Police Department will receive $1.9 million in federal funding to purchase new technology, Action News 5 reports. The funds will go toward blue light cameras, officer body-worn cameras and department software updates. U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, announced the funding, which the police chief says will be put to use in high-crime areas.

Georgia lawyer Erik Todd Fuqua has been reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee. Fuqua was placed on inactive status more than five years ago, on Oct. 5, 2014. He petitioned for reinstatement and the Board of Professional Responsibility deemed it to be satisfactory. The court issued its order today but made the reinstatement effective as of March 22.

The Nashville Hispanic Bar Association (NHBA) recently named its 2024 board of directors. They are: President Ana L. Escobar, judge on the Davidson County General Sessions Court, Div. 3; Vice President Alé Dalton with Bradley Arant Boult & Cummings; Secretary Ginnette Garza Brown, associate general counsel for Tennessee State University; Treasurer Michael Rivas with Michael Rivas Law; and Immediate Past President David Esquivel with Bass Berry & Sims. The NHBA began in 2019 and was officially incorporated in 2022. The group’s Eviction Right to Counsel Program provides free legal services and education to low-income residents in the immigrant community who are facing eviction. Read more in a news release from the group. For more information contact the association at hispanicattorneystn@gmail.com.

A lawsuit against Vanderbilt University Medical Center over the release of medical records of some patients of its transgender health clinic will move forward but with a narrower scope, a judge ruled Monday. According to the Tennessean, Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal dismissed four of the plaintiffs' 10 claims, narrowing the issues down mostly to the plaintiffs' accusations of negligence against the medical center. Vanderbilt said it was pleased several claims were dismissed and that it looks “forward to the opportunity to prove that all sensitive information was handled appropriately and in accordance with state and federal law.” The issue centers on whether Vanderbilt erred when it turned records over to the state attorney general’s office, which said it needed the information for an investigation into possible medical billing fraud.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will hold its 6th Annual Breakfast of Champions on April 17 at 8 a.m. CDT in Nashville. The event, which will take place at the City Winery, 609 Lafayette St., Nashville 37203, brings Middle Tennessee’s legal community and business leaders together to support the organization’s work. Funds raised at the breakfast directly impact low-income and vulnerable communities by providing free community education and legal representation. Learn more and register online or view the invitation.

The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals is seeking comments from the legal community and the public on the possible reappointment of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Jennie D. Latta. Comments should be submitted by May 9 to Circuit Executive Marc Theriault, 503 Potter Stewart United States Courthouse, 100 East Fifth St., Cincinnati, OH 45202 or via email. Latta, who serves the Western District of Tennessee, is serving a 14-year term that will expire on March 5, 2025. Read the court’s official notice or contact the Office of the Circuit Executive at 513-564-7200 for more information.