We remember Judge Pamela Reeves in this issue. She was the first woman to serve as president of the TBA and also the first woman to serve as chief judge of the District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The tribute by Memphis lawyer Bill Haltom, a longtime friend of Reeves and her husband, Charles Swanson, is a must-read, as well as a note from Swanson. If you did not know Judge Reeves, you will feel like you did after reading it. Also included are comments from friends and colleagues.

"This year has been a year of reflection on our health, our families, how we work, our safety, and in some instances, our purpose," TBA President Michelle Greenway Sellers writes in her recent Tennessee Bar Journal column. "The pandemic has reminded us of the importance of our community and those we cherish the most." She updates the membership about a recent survey on government affairs issues, the Diversity Task Force, and virtual meetings of the House of Delegates and Board of Governors. She also gives a heartfelt tribute to Judge Pamela Reeves: "As the first of only eight women since 1881 to serve as president of the TBA, [she is] an inspiration to me personally and I wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge her for being such a trailblazer."

In its second year, the TBA's Crim Law Day will bring law students together in this program designed to offer a glimpse into the daily life of a criminal law practitioner. “The program was created because law school prepares students to ‘think like a lawyer’ and teaches them legal theory and the fundamentals of criminal law and procedure,” Criminal Justice Section vice chair and LMU Duncan School of Law Professor Melanie Reid said in the recent TBJ's Section Showcase, “but students also need to get excited about the profession of law. … The TBA — particularly the Criminal Justice Section — is an excellent organization to facilitate such a program and be the bridge between theory and practice by offering such student-lawyer exchanges.” This year’s Crim Law Day, with students from LMU and UT College of Law participating, will be virtual Nov. 17.

TBA's annual Leadership Academy is going virtual, with exclusive, interactive content over the course of two days on Dec. 1 and 2. Academy faculty — Buck Lewis with Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, University of Tennessee College of Law Interim Dean Douglas Blaze, and Knoxville lawyer Bill Lockett — will address the characteristics needed for leadership in these challenging times. Topics to be covered include everyday leadership, developing grit and leaving a legacy. Networking opportunities also will be available. Remember: all 2020 CLE hours can be taken online and TBA members get discounted pricing on all CLE programs.

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