Hear Ye, Hear Ye

2022 NBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Journal

MARTESHA JOHNSON MOORE, President GULAM ZADE, President-Elect Journal HON. MELISSA BLACKBURN, First Vice President LIZ SITGREAVES, Second Vice President CHARITY WILLIAMS, Secretary FLYNNE DOWDY, Treasurer GIL SCHUETTE, Assistant Treasurer LELA M. HOLLABAUGH, General Counsel JEREMY OLIVER, YLD President MIKE ABELOW, Immediate Past President LORA FOX, First Vice President-Elect MARLENE MOSES, Second Vice President-Elect

BAHAR AZHDARI CHRISTEN BLACKBURN JAZ BOON ERIN COLEMAN RAQUEL EVE OLUYEMO SAM FELKER MANDY FLOYD ELIZABETH FOY MARY TAYLOR GALLAGHER JEFF GIBSON PAZ HAYNES JOSEPH HUBBARD KIM LOONEY JUNAID ODUBEKO KAYA GRACE PORTER MARIE SCOTT TIM WARNOCK LUTHER WRIGHT

NBA TEAM

ABBY SPARKS, Executive Director CAMERON ADKINS, CLE Director ADRIENNE BENNETT CLUFF, Marketing & Communications Coordinator TRACI HOLLANDSWORTH, Programs & Events Coordinator SUSAN JENCZYK, Finance Coordinator VICKI SHOULDERS, Membership Coordinator, Office Manager

HAVE AN IDEA FOR AN ARTICLE?

We want to hear about the topics and issues you think should be covered in the journal. Send your ideas to Adrienne.BennettCluff@nashvillebar.org.

Nashville Bar Foundation Grant Applications

The Nashville Bar Foundation is now accepting grant applications for 2023. If you know of any 501(c)(3) organizations that may be eligible for a Foundation Grant, please spread the word. Grant eligibility and application guidelines can be found at NashvilleBar.org/NBFGrantGuidelines. The Foundation will allocate funding each budget year on the basis of written applications in a format prescribed by the Foundation. Grant applications can be found at NashvilleBar.org/NBFGrantApplication and are due in mid-January. Watch your NBA Weekly Update for further information. n

Membership Renewals

It's time to renew your membership! The 2022 membership year ends on October 31. You may renew online at NashvilleBar.org/Renew (it only takes a few minutes!) or by contacting Vicki at Vicki.Shoulders@nashvillebar.org or 615-242-9272. If your firm is part of Firm Billing with

the NBA, please check with your administrator before

renewing online. Thank you for your continued support and membership! n

Fall Memorial Service

Our Fall Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, November 17. The service begins at 11:00am. Stay tuned to upcoming NBA Weekly Update emails and NashvilleBar.org/MemorialService for a list of those who will be honored. A project of the NBA’s Historical Committee, memorial services honor the memory of those Nashville lawyers and judges who have recently passed away. n

We are now seeking nominations for the John C. Tune Public Service Award to be presented at the Annual Meeting & Banquet on Thursday, December 8, to be held at the Music City Center. The purpose of the award is to recognize members who make outstanding contributions to the greater Nashville area community while distinguishing themselves as practicing attorneys. To submit your nomination, email Traci.Hollandsworth@nashvillebar.org no later than Friday, October 14, expressing why you believe your nominee is deserving of this prestigious award. Visit NashvilleBar.org/Awards for more information. n

Save the Date! NBA Annual Meeting & Banquet

Gather around for our annual meeting on Thursday, December 8th. A reception for our members will begin at 5:30pm followed by dinner and the program. Watch your NBA Weekly Update for more details!

2021 Annual Banquet Highlights

Events-At-A-Glance

Oct 8 | Habitat for Humanity Build

Oct 20 | NBA + YLD Cocktails for Costumes @ Bastion

Nov 17 | Fall Memorial Service @ Downtown Presbyterian Church

Dec 8 | NBA Annual Meeting & Banquet @ Music City Center

View photos of these past events or at NashvilleBar.org/PhotoGallery. Be on the lookout for more information about upcoming events! n

Feature Story | Summer Melton & Adrienne Bennett Cluff

The New Nashville Judges

This August and September saw the swearing in of nine new judges, after an exceptionally busy election cycle. With so many faces that are new to the bench, we, at the NBA want to help our members get acquainted with the newest judges on the bench.

Hon. Khadija Babb was sworn in as judge for Division V of the Davidson County Criminal Court. Judge Babb graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law. She began her legal career practicing Social Security Disability Law before starting her own law firm in Nashville practicing criminal defense. Eventually, in an effort to create change from the inside out, Judge Babb joined the Davidson County District Attorney’s Office. As a passionate lawyer, constantly working to help others, Judge Babb’s work in the DA’s office cemented her true values and have made her eager to grow into a position where she could continue to implement change. As a Judge, she will focus on respecting victim’s rights, reducing disparities in the criminal justice system, and serving the community.

Hon. C. David Briley was sworn in as judge for Division I of the Tennessee 20th Judicial District Circuit Court. As a Nashville native, former student of Montgomery Bell Academy, and grandson of Metropolitan Nashville’s first elected mayor, Judge Briley has been a champion for making Nashville a more equitable city through concerted efforts and policies. Prior to being elected to his current position as a Circuit Court Judge, he received his Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and his JD from Golden Gate University. Judge Briley served as the eighth mayor of Metropolitan Nashville, following 3 years of service as the vice mayor, and was most recently a member at Bone McAllester Norton, where he primarily engaged in civil, commercial, and class-action litigation. He and his wife, a local Nashville attorney, have one son and two (very cute) dogs.

Hon. Cynthia C. Chappell was sworn in as judge for Division VI of the Tennessee 20th Judicial District Criminal Court. Judge Chappell received her Bachelor’s degree from Rhodes College and her JD from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. In her impressive career, Judge Chappell has been appointed by two mayoral administrations to serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals and opened her own law firm—Chappell Law Offices—where she primarily handled criminal charges, orders of protection hearings, contempt hearings, and matters that arose when a civil case involves the criminal justice system. In addition to being a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation and Nashville Bar Foundation, Emeritus member of the Harry Phillips Inns of Court, and having previously served as the chair of the NBA CLE Committee, Judge Chappell is a mother to two sons.

Hon. Marcus Floyd was sworn in as judge for Division VII of the Davidson County General Sessions Court. Judge Floyd was born in the small, rural town of Cleveland, Mississippi. His family moved to Nashville’s Edgehill neighborhood when he was young, and he attended Hillsboro High School. Judge Floyd earned his bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University. After MTSU, he served as a probation

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officer, where his experiences inspired him to attend law school. He graduated from Belmont University College of Law in 2015. Since graduating, Judge Floyd has remained a committed public servant, working as a judicial clerk, prosecutor, public defender, and policy adviser. He hopes to bring fairness and equity to the bench.

Hon. Robin Kimbrough Hayes

was sworn in as judge for General Sessions Division V. Judge Hayes earned her Bachelor’s degree from Fisk University, her JD from Emory Law School in Atlanta, and her Master’s degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School. In her noteworthy career, she has become an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, served as Assistant Attorney General in Tennessee’s Attorney General Office, and as Associate General Counsel for the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Judge Hayes has dedicated her career to using her legal skills to advance social justice, chiefly directing her focus toward the issues of poverty, criminal justice reform, and women’s issues.

Hon. Andra J. Hedrick was sworn in as judge for Division VII of the Tennessee 20th Judicial District Circuit Court. Judge Hedrick grew up in Indiana, earned her Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, and later received her JD from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Most recently, after finally making her way to Nashville, she was a partner at Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin, focusing on complex estates, trusts and conservatorships, including those in litigation. This issue of the NBJ includes a Background Check Column featuring Judge Andra J. Hedrick and features a much more in-depth look into her life and impressive career.

Hon. Lynne Ingram was sworn in as judge for the Eighth Circuit of the Davidson County Circuit Court. Judge Ingram attended the University of South Carolina, earning her bachelor’s degree in 2000. She went on earn her juris doctor from Western Michigan Cooley Law School in 2003. Judge Ingram relocated to Nashville in 2009, where she began her tenure at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. In that role, she prosecuted a variety of cases and conducted numerous jury trials. Since 2014, Judge Ingram has also served as an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt Law. After leaving the U.S. Attorney’s Office, she worked in private practice and for the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. Judge Ingram has dedicated the majority of her career to public service and non-profit work.

Hon. I’Ashea L. Myles was sworn in as judge for Part III of the Tennessee 20th Judicial District Chancery Court. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Belmont University and her JD from Belmont College of Law. Chancellor Myles has a passion for serving her community and has helped to run pro bono expungement and legal advice clinics in Davidson and Rutherford counties. With experience in both New York City and Nashville, she was a mentee of and former summer clerk for Honorable Richard H. Dinkins. Most recently, Chancelor Myles practiced at Bone McAllester Norton, focusing on construction, real estate and business litigation. She is an adoring mother to her three children and puppy, Thurgood Marshall.

Hon. Jim Todd was sworn in as judge for Division VI of the Davidson County General Sessions Court. As a Nashville native with many years of legal practice experience, he has worked towards bail reform and against laws that have been shown to disproportionately affect nonwhite Nashville residents. Before his current position, Judge Todd worked as an assistant to then-senator Al Gore and former Governor Ned McWherter. Judge Todd also worked as a defense attorney at Nashville law firm Hagan and Todd, and has offered legal analyses on Channel 5.

SUMMER MELTON is a trial attorney with MGC Law. She focuses on complex construction litigation but also practices general civil defense, where she represents clients in both state and federal courts.

ADRIENNE BENNETT

CLUFF is a the Marketing & Communications Coordinator for the Nashville Bar Association.