LAW Matters July 2021 Volume XXXIII No
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LAW Matters July 2021 Volume XXXIII No. 3 Photo 187878698 / June © Chormail | Dreamstime.com In This Issue President’s Message 2 Hybrid August Membership Meeting—Ethical Issues for Attorneys Serving on Nonprofit Boards 3 Founder’s Spotlight: Barbara Moss 4 Past President’s Spotlight: Chancellor Rose Cantrell 5 Board Member Spotlight: President-Elect Shellie Handelsman 6 Recap of LAW June Membership Meeting and One Hour CLE 7 Lawmakers Enact a New Process for Constitutional Claims—But Is It Constitutional? 9 Member Spotlight: Sonia Hong 11 MGWS Save the Date/Amendment to the Criminal Justice Act Plan 12 Kudos & Job Opportunities 13 Sustaining Members 14 President’s Message 2021-2022 LAW BOARD OF DIRECTORS by Kimberly Faye Executive Board Kimberly Faye, President Shellie Handelsman, President-Elect I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of Emily Warth, Secretary July weekend! I enjoyed time with family and Leighann Ness, Treasurer watched the musical Hamilton, which is be- Brooke Coplon, 2nd Year Director Tabitha Robinson, 2nd Year Director coming a little tradition for me after watching Shundra Manning, 1st Year Director it last year on July 4th when it was released Courtney Orr, 1st Year Director to Disney Plus. One of my absolute favorite Rachel Berg, Archivist lines from the musical is, “I’m just like my Samantha Simpson, Archivist Amanda Bradley, Newsletter Editor country - I’m young, scrappy, and hungry, Hannah Kay Freeman, Newsletter Editor and I am not throwing away my shot.” While Devon Landman, Newsletter Editor thinking about that line and America’s Found- Caroline Sapp, Newsletter Editor ing Fathers, I started thinking about the histo- Sara Anne Quinn, Immediate Past President ry of LAW and our founding members. Most Committee Co-chairs of you may already be familiar with our history, but a little refresher never hurts, and some of our newer members may not know. We are New Admittees’ Breakfast in the works of planning a CLE for early 2022 that will be a deep dive Kaley Bell, Chancellor Claudia Bonnyman, April Knox into the history of LAW, so I will only provide a very brief summary. Community Relations In 1901, the Tennessee Supreme Court told Marion Griffin that Savannah Darnall, Jackie Dixon, Danielle Johns women were not entitled to practice before the court. Griffin was later Diversity Equity and Inclusion able to convince the Tennessee State Assembly to allow women to Kierstin Jodway, Quynh-Anh Kibler, practice law. In July 1907, she became the first female lawyer in the Angela Williams state to actively practice law upon being licensed by the Tennessee Health and Wellness Supreme Court and her local bar association. However, the fight for Morgan Bernard, Rachel Taylor women in the legal field did not stop with Griffin. The fight for women in the legal field did not stop with Griffin, and it continues today. Judicial Appointments, Elections and Awards Katie Marshall, Ellen Bowden-McIntyre After several months of groundwork, the first organizational meeting Legislation and Litigation of the Lawyers’ Association for Women - Marion Griffin Chapter was Annie Beckstrom, Jenny Charles held on January 27, 1981. This meeting was the result of the efforts of a group of women lawyers, our founding members, who shared the Marion Griffin Women’s Symposium 2021 Liz Sitgreaves, Kyontzè Toombs intent on providing opportunities for women lawyers to become better acquainted with one another on both social and professional levels Membership and to further specific purposes, including working for the selection of Katharine Fischman, Callie Hinson qualified women for election and nomination to the bench and the Mentoring/Member Development continuing improvement of the overall quality of the bench, encourag- Alaina Beach, Mel Gworek, Corey Harkey ing participation of women lawyers in existing bar organizations at the committee and officer levels, and promoting career opportunities for Networking women lawyers. Like the line from Hamilton, I am so thankful that our Katie Bennett, Blake Howell, Jessica Cunningham Lim founding members were “young, scrappy, and hungry” and did not throw away their shot. Their efforts continue to enrich our lives, both Programs personally and professionally. Jan Margaret Craig, Mandy Floyd, Candi Henry, Malaka Watson Executive Director Melanie Gober Grand LAW Matters is a monthly publication of the Lawyers’ Association for women—Marion Griffin Chapter, P. O. Box 210436, Nashville, Tennessee, 37221-0436. Voicemail: 615.708.1827 Fax: 888.834.7370; www.law-nashville.org. LAW Matters July 2021 Page 2 Ethical Issues for Attorneys Serving on Nonprofit Boards August 17, 2021 11:30 am—12:00 pm Networking and Lunch CLE Noon—1:00 pm Hybrid August Membership Meeting One Hour Dual Credit CLE Lawyers are invited to join the boards of nonprofit corporations for a variety of reasons, the best of which relate to the judgment and analytical and communication skills lawyers may bring to bear. Service on nonprofit boards, however, often presents lawyers with irresistible opportunities to their exercise their legal training, with potential ethical implications. This program will review the most troublesome of those ethical considerations, including issues relating to whether simply serving as a director can create a lawyer-client relationship, present conflicts of interest, or raise concerns regard- ing competence. In keeping with our nonprofit theme, the meeting will be held at Helping Our Music Evolve (HOME), a Nashville nonprofit that is a music community center where musicians and music lovers of all genres can learn, grow and experiment. HOME makes it easier for the music community to find each other, access the industry and leverage the professionals who can help them further their careers. Miranda Christy is an attorney at Dodson Parker Behm & Capparella P.C. where her practice focuses largely on finance, business transactions, and real estate, advising various clients on acquisitions, dispositions, financing, development, and leasing. She also counsels non-profit organizations and has experience in conservation easements and conservation finance. Tabitha Robinson is a staff attorney at Nashville Electric Service with a focus in workers' compensation, bankruptcy, probate, tort law, contracts, policy drafting, and internal affairs. Tabitha volunteers for and serves on the boars of many area nonprofit community and professional organizations. Ed Lanquist is a co-founder of Patterson Intellectual Property Law. His practice is focused on patent, trademark, and copyright litigation, intellectu- al property counseling, trademark prosecution, and technology law. During his 30 year law career, Ed has immersed himself in volunteering for many area nonprofit community and professional organizations serving in dozens of leadership roles. He is also serves as General Counsel for the Tennes- see Bar Association. LAW Matters July 2021 Page 3 As the Lawyers’ Association for Women—Marion Griffin Chapter celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, we are looking back on and honoring our past. As part of the celebration, we are highlighting a LAW founder and past president each month, find- ing out what drew them to LAW, what they remember most about their time as president, and their reflections on LAW’s role in the community now and in the future. Founder’s Spotlight Barbara Moss What were you doing in your career at the time LAW was founded? In January, 1981, I had a three year old, a six month old and two stepchil- dren. And I was practicing law full time as a litigator at Boult, Cummings, Con- ners & Berry. So although I am listed as a founder I really wasn’t much in- volved in the “founding” of LAW. I was certainly present in spirit, however, since at that time virtually all of us knew each other. What’s a favorite memory from your time with LAW? I have so many favorite memories, but here is one. We had a retreat at Montgomery Bell State Park and Nancy MacLean had designed T-shirts for us that spelled out LAW but looked like Batman wings. It was so wonderful just to BE together. What has your membership in LAW provided for you over the years? LAW has provided me with opportunities for leadership, friendship and for giving back to the community. What do you consider to be the greatest accomplishment of LAW? I think getting women into judgeships has changed everything about litigation. What do you think LAW has provided to the Nashville legal community since it was founded? We have produced leaders who have gone on to head other bar organizations, law firms, and communi- ty organizations. What has changed about LAW and/or the Nashville legal community since LAW was first formed? The practice of law has become much more inclusive. How has the practice of law changed for women since LAW was founded? I would have said that the practice of law for women has changed a lot, but I have been greatly saddened by the uproar in the national legal world caused by the publication of an article in the ABA journal by Susan Smith Blakely and the response published by all of the women who have been president of the ABA. Women still have a long way to go when the ABA publishes an article claiming that lawyer moms are just not “doing it” right, that if we just tried harder, worked harder, held our mouths just right, that we would get ahead. What do you hope LAW does in the next 40 years? Women will not have “made it” until we are at the tops of the law firms in equal numbers. I don’t think that has happened yet, but I sure hope it happens in the next 40 years. LAW Matters July 2021 Page 4 Past President’s Spotlight Rose Cantrell 1995-1996 How and why did you first get involved in LAW? I graduated from law school in l975 from the Nashville School of Law (NSL).