written by Judge Neil Thomas

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Pinnacle Financial Center

501 Broad St., 5th Floor

Reading begins at 5:00 p.m.

Light Refreshments Served

We are delighted to invite you to attend the first public reading of the Ed Johnson Project - Marshall/Parden Story, a full-length play written by Judge Neil Thomas. 

The reading will be conducted by several community persons, including lawyers, judges, preachers, teachers, historians and others. We are hopeful the reading will be meaningful and enlightening and will encourage you to learn more about the Ed Johnson Project. 

• His case was the first time the Supreme Court Intervened in a purely state court criminal proceeding to determine whether there had been a fair trial. 
• Noah Parden was the first Black to argue to the Supreme Court. 
• Shipp's contempt trial was the only trial ever conducted as a trial in the United States Supreme Court. 

The Chattanooga Bar Association is teaming up with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank for The Legal Food Frenzy to help provide foor for children in our community. 

Did you know??? 

Over 13,000 Hamilton County children are at risk of food insecurity this year... 

The Chattanooga Area Food Bank has been responding to an average 44% increase in child food insecurity since the pandemic....

Every summer, the Chattanooga Area Food Bank provides hunger solutions to children who lose access to school meals. 

All funds raised stay local and serve children facing hunger this summer. You can fundraise confidently knowing your are making an impact in your own backyard! 

May 13 - 24, 2024. Firms should register by May 6th to be included in the competition. 

Participants will create fundraising teams and compete against each other. Monetary donations can be made offline (Cash, Check or ACH Transfer) or online through a fundraising page for your team (Register with link below).

Every $1 raised equals 10 points. Food drives are optional, and every 1 pound of food equals 5 points. 

The team with the most points wins! 

All winners will be announced at the "Closing Arguments" reception held at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank on June 13, 2024

with Guest Speaker

The Honorable Jonathan Skrmetti

Tennessee Attorney General 

11:45 am - 1:00 pm

HUNTER MUSEUM

$45 CBA Members / $60 Non Members

Includes .50 CLE Credit

Attorney Volunteers sign up by emailing Mary Frances DeVoe at mdevoe@laet.org

Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 2:30 - 4:30 

Hamilton County Juvenile Court

1600 E. 3rd Street

The CBA Book Club will be reading Contempt of Court for our Spring selection! 

We will meet on May 23rd at 5 p.m at St. Mary’s Parish Hall at Thankful Memorial in St. Elmo. There will be a Zoom option for folks who want to be a part of the conversation virtually.

The link below is a website that is a very helpful visual aid to read along with this book which also explains the significance of meeting at this location.  If you have any questions, please let me know. 

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f44d28e90581440b9cb1d0d9470d404b

Excerpt from website:  The Rock Church

 "Ed Johnson also worked as a laborer at this church, Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church. He had been unable to work there in the days leading up to the attack due to cold weather. Will Hixson went to the stone yard by the church and asked the foreman for Johnson's name. Armed with a name and a description, Hixson turned in Johnson's information to Sheriff Shipp and collected the $375 reward. (worth over $10,000 today)."

To purchase book: 

https://bookshop.org/p/books/contempt-of-court-the-turn-of-the-century-lynching-that-launched-100-years-of-federalism-mark-curriden/8683971?ean=9780385720823

Chattanooga Bar Association and Chattanooga Area Food Bank's 

LEGAL FOOD FRENZY 

"CLOSING ARGUMENTS" Reception and Award Ceremony

2009 Curtain Pole Road

4:30 - 6:00 p.m.

Featuring 7TH STREET BAND! 

Details to come! 

with Speaker Barry Gold, Esq. 

at Baker Donelson Conference Center

Registration 8:00 a.m. 

CLE - 8:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

2.5 Hours General CLE Credit, 0.5 Dual CLE Credit

with speaker John Bode, Esq. 

Friends to be announced

at Miller & Martin 12th Floor Conference Center

Registration 2:30 p.m.

CLE Seminar 2:45 - 5::00 p.m.

2.25 General CLE Credit Hours

Camp Jordan 

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.

Details to come!