Carol Anne Mutter, 78, a 30-year professor at the UT College of Law, passed away on November 3, 2024, in Chattanooga. She is survived by her husband, Mitchell L. Mutter M.D., of Chattanooga; their three sons and their families. Full obituary here.
She earned the JD at Georgetown University Law Center. Part of a new generation of women going to law school, she faced familiar challenges and overcame them with characteristic tenacity and poise. As a law professor once said in recommending her for a coveted clerkship on the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, “Don’t be fooled by the sweater set and southern drawl – she has a mind like a steel trap.” She appreciated the steel trap part, never gave up the sweater sets (or the drawl), and got the clerkship.
Mrs. Mutter had a wide-ranging career in the law, ranging from private practice to an academic position as a professor at the University of Tennessee Law School, where for 30 years she was known for her expertise in civil procedure, torts, and insurance and health law. She later served as mayor of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, for six years.
Tributes for Sharon Bell, Dennis Francis
Knoxville also lost retired Chancellor Sharon Bell and attorney Dennis Francis, who succumbed to cancer. KnoxTNToday wrote about Chancellor Bell here and Betty Bean wrote about her friend Dennis Francis here.
Recognized for pro bono work
Paine, Bickers, Elder, King & Williams of Knoxville was selected as pro bono firm of the year; and Daniel L. Ellis was named pro bono attorney of the year at the Knoxville Pro Bono Month Celebration of Legal Aid of East Tennessee.
Paine Bickers was founded in 1987. The firm handles commercial litigation with offices in Riverview Tower, downtown Knoxville.
Daniel Ellis
Daniel L. Ellis is a solo practitioner with offices in Knoxville. He graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law where he was active with pro bono work as a student.
Ellis said he is grateful to have been selected by Legal Aid: “They do incredible work and it is my honor to get to help them and support them and more importantly to help and serve individual people one person at a time, one case at a time!
Sixty Days in Jail for DUI 1st Conviction
Charme Allen
Attorneys in the office of DA Charme Allen have obtained a conviction and 60-day jail sentence for a first-time DUI. The 54-year-old male was stopped after making a U-turn on Cedar Bluff Road at 3:30 a.m. The mandatory minimum sentence for first offense DUI is 48 hours in jail, but prosecutors asked for more time in this case because of previous unrelated convictions. Details here.
Repeat Drug Dealer Caught with Meth and Handgun
The DA’s Felony Drug Unit obtained convictions against a repeat drug dealer caught with methamphetamine and a handgun. The 35-year-old male was on probation for a previous conviction.
His probation in his previous case was revoked, and he is now serving a 10-year prison sentence. Because of his prior convictions, he is facing a sentence of 12 to 20 years on the methamphetamine count with five years consecutive on the firearm count. Details here.
