KBA President Jonathan D. Cooper will preside over the Annual Membership Meeting on Friday, December 12, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. at the Main Assembly Room of the City County Building. At the end of the meeting, Rachel Park Hurt will be sworn in as KBA President.

The KBA Annual Meeting is one of the year's most important events, and we encourage all members to attend. It is an opportunity for members to gather and review the activities of the Association over the past year. Members will elect the Board of Governors, celebrate award recipients, and learn about plans for 2026.

The Nominating Committee for the Officers and Board of Governors of the Knoxville Bar Association for the upcoming year was comprised of Judge Kristi Davis, Loretta Cravens, Mitchell Panter, Kelly Street, Meagan Collver, and Paul Wehmeier. 

The Nominating Committee, having met, recommends that the following, all of whom are members of the Knoxville Bar Association, be placed in nomination at the Annual Meeting:                                                         

President-Elect:                                 Ursula Bailey
Treasurer:                                           Cathy Shuck
Secretary:                                           M. Samantha Parris

There are four open positions on the Board of Governors. Three of the Board of Governors positions will be for three-year terms. The fourth is a one-year term government/public sector position. Nominations to fill the open positions on the Board of Governors are the following:

BOARD MEMBER: Three-Year Terms (VOTE FOR THREE)

                                    Luke D. Durham                           Joshua D. Headrick

                                    Mitch D. Eisenberg                      Allison Jackson

                                    Donald J. Farinato                       Shannon van Tol                       

BOARD MEMBER: Government/Public Sector Position: One-Year Term:              

                                   Matthew R. Lyon, Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, Vice President and Dean

According to Article VI, Section 1, of the KBA By-Laws: "Nominations may also be made from the floor during the Annual Meeting by any member in good standing."

VIEW THE ELECTION CANDIDATES' PROFILES
 

AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS:

In addition, members will also be asked to vote on potential amendments to the Knoxville Bar Association Bylaws. Please review these amendments here prior to voting.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS - VOTING IN THE KBA ELECTIONS
Any member in good standing who personally comes to the KBA offices during regular business hours from Wednesday, November 26, through Thursday, December 11, will be permitted to vote. The member must first file a written form making an oath that they will not be in town or otherwise be unable to attend the Annual Meeting. Then the member will be permitted to cast an absentee ballot for such officer or board positions as may be contested.

KBA Business Hours: 
November 26:  9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
November 28 & 29:  Closed
December 1 - 11:  9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

All judges have been requested to delay court until 10:00 a.m. on the morning of Friday, December 12, 2025.

To expedite check-in for the Annual Meeting, members should register on the KBA website before 4 p.m. on December 11.