A Memphis jury today heard opening arguments and witness testimony in the federal trial of state Sen. Katrina Robinson, D-Memphis, the Daily Memphian reports. Robinson was indicted last year on 20 counts of theft, embezzlement and wire fraud after allegedly misapplying federal funds intended to help students at her private business, The Healthcare Institute. Prosecutors allege Robinson used some of the grant money to finance her wedding, divorce, investment property and several other expenses totaling $600,000. Robinson’s attorneys argue that her two accountants never reported any issues with her use of the funding.

A Tennessee General Assembly committee yesterday heard testimony from lawyers, sheriffs, judges, criminal justice reform advocates and others on the state’s cash bail system, the Daily Memphian reports. While many suggestions were made to “refine” the system, abolishing pretrial detention or cash bail were not among them. Arguments were made for risk-assessment tools that would determine whether a person should be released pretrial, but some advocates raised concerns about such tools being biased against people of color. Lincoln Memorial University law school Professor Willie Santana questioned the rate of pretrial detention and argued it should be used far less. Santana suggested a “more explicit presumption of release without conditions” and a requirement that all bail hearings occur within 48 hours. The Tennessean also has coverage of the meeting.

Tennessee Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, and 72 other state House Republicans are calling for a special session in response to President Joe Biden's newly-announced vaccine policy, the Nashville Post reports. The new policy, to be administered by OSHA, requires companies with 100 or more employees to mandate vaccines or test employees for COVID-19 on a weekly basis. Casada said the group wants the session to weigh the options for challenging the plan. In related news, Tennessee’s top officials, including Attorney General Herbert Slatery, are reviewing the requirement, Mainstreet Nashville reports. 

The Tennessee House Select Committee on Redistricting held its first meeting yesterday, the Nashville Post reports. Those appearing before the committee included U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Nashville, who asked members to keep Nashville’s congressional district intact. “In previous redistricting rounds, the general feeling was let’s keep districts as close as you can. I hope and pray for Nashville’s sake that that’s done this time,” Cooper said. Others who testified included representatives from the NAACP, League of Women Voters and Equity Alliance, who asked lawmakers to conduct a transparent process. The meeting was the first of several expected hearings. Members of the public and community organizations can submit proposed maps of their own through a sitting member of the legislature until November. The General Assembly is expected to approve new maps shortly after returning to session early next year.

The Tennessee House Select Committee on Redistricting will hold its first meeting tomorrow, the Tennessee Journal reports. Assembled late last month by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, the committee is made up of eight Republicans and four Democrats. Traditionally, each chamber creates its own redistricting plan, while the House and Senate combine to draw new congressional maps. Wednesday’s meeting agenda includes a discussion of House redistricting guidelines, submission of redistricting plans and public comments.

Prosecutors in the fraud and money laundering suits against Tennessee state Sen. Katrina Robinson, D-Memphis, have asked the court to move the trial from Memphis to Jackson, the Daily Memphian reports. Barring moving the trial, the prosecution has asked for a jury pool from outside of Shelby County. According to court filings, prosecutors made their request due to Robinson’s recent statements that the case is being prosecuted for political and racist ends. Robinson also has allegedly encouraged supporters to “pack the courtroom” and “shut the entire city down” during the trial. Robinson faces federal charges of stealing, intentionally misapplying for funding, federal wire fraud, and money laundering in two separate cases both related to her nursing school. The trial is scheduled to start Sept. 13. Read more from Fox 13 local news.

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton has selected members to serve on the House’s redistricting committee. According to a news release reported by the Associated Press, Sexton’s office on Thursday said the committee will include eight Republicans and four Democrats. Deputy Speaker Curtis Johnson, R-Clarksville, will chair the committee, and Speaker Pro Tempore Pat Marsh, R-Shelbyville, will be the committee’s vice chair.

House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, has hired Sammie Arnold as his new chief of staff, the Nashville Post reports. Arnold most recently was an assistant commissioner at the state Department of Economic and Community Development, where he has been focused on community and rural development since 2013. He previously worked as a legislative aide for Gov. Bill Haslam and on Haslam’s first run for governor. Arnold holds a law degree from the University of Tennessee.

Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk said today that he will not prosecute teachers who violate Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order requiring school districts to allow students to opt out of wearing a mask, the Tennessean reports, and school officials in Memphis and Nashville say masks will still be required in their schools. That's promoted Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, to warn that if the school districts don't quickly comply, the legislature will intervene. "The Governor and the General Assembly cannot and will not allow lawful orders to be defied," McNally said. "If these systems persist in resisting the order, we will have no choice but to exercise other remedial options." A Metro Nashville Board of Education member had emailed Funk after Lee issued Executive Order 84 yesterday, asking the DA if he planned on “initiating any criminal or other proceedings against teachers, staff, or board members" for defying the order. Funk responded by saying he "will not prosecute school officials or teachers for keeping children safe." 

A law that went into effect this summer could provide some counties with a one-time grant of up to $5,000 to create new waiting areas for crime victims and/or their families as they wait during court proceedings, the Murfreesboro Post reports. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, and Rep. Michael Curcio, R-Dickson, establishes a “grant program within the District Attorneys General Conference (DAGC) to award grants to county governments to provide a safe and accessible space for victims to meet with attorneys, law enforcement, counselors and others.”