A recent revision to Tennessee's school library law, passed in 2023, has led to the removal of more than 1,100 books across the state, according to a survey by the Tennessee Association of School Librarians. The Tennessee Lookout reports that the law requires periodic reviews of catalogs to ensure materials are appropriate for the ages and maturity levels of the students who can access them. It also broadened the definition of what school library materials are prohibited. Kathy Sinback, executive director of the ACLU of Tennessee, suggests that the law is vulnerable to a legal challenge, alleging it is vague and applied unevenly across the state. While some school districts have removed books proactively, others are using a more deliberate review process. Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, a sponsor of the law said its intent is "simply to ensure public schools do not give children access to materials that are not appropriate for their ages.”

The Hamilton County Jail has launched a new electrical vocational program in partnership with Chattanooga State Community College, aiming to reduce recidivism by providing inmates with job training. Participants in the eight-week program will receive instruction mirroring Chattanooga State's courses and earn college credit applicable towards vocational programs, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp said funding for reentry programs comes from opioid abatement dollars. Organizers believe the initiative can offer inmates a pathway to employment outside the criminal justice system.

Kimberly Lund was sworn in as chancellor of the newly created 19th Judicial District Chancery Court, which covers Montgomery and Robertson counties, last week. She will share the workload of the court, which covers Montgomery and Robertson counties, with Chancellor Ben Dean. Appointed by Gov. Bill Lee, Lund previously served as an assistant district attorney in the district for nearly two decades. Lund earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky and her law degree from Michigan State University. Smokey Barn News has more on the story.

U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz announced his resignation today, effective immediately. Ritz, who has served as the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee since 2022, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate this week to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In announcing his resignation, Ritz said, "It has been such a tremendous honor to serve our country in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for 19 years — and to lead the office for the last two years. I’m especially lucky to have served as an Assistant United States Attorney and as United States Attorney in my hometown of Memphis. I am immensely proud to say that the United States is the only client I have ever had.” Read more in a press release from the office.

A new program is being launched nationwide to provide incarcerated individuals with the opportunity to earn high school diplomas through virtual classes on tablets. The initiative, a partnership between ViaPath, Promising People and American High School, aims to increase educational access and reduce recidivism rates. According to News Channel 5 Nashville, advocates say the program is promising, as many inmates are reported to lack basic literacy skills. The devices' functions are limited by design for security purposes. Tony Lowden, chief social impact officer for ViaPath, said the company's tablets will not carry note taking apps due to security risks like inmates communicating covertly.

Vanderbilt Law School announced that Kelly Bahiraei has been named assistant dean for legal studies, reporting to Vice Dean Lisa Bressman. In this position, Bahiraei will be responsible for developing and managing several non-law degree academic programs within the law school, including the undergraduate minor in legal studies, the master of legal studies and the master of laws. Bahiraei previously served as associate director of Admissions, Recruitment and International Student Services at Vanderbilt Law from 2014-2019. Prior to her return to the law school, she worked at K&L Gates as legal recruiting manager, and at Bass, Berry & Sims, leading a team responsible for student programming and recruitment.

The former deputy commissioner and chief financial officer for the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC), Wesley Olan Landers, has been charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice and to commit perjury in connection with a $123 million contract to provide behavioral health services. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, Landers used his personal email account to provide confidential TDOC information related to the bidding process for a new behavioral health service provider for TDOC inmates. After a new contract was awarded to a new provider, Landers was hired as vice president of operations, reporting to Jeffrey Scott Wells, to whom he had passed the confidential TDOC information and who also was charged in the case. If convicted, both defendants face up to five years in federal prison.

Baker Donelson shareholder Lang Wiseman recently was named to the Tennessee Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advisory Council and will chair the council's policy subcommittee. The Nashville Post spoke with Wiseman about his appointment and to get his thoughts on AI in the legal community and beyond. He addresses the importance of protecting client data, the purposes and goals of the council and shares how the council can help identify opportunities to make Tennessee a leader in the AI movement.

U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger has ruled that a federal lawsuit alleging Tennessee’s mental health and disability agencies discriminated against deaf individuals living in privately run group homes can move forward. The Tennessee Lookout reports that attorneys for the state attempted to dismiss all claims brought by six individuals who say they were denied the ability to communicate and deprived of sign language interpreters and communication technologies in group homes. The state argued that Tennessee's mental health and disability agencies are not responsible for the way private group homes operate, but according to Trauger's decision, federal law “recognizes that a government agency’s decision to rely on a privatize-and-license model, rather than a direct services model, does not inherently excuse it from its antidiscrimination obligations in performing the underlying public services.”

Today marks the 237th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution, the world’s longest surviving written charter of government. U.S. District Judge Curtis L. Collier and law clerks Carrie Brown Stefaniak, Rachel Elaine Noveroske and Katherine E. Philyaw discuss some of the current sentiment for changing or amending the Constitution. They consider the dissatisfaction that some people have with the document, the role and function of the federal judiciary and the procedural steps required to change the Constitution. Interested in learning more about Constitution Day? The TBA has a collection of online resources.