The Tennessee Bar Foundation has announced the induction of its newest fellows, a distinguished group of attorneys and judges being recognized for exceptional contributions to the legal profession and the public good. The group of 28 join Tennessee Supreme Court justices, state and federal judges, and practitioners in diverse legal fields who have demonstrated a commitment to improving their communities and upholding the integrity of the legal profession. This honor is extended to a select few, representing less than 5% of licensed attorneys in the state. "We are incredibly proud to welcome the Class of 2026 into the distinguished ranks of our Fellows. The Tennessee Bar Foundation Fellows represent the very best of the Tennessee legal community and the legal leaders who have helped shape — and continue to shape — the practice of law in our great state," said foundation chair Sam D. Elliott. Read more and see the list of new fellow in a press release from the foundation.

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell has named Jaz Boon, a member of Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison, as the new chair of Nashville Electric Service’s board, according to the Nashville Post. Boon will succeed Vanderbilt University Law School’s Anne Davis, who is stepping down after five years. Boon focuses his litigation practice on counseling clients on business disputes, commercial matters and environmental health and safety compliance. He previously was assistant general counsel for Bridgestone Americas, Inc. The news comes after a comprehensive independent review of NES’ response to January’s Winter Storm Fern was released this week. The review, commissioned by the NES board, was led by Bill Harbison of Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison and Aubrey Harwell of Adams & Reese, according to WSMV. The Nashville Banner and Axios Nashville report on the review’s findings.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee has given official notice that it intends to appeal dismissal of its case against Kilmar Abrego García, the Nashville Banner reports. In a ruling last month, U.S. District Court Judge Waverly Crenshaw found that the government engaged in selective and vindictive prosecution when it pursued human smuggling charges tied to a November 2022 traffic stop. Crenshaw found that had Abrego García not successfully challenged his deportation to El Salvador, the government would not have filed the criminal charges. The appeal will be filed with the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. The government still is seeking to deport Abrego García.

Memphis attorney and theater producer Adam Remsen extended his winning streak on Jeopardy! to nine consecutive games today, increasing his total winnings to $192,805, the Commercial Appeal reports. Remsen earned $24,401 in his latest victory after correctly answering the final clue in the category "Opera Characters." The run puts him in front of the last local long-run champ, Laura Faddah, who won eight games in late 2024/early 2025.

A federal appeals court on Tuesday ruled in favor of the Trump administration’s efforts to fast-track deportations for undocumented immigrants across the country through an expedited process, The Hill reports. The Court of Appeals for ​the District of Columbia Circuit issued a 2-1 ruling, overturning a lower-court decision that blocked the effort last year. An advocacy group sued the U.S. Homeland Security Department after it expanded the expedited removal policy, making it applicable to all immigrants who could not prove they had been in the country for more than two years. The group said the actions violate due process rights. Two judges upheld the administration’s plan, saying it does not deprive aliens of a meaningful opportunity to be heard. A third judge dissented, arguing that immigration officers, acting under the expanded expedited removal policy, did not advise detainees of their rights and wrongfully deported multiple undocumented immigrants.

Advocates are urging Gov. Bill Lee to intervene before a June 30 deadline requiring the Tennessee Department of Health to report the immigration status of certain children enrolled in the state's Children's Special Services program, the Tennessee Lookout reports. The policy affects about 400 immigrant children with serious illnesses and disabilities who rely on the program for specialized medical care. The department has warned parents that children will be reported to the Tennessee Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division — an agency established in 2025 to oversee collaboration with federal immigration agencies — after June 30 as a condition of continued care. During a Tuesday news conference, advocates said families are being forced to choose between continuing life-sustaining treatment and risking immigration enforcement. Sen. Ed Jackson, R-Jackson, a sponsor of the legislation cited by the department as the basis of its action, said he is exploring possible changes to the law, while the Tennessee Justice Center said it plans to file a legal challenge this week.

A Bradley County judge has approved a final order awarding $10,000 to former student Morgan Armstrong who sued Tennessee Christian Preparatory School, Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. The order, filed Monday and agreed to by both parties, resolves a May 2025 breach-of-contract lawsuit alleging the Cleveland private school disciplined Armstrong after she announced on social media that she was in a relationship with another woman. The suit alleged Armstrong was suspended because she publicly identified as gay. The school maintained the suspension was for separate social posts it said misrepresented the school. The final order dismisses the school's counterclaim, requires the school to pay court costs and prohibits it from disparaging Armstrong to colleges and universities. Attorneys Daniel Horwitz and Sarah Martin represented Armstrong and her family.

It has been just over a month since executioners in Nashville abandoned the lethal injection of Tony Carruthers, who was granted a one-year reprieve by Gov. Bill Lee. Now, three other death row inmates facing execution dates this year are seeking reprieves. Federal public defenders representing Darrell Hines, who is scheduled to be executed Aug. 13, asked Lee on Monday to call off the execution because of the risk that it “will be yet another gruesome spectacle.” They note that Hines has suffered a series of strokes that have left him with neurological and cognitive impairments, according to the Memphis Flyer. Earlier this month, attorneys representing Christa Pike — who is set to be executed on Sept. 30 — filed a motion with the Tennessee Supreme Court arguing that a lethal injection would be prolonged and torturous given her health issues. And in the case of Gary Sutton — who is scheduled to be executed on Dec. 3 — legal counsel point to long-held innocence claims, questions about his prosecution and an alleged intellectual disability. Read more from the Nashville Banner.

The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority has filed a lawsuit in federal court to prevent the state from taking control of its board of commissioners, Tennessee Lookout reports. The move comes after it filed a suit last week in Hamilton County Chancery Court. The airport authority joined the city of Chattanooga in suing in a Washington, D.C. federal court, where it is asking the Federal Aviation Administration to recognize the current airport board. Without the legal challenge, the board would be vacated July 1.

A third lawsuit has been filed against a new Tennessee law banning pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from simultaneously owning pharmacies and health plans in the state. In May, Gov. Bill Lee signed the FAIR Rx Act, a landmark bill that supporters argue will restore transparency, fairness and competition in the pharmacy marketplace. The latest action is from the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA), which is a national trade association representing PBMs. Read more about the filing in a press release from the group. PCMA joins CVS Health and Express Scripts in challenging the law, according to Health Care Finance News. The plaintiffs argue the legislation violates the U.S. Constitution and will impede access to prescription drugs for hundreds of thousands of patients.