The Nashville office of Thompson Burton has signed a lease to expand its Midtown office space by approximately 16,000 square feet, adding a full floor to its footprint at 1801 West End Ave., the Nashville Business Journal reports. Founded in 2012 by Walt Burton and Kevin Thompson, the firm has has offices in Franklin, Huntsville, Alabama, and Washington, D.C. The Nashville office opened in 2019 with about 5,000 square feet and now occupies more than six times that amount. “We're bursting at the seams right now. This will add space for hopefully another 25 lawyers,” Burton told the Business Journal. “This will give us runway to grow for the next few years, which we really haven't had in a while because physical space has been a confinement of that.”

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris was scheduled to sign an executive order today limiting solitary confinement within the Shelby County Division of Corrections during a ceremony at the County Corrections Center. Harris’ order reportedly would cap solitary confinement at 15 days and require that individuals held in isolation be allowed out of their cells for at least two hours per day, The Daily Memphian reports. Harris plans to follow the executive order with a proposed ordinance, which he will present to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners to codify the policy change. The new limits are part of a broader reform package that includes a point system for infractions, incentives for good behavior, rehabilitation programs, and a contract system in which inmates agree to work toward better outcomes.

President Donald Trump will sign executive order this week again extending the deadline for TikTok’s parent company to divest from the video-sharing app. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the news Tuesday, according to The Hill. The expected order would mark the third extension since Trump took office in January. “This extension will last 90 days, which the administration will spend working to ensure this deal is closed so that the American people can continue to use TikTok with the assurance that their data is safe and secure,” Leavitt said. Her confirmation of the news came just hours after Trump said he likely would extend the deadline to prevent a ban on TikTok from taking effect in the United States.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met in Knoxville to select nominees for a criminal court judgeship in the 6th Judicial District, which covers Knox County. Following a public hearing and interviews of eight candidates, the commission selected three to forward to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. They are Emily F. Abbott, J. Franklin Ammons and Cashauna C. Lattimore. More information about the nominees is posted on the Administrative Office of the Courts' website.

Members of the 2025 TBA Leadership Law class (TBALL) selected Memphis lawyer Rebekka Freeman Terrell as the winner of the annual Larry Dean Wilks Leadership Award. She was honored during the group’s graduation ceremonies in Franklin. The class has spent the last six months learning about leadership in the legal profession, issues in the courts, policymaking in state government and the importance of community service. Freeman Terrell is the chief administrative officer of the Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk's Office and serves on the board of directors for the Memphis Child Advocacy Center, Association for Women Attorneys and National Black Prosecutors Association for the Western District of Tennessee among other community service engagements. The award, named for former TBA president and Springfield lawyer Larry Wilks, who was instrumental in creating the TBALL program, is given to the class member who exemplifies exceptional leadership qualities and enhances the education of other class members. Wilks' son John was on hand to present the award. See the full picture of Freeman Terrell and Wilks. Learn more about the Wilks Award and see past recipients.

Tennessee Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti has announced that 55 attorneys general, representing all eligible states and U.S. territories, agreed to sign on to a $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family. The Sackler family has also informed the attorneys general of its plan to proceed with the settlement, which would resolve litigation against Purdue and the Sacklers for their role in creating and worsening the opioid crisis across the country. Now that the state sign-on period has concluded, local governments across the country will be asked to join the settlement contingent on bankruptcy court proceedings. Tennessee is expected to receive more than $90 million. Read more in a press release from Skrmetti’s office.

After four years sitting empty and unused, Hamilton County's old downtown jail building may be poised for a new life, the Times Free Press reports. County officials and the River City Co. are accepting bids to evaluate potential ways to reuse or redevelop the facility at 601 Walnut St. in Chattanooga. According to the paper, the building presents some potential challenges because of its heavy-duty construction made for security. Its configuration of concrete, iron and steel make it difficult to adapt, according to a River City Co. spokesperson.

The Southern Environmental Law Center has filed a 60-day intent to sue notice on behalf of the national NAACP, claiming xAI has committed violations of the Clean Air Act with its prolonged use of gas turbines at the company's supercomputer facility in Memphis. According to the Commercial Appeal, the lawsuit alleges xAI operated gas turbines without necessary permits, resulting in excessive emissions and lack of pollution control technology, and operated without the best safety protocols or best available control technology. "We cannot afford to normalize this kind of environmental injustice — where billion-dollar companies set up polluting operations in Black neighborhoods without any permits,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson.

Nashville lawyer John L. Farringer IV took office as vice president of the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) last week during the group’s Annual Convention in Franklin. He will advance to the presidency in June 2027. A member of the law firm Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison, Farringer has practiced law for over 20 years, focusing on complex business and commercial litigation. He has been active in the TBA for many years, including serving for six years as a member of the Board of Governors and as associate general counsel with a special focus on issues related to indigent representation. He was a member of the 2011 Leadership Law class and received the 2015 President’s Award for his work as chair of the Medical-Legal Partnership Working Group. Farringer has made access to justice a passion of his career, including serving as chair of the TBA’s Access to Justice Committee from 2014-2015. He received the TBA’s Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Award in 2012 for his work on behalf of Juana Villegas, an undocumented woman who was shackled during and after childbirth. Last week, he also received the TBA President’s Award for his efforts in support of a new indigent representation system for the state. Farringer also served on the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission from 2018-2024, and chaired the commission from 2022-2024. Read more about his career in the TBA's press release.

TBA’s new executive officers and new Board of Governors members took office Friday at the Annual Convention in Franklin. Officers for the upcoming bar year are: President Heidi Barcus of Knoxville, President-elect Charlotte Knight Griffin of Eads, Vice President John Farringer of Nashville, Secretary Terica Smith of Jackson and Treasurer Mary Beth Maddox of Knoxville. Nashville lawyer Ed Lanquist Jr., who wrapped up his year in office last week, moved into the immediate past president role. New board members taking office were Assistant Treasurer Karin Anderson, East Tennessee Governor Kelly Street, Middle Tennessee Governors Sean Aiello and Rachel Moses, Fourth District Governor Hank Fincher, YLD President Judge Alex McVeagh, YLD President-elect Jennifer Sneed, Judicial Conference President Chancellor Doug Jenkins, Public Defenders Conference President Robert Taswell "Tas" Gardner, General Counsel Kimberly Silvus, Assistant General Counsel Jennifer Pearson Taylor, Associate General Counsel Matthew Evans, Chief Opportunity Officer Deborah Yeomans-Barton, and Assistant Opportunity Officer Amy Bryant, who assumes this new role in addition to her 5th District Governor position. The District Attorneys General Conference will name its representative to the board this month.