Janie Varnell will be Hamilton County's next attorney following a vote by the county commission, the Times Free Press reports. She will take office on July 1, replacing Rheubin Taylor who has held the role for over 30 years and is retiring. Varnell, previously a private practice attorney who has worked extensively on legal cases concerning police, has been serving as a special adviser to the county mayor and commission. County Mayor Weston Wamp last year named Varnell as his pick to succeed Taylor and attempted to have her installed early. A judge sided with Taylor saying his contract with the county protected his position until his contract expires in July.

Former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Roger A. Page has joined Miles Mediation & Arbitration, an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider, as a full-time mediator and arbitrator. Page practiced law in Tennessee and Georgia from 1984 to 1998, before being elected as circuit judge in West Tennessee. During his time on the bench, he began handling Rule 31A, Section 16 judicial settlement conferences, participating in mediations involving medical malpractice, personal injury, construction, wrongful death and real estate disputes. He continued to handle judicial settlement conferences until he joined the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals in 2011. He joined the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2016 and served until last year. Page can be reached at 731-426-0861 and rpage@milesadr.com.

A Washington, D.C., based federal judge has temporarily blocked the Department of Justice (DOJ) from canceling $3.2 million in grants to the American Bar Association (ABA), Reuters reports. The grants have been used to train lawyers to represent victims of domestic and sexual violence since 1995 according to the group. In the opinion, Judge Christopher Cooper said, "The First Amendment injury is concrete and ongoing. The ABA regularly engages in protected expressive activity, and DOJ’s termination of its grants directly punishes that activity." The ABA sued the DOJ in April, claiming the agency illegally terminated the grants in retaliation for the association’s public criticism of the Trump administration.

The Nashville Predators have awarded a grant to the 23rd Judicial District Recovery Court to provide hockey and soccer equipment for the use of the children of Recovery Court participants during visitation days. “Reuniting families is a big part of what we do,” said Circuit and Recovery Court Judge Suzanne Lockert-Mash. “The recovery process includes getting parents involved in their children’s lives again. We appreciate the Nashville Predators for giving us the means to teach important parenting skills,” she said. The 23rd Judicial District Recovery Court is a collaborative link between the courts, prosecutors, public defenders, law enforcement, probation officers, treatment providers, social service agencies and community-based nonprofit organizations. The program serves the citizens of Dickson, Cheatham, Houston, Humphreys and Stewart counties. Read more in a press release from the team. See a photo from the donation handoff.

Shelby County voters in 2026 will decide whether to amend the county's charter to change conflict-of-interest language. The Commercial Appeal reports that the ordinance, passed last week by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, came about after the indictment of Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. for bribery and tax evasion related to a kickback scheme involving county grants. The current county charter states that no officer or employee of Shelby County, elected or appointed, shall "in any manner whatsoever be interested in or receive any benefit from the profits of or emoluments," as it relates to contracts, jobs or work of the county. The change would make the language more specific, stating in part that no county employee or officer shall "have a direct or indirect interest in any outside contract, job, work or service for the county unless otherwise permitted by applicable state law." It also specifically states no officer or employee of the county may accept any service or item of substantial financial value from any person having dealings with the county.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will meet in June to consider applicants for two judicial vacancies. On June 10, it will meet in Lewis County to consider six applicants for a circuit and chancery court judgeship in the 32nd Judicial District, which includes Hickman, Lewis and Perry counties. On June 17, it will meet in Knoxville to consider eight applicants for a criminal court seat in the 6th Judicial District, which covers Knox County. Both meetings are open to the public, and individuals may submit oral or written comments regarding any applicant. The commission is expected to vote immediately following the interviews and will forward three nominees for each vacancy to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration.

The Trump administration on Monday announced it plans to end protections for Afghans in the United States, arguing that improving conditions in Afghanistan mean they no longer qualify for protection against deportation, The Hill reports. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the group originally was granted during the Biden administration. A notice of the proposed change was published in the Federal Register on May 13. The government must provide 60 days notice before taking action.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Tennessee, along with Holland & Associates, filed a petition Monday in Davidson County Chancery Court challenging the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s continued implementation of a policy that bars transgender people from updating their driver’s licenses to reflect their gender identities. According to The Tennessean, the petition asks the court to review the legality of the policy and block its implementation while a suit filed in 2024 proceeds. In April 2024, the group sued on behalf of a Monroe County woman seeking to halt a 2023 state law requiring all Tennessee residents to carry identification that reflects their biological sex. The ACLU alleges the policy violates the state constitution.

The 2025 Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition Champion, Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA), traveled to Phoenix this month and captured its first national championship. The team bested 47 other state champions who competed for the top prize. Team member Kavneer Majhail also was named an outstanding attorney of the competition. The final round was held in the historic Maricopa County Old Courthouse, which is most well known for hosting the first trial of Ernesto Miranda, which ultimately led to Miranda v. Arizona and the present-day Miranda rights. The courtroom also was used by the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. The team is coached by Wade Cowan, Tracy Hancock and Marisa Combs Smith. See photos from the event.

A state audit revealed that Tennessee State University (TSU) made repeated financial errors in fiscal year 2023, including overstating cash by $5.7 million and undercharging graduate students by $1.5 million. The report detailed 15 findings related to poor oversight, billing issues and mishandling of federal COVID-19 relief funds, which could require TSU to repay at least $85,000. The Nashville Post reports that TSU management acknowledged the seriousness of the audit and pledged to improve financial governance and staff training. The findings come amid long-standing underfunding of the university and a legislative overhaul of its board of trustees, with TSU proposing a financial stability plan that may include budget cuts and reduced scholarships.