In this month’s episode of BarBuzz, TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright speaks with retired attorneys Jim Barry and Carl Seely about life after retirement, how retired legal professionals can continue serving their communities and ways to stay active during retirement. The conversation offers insights and inspiration for attorneys nearing the end of their legal careers or already in retirement. Past episodes of the BarBuzz podcast are available in the BarBuzz archive and the latest episode can be streamed directly here.

Applications are now being accepted for the Legal Services Corporation’s (LSC) Basic Field Grant Program. Funds will be award in December for programs that begin in January 2026. Funds may be used to provide civil legal services to eligible clients. Learn more in the LSC’s request for proposals. The deadline for submitting applications is June 2. More information about eligibility guidelines is available on the LSC website.

Metro Nashville government this week released the breakdown of legal settlements paid in 2024, which totaled $4.2 million, a decrease from 2023. The Tennessean reports that all of the settlements were approved by either the Metro Nashville Council or the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board. Combined, the two groups approved 52 settlements in 2024; 40 of them — for a total of $2,854,408 — were approved through the council. Nineteen of the lawsuits were personal injury-related, 12 were for property damage, seven were Title IX-related, five were sidewalk settlements and the remaining nine were categorized as "other/negligence."

Former State Rep. Jeremy Durham has been found guilty on two counts of driving under the influence and one count each of reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. He was found not guilty on a charge of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The Tennessean reports that he faces up to six years in prison. Durham was expelled from the legislature after an investigation revealed he sent inappropriate text messages to several women. The Tennessee Attorney General's Office ultimately discovered that Durham had made lewd comments and had given inappropriate hugs to 22 women.

U.S. District Court Judge Eli Richardson ruled Wednesday that a mistake from the prosecution, which allowed unredacted evidence to enter the trial of Glen Casada and Cade Cothren, did not rise to the level of requiring a mistrial. Cothren’s attorney motioned for a mistrial Tuesday, citing a recording of the FBI’s interview with Casada from the day his home was raided, which was played in court. The recording contained information that was prejudicial, according to the defense. The Tennessean has more on the case.

Recently released court records show that the 17-year-old Antioch High shooter had been on probation for previous violent behaviors at the time of the Jan. 22 fatal shooting at the school, the Nashville Post reports. The records also show that the teen had been ordered to a judicial diversion program and had signed probation paperwork the morning of the shooting, prohibiting him from possessing guns, ammunition and other weapons. The records became publicly available due to legislation passed by the General Assembly earlier this year. The new law allows courts to unseal records of a juvenile who is dead after committing homicide on school grounds.

Several Memphis officials have responded to the not guilty verdict in the state trial of three former Memphis police officers for the death of Tyre Nichols. According to the Daily Memphian, Memphis Mayor Paul Young and Police Chief C.J. Davis released a statement encouraging the city to “heal together.” Young also added: “As a city, we’re committed to doing the work of creating a deeper trust between law enforcement and the people of Memphis.” State Democratic lawmakers from Memphis expressed “devastation” following the verdict, according to Tennessee Lookout. House Democratic Leader Karen Camper said the verdict leaves a “deep wound in our community and renewed calls for justice and accountability.” Sen. Brent Taylor, a Republican, said he was "saddened for Tyre Nichols’ family" and that "they deserve justice." Local Memphis has his and other reactions, including from the Shelby County mayor and U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis. National civil rights leaders also have weighed in with responses, including calls for criminal justice reforms. The Associated Press looks at those comments. Finally, the Commercial Appeal lays out what comes next, including sentencing in the federal case and a $550 million civil suit against the city and police department.

University of Memphis students are forming a college mock trial team and are looking for a volunteer coach who can support the team during the fall and spring semesters, with the potential to remain involved beyond that depending on availability and interest. Interested individuals should reach out to Brandon Washington at brandon.washington@memphis.edu. If possible, please contact Washington by July 1 so there is time to coordinate and prepare before the academic year begins.

Three law students have filed a federal lawsuit asking the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to order the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to withdraw investigative letters sent to 20 large law firms and delete any information that it gathered from them. According to Reuters, the students said they had applied for jobs at several of the firms for this summer. The complaint argues that if firms hand over the requested data to the EEOC, sensitive information about the students — including their demographic and contact information, compensation and participation in DEI programs — will be disclosed. The ABA Journal has more. 

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday said a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking to restrict the abortion pill mifepristone should be dismissed for lack of standing. In a court filing, the DOJ argued that Idaho, Missouri and Kansas have no ties to Amarillo, Texas, where the lawsuit was filed, and that the states are free to file in their own districts, The Hill reports. The states did not file their own lawsuit but were instead granted the ability to intervene in a lawsuit filed by private parties in 2022. The states argue that some of the FDA’s actions to loosen access to mifepristone allowed the pills to flood across their borders, undermining their anti-abortion laws. Last year, the Supreme Court dismissed the original plaintiffs' suit, ruling that private parties had no legal standing to challenge access to the drug.