Metro Nashville has joined five other cities and 11 nonprofits in a federal lawsuit attempting to halt the Trump administration’s federal funding freeze on various community programs — which, for Nashville, puts $14 million in transit and infrastructure projects at risk, according to WPLN News. Two projects are specified as being at risk: the Electrify Music City project, which would expand public electric vehicle charging stations across the city, and the East Nashville Spokes project, which is spearheading the design and construction of new bikeways across East Nashville. In April, the city also joined a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over recent public health funding cuts, arguing the cuts are unconstitutional.

The Trump administration’s pick to head the U.S. Marshals Service says judicial security is his leading priority and pledged to seek more resources to protect judges, if needed, Bloomberg Law reports. Gadyaces Serralta told U.S. senators at his confirmation hearing that threatening a judge “is a serious, serious crime” and he is open to studying manpower issues. “If I do need more human resources, I would absolutely take it up with the Department of Justice and ensure that we make the ask,” he told the Judiciary Committee in response to a question. Bloomberg Law has more on the hearing.

Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer is celebrating 25 years on the bench. The Court of Criminal Appeals judge for the Middle Section says of his service: “It’s been a great honor to serve the citizens of Tennessee in this capacity and as a trial judge, from 1990 to 2000, in Robertson and Montgomery counties — the 19th judicial district, affectionately known as the Fighting 19.” Prior to joining the bench, Wedemeyer served as a private practice attorney from 1977 to 1990. He received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University in 1973, and his law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1976. Read a profile of Wedemeyer from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Federal authorities have charged a Tullahoma man suspected of starting a fire that destroyed part of the historic Highlander Center six years ago with arson. Court documents allege that Regan Prater started the blaze that burned the center's administrative building on March 29, 2019. The Highlander Center has a long history of training civil rights activists at its two locations, and hosted visits by Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. Knox News reports that a tipster alerted authorities to Prater's online chats in neo-Nazi forums. According to the Associated Press, Prater was previously sentenced to five years in federal prison for setting another fire in June 2019 at an adult video and novelty store in East Tennessee. He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay $106,000 in restitution in that case.

The Tennessee Information Protection Act (TIPA), which was passed by the Tennessee General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee in 2023, requires certain businesses to ensure consumers’ data and information are protected while giving consumers more control over how their data is collected, processed and used by those businesses. In preparation for TIPA to go into effect July 1, Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti's office has released a guide to assist consumers and businesses in understanding the new requirements. "This new law protects consumer privacy and gives Tennesseans more transparency and control over corporate data collection and retention," said Skrmetti. "[M]y office is glad to provide clear guidance so companies know what they need to do, because Tennessee wants to continue to be an easy place to build and run a business." Read a press release and FAQs about TIPA from the AG's office.

Holland & Knight LLP is relocating and has signed a lease for seven floors at Highwoods Properties’ Symphony Place tower, where it will anchor the office building. The law firm, which ranks as the second largest in Nashville, is moving from downtown’s Nashville City Center to Symphony Place — formerly known as the Pinnacle at Symphony Place — as the tower undergoes a major renovation, the Nashville Business Journal reports. Two of the building's largest tenants moved out at the start of the year. “We chose to stay in the heart of Nashville. We’re proud of Nashville. We’re excited to be in that area, and we’re particularly excited to literally watch the development of the East Bank,” said Matt Burnstein, executive partner of Holland & Knight’s Nashville office.

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell signaled Friday that the Metro government is no longer actively pursuing the Fusus program, which was promoted as a way to give police easier access to private surveillance footage. A proposed contract with Fusus failed to gain Metro Council approval by one vote in December, but the council passed legislation in March to establish “guardrails” for a future agreement with Fusus or a similar product. According to the Nashville Banner, some council members supported the protections as a way to mitigate the risks of such a policy, while others were more hesitant. The administration, O’Connell said, is still having conversations with council members who are concerned about how such tools could be used to target immigrants and other marginalized communities.

Twenty three Vanderbilt University law students were recognized this month for completing the school's Pro Bono Pledge. The program requires students to complete at least 75 hours of pro bono legal work and community service during their law school career, including a minimum of 50 hours in law-related activities and 10 hours in Nashville. The group included three law school students who achieved the honor in both 2024 and 2025, and 14 members of the 2025 graduating class, four members of the 2026 class and two doctorate students who completed the pledge this year. Collectively, the students reported a total of 6,020 pro bono and community service hours through the program. Beth Cruz, assistant dean, and Martha Craig Daughtrey, director for public interest, announced that beginning this year, students who complete the pledge will receive a cord to wear at graduation. “We thank all students who completed the Pro Bono Pledge, and to everyone who engages in pro bono work, for helping to keep a vibrant culture of service thriving here in our law school community,” Cruz said in a press release.

A Franklin city ordinance is facing pushback from a First Amendment organization for potentially violating the Constitution by regulating how residents can display flags and signs on their properties. According to The Tennessean, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) sent a letter to Franklin’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen last week saying the city’s policies violate the First Amendment. The letter followed a September citation issued to a Franklin resident for displaying too many American flags in his yard. The ordinance regulates flags and temporary signs, stating that residents may display only two temporary signs at a time and no more than three flags. While the city has held workshops to explore revisions, FIRE contends the proposed changes still unlawfully restrict free expression and discriminate based on content, citing a 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that referenced a 4th Circuit case finding such ordinances unconstitutional.

Reporters from across the state gathered in Nashville recently to learn about open meetings law, investigative journalism and more during the fifth annual Reporters Workshop program, produced jointly by the Tennessee Bar Association, the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters and the Tennessee Press Association Foundation. Participants were selected from applicants interested in developing a deeper understanding of media law issues that may affect their everyday work. Friday's programming began with a panel of veteran investigative reporters — Jennifer Krause from NewsChannel 5, Meribah Knight from WPLN News and Stephen Elliott from the Nashville Banner — moderated by Amy Mohan of Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison. Other speakers included Jennifer Safstrom with Vanderbilt's First Amendment Clinic, who presented on reporter's privilege; Jay Harbison from Neal & Harwell, who spoke to attendees about staying on the right side of the law in reporting; and legal media experts Paul McAdoo from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and Deborah Fisher from Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, who discussed the open records law. Saturday's session featured an overview of defamation with Ron Harris of Neal & Harwell and a panel on covering state and local government with Alex Apple from Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell's Office, Steve Cavendish from the Nashville Banner, and Holly McCall from the Tennessee Lookout. That panel was moderated by Clint Brewer from Imperium Public Strategies. The day wrapped up with a panel moderated by Robb Harvey of Holland & Knight on covering the courts with Judges Valerie Smith, Ana Escobar and Sam Coleman. See photos from the event. Thanks to this year's sponsors Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison, Neal & Harwell and Holland & Knight.