The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury has released a report on Shelby County's criminal justice system following a request by Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, more than a year ago. The report, which examined thousands of felony charges filed between 2018 and 2024, found that while Shelby County handles more felony cases than other major counties, it struggles with delays, with only 33% of felony charges disposed of within a year. According to the Commercial Appeal, investigators pointed to several factors contributing to delays, including turnover in the district attorney’s and public defender’s offices, a reduction in criminal court judges, and frequent changes in defense counsel, which often result in case resets. The report also fund that the court system has work to do in furthering transparency and making things accessible to the general public. Since taking office, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy has pushed for a public-facing database that could provide some of this data.

Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA) of Nashville was named the 2025 Tennessee State High School Mock Trial champion Saturday night after two days of preliminary rounds. The school prevailed over Agathos Classical School from Columbia. Tennessee State Supreme Court Justice Mary Wagner presided over the round, while members of the TBA Young Lawyers Division's (YLD) Executive Committee, TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr., TBA Vice President Heidi Barcus and TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright served as jurors. Earlier in the day, the top eight teams were announced, an MVP for each of the 16 teams was recognized, individual awards were presented to the best advocates and witnesses, and Sevier County High School of Sevierville was awarded the 2025 Sportsmanship Award. The top three artists in the inaugural Artist in the Courtroom Contest also were recognized and the first place winner was on hand to accept the award. Read more about the event and see photos.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti today filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court supporting President Donald Trump’s application to stay preliminary injunctions issued by multiple district courts in cases addressing birthright citizenship. According to a press release, the brief emphasizes that courts should interpret the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment in line with its original public meaning and should limit their judicial power to specific cases and controversies, consistent with the separation of powers. “Courts are empowered by the Constitution to resolve cases and controversies, not to issue sweeping policy proclamations or manage the executive branch,” Skrmetti said. After Trump signed the executive order, “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” three federal judges have issued nationwide preliminary injunctions, freezing the order and ruling it violated the Citizenship Clause. The Trump administration had asked the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in last week. 

TBA’s Legislative Updates podcast is new this week with TBA lobbyist Brad Lampley with Adams and Reese. He is joined by TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright and TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr. in a live recording from TBA's third annual "Day on the Hill" event. They discuss key highlights from the event and the impact of attorney advocacy on state legislation. Tune in to the podcast on the TBA website or through this link. See a photo from behind the scenes.

The 10th Judicial Drug Task Force, comprised of law enforcement agencies from across the 10th Judicial District, released its 2024 statistics. According to The Chattanoogan, the statistics indicate the deadly amount of drugs pouring into the communities, and the cooperative efforts of law enforcement agencies in the 10th Judicial District working together to get dangerous drugs out of communities. The task force, with 10 agents assigned across the district, reported 324 new cases, 176 felony arrests and 77 misdemeanor arrests. The task force also seized 156 firearms, $221,864 in currency and 15 vehicles, with one methamphetamine lab dismantled.

The family of a man who died in custody at the Hamilton County Jail after being arrested for allegedly shoplifting has filed a federal lawsuit against the sheriff's office and the county. Deward Johnson was arrested in March 2024 in connection with a shoplifting incident at a Chattanooga Walmart and was dead by 9:25 p.m. that same day, according to the Times Free Press. The lawsuit claims Johnson's death was preventable, alleging he was in medical distress but received inadequate medical care. The complaint states that Johnson tested positive for meth, amphetamines and fentanyl after his arrest, and no precautions were taken to monitor him for potential adverse drug reactions, reports Fox Chattanooga. The suit calls for remedial plans to ensure the Hamilton County Jail complies with constitutional standards and seeks damages for Johnson's family. The sheriff's office previously stated that all individuals admitted to the jail undergo a health screening and that medical staff is available 24 hours a day.

Future TBA Presidents Attend Bar Leadership Institute TBA’s President-elect Heidi Barcus, who will become president of the association in June, and Vice President Charlotte Knight Griffin, who will become president in June 2026, recently attended the ABA’s Bar Leadership Institute. Former TBA President Sherie Edwards, who is now president-elect of the Nashville Bar Association (NBA), also attended. They were accompanied by TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright and NBA Executive Director Jeanne Heaton. For more than 45 years, the three-day Bar Leadership Institute has brought together bar association leaders from across the country to help them prepare for their year in office. Through keynote addresses, breakout sessions and networking events, attendees have the opportunity to engage with leaders from across the country and hear from speakers on topics designed to enhance their bar leadership. Programming at this year’s institute included sessions on motivational leadership, best practices in governance and effective communications. Learn more about the event or see photos.

Attorneys from across the state gathered in Nashville on Wednesday for the TBA's third annual "Day on the Hill." The day kicked off with remarks from Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga. Participants then met with more than 30 legislators to discuss issues impacting the legal profession and the practice of law, with a special emphasis on supporting the Administrative Office of the Court's plan for improving the state's indigent representation system. The day concluded with the TBA's annual Big Shrimp legislative reception, giving TBA leaders and members a chance to meet with legislators in a casual setting to continue conversations on topics important to the profession. Learn more about the state's current indigent representation system and see photos from the day. 

Purdue Pharma's bankruptcy entered a new, possibly final phase this week when the bankrupt drugmaker filed a $7.4 billion plan to resolve thousands of lawsuits that alleged its OxyContin pain medication caused a widespread opioid addiction crisis. Reuters also reports on legal fees earned in the case. According to the news source, Purdue's lawyers at Davis Polk have received or requested more than a quarter of a billion dollars since the bankruptcy began in 2019.

Last week, a federal judge said the Trump administration’s response to his request for more information on recent Venezuelan deportation flights was insufficient and failed to show it complied with an earlier court ruling, The Hill reports. In a new order, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said the Justice Department missed the deadline to hand over flight information. The department instead had submitted a declaration that “Cabinet Secretaries are currently actively considering whether to invoke the state secrets privilege.” Boasberg on Wednesday had given the administration an extension to today to respond to his request for detailed information about weekend flights that deported alleged Venezuelan gang members, despite his order to turn the planes around. Last week, Boasberg preemptively blocked efforts to deport Venezuelan nationals under the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) of 1798 after the ACLU sued over the plan.