A U.S. judicial rulemaking panel has rejected a proposal to relax the longstanding ban on TV and audio broadcasts of federal criminal trials, Reuters reports. Media organizations had sought to loosen the ban. In a near unanimous vote, the U.S. Judicial Conference's Advisory Committee on Criminal Rules accepted a recommendation from a subcommittee to take no action and continue to disallow cameras in federal criminal trials.

Tennessee lawyers gathered today at Topgolf Nashville for TBA’s 2024 Estate Planning Tee-off. Attendees heard from Charles Frazier with the Law Offices of Charles R. Frazier; Newman Bankston with Egerton, McAfee, Armistead & Davis; Michael Goode with Lewis Thomason; Robert Malin with Pinnacle Financial Partners; and David Parsons with David Parsons Law. Topics included updates on irrevocable trusts, the Corporate Transparency Act, and estate, gift and fiduciary income tax planning. Thank you to event sponsors Pendleton Square Trust Company Inc. and the American Cancer Society. See photos from the event.

A swearing in ceremony for those who passed the July 2024 Tennessee Bar Exam was held in Memphis today. The event wrapped up a week of events held in Knoxville, Nashville and Jackson. Constance Brown and Cole Harrell-Morris from the TBA’s Young Lawyers Division were on hand to congratulate the new admittees. See photos from today's event.

Former state commissioner Christi Branscom has rejoined Knoxville-based Partners Development as principal, general counsel and managing broker, the Nashville Post reports. Branscom previously served as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services for nearly six years. During her tenure, the department undertook renovations at the John Sevier State Office Building and the Tennessee State Library and Archives building and opened several facilities at state parks. Branscom earned a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Tennessee and a law degree from the University of Memphis School of Law.

Do you have questions about how Tennessee's system of indigent representation works? Have you had experience as an appointed attorney that you would like to share? TBA's Government Affairs team wants to hear directly from members on issues that impact their work and the larger legal community. There are a few ways you can connect with TBA to share your questions and experiences with indigent representation. Attorneys interested in learning more about TBA's grassroots advocacy efforts can sign up for TBA Grassroots Advocacy Updates, which will highlight related policy content across all of TBA's communication platforms. For attorneys with experience working with clients who are indigent or vulnerable, we invite you to complete this survey, which includes specific questions about court appointed representation. More information is available on our Indigent Representation Resource page.

The U.S. federal judiciary this week issued warnings urging lawyers to beware of emails mimicking notifications of electronic court filings in cases they are handling. Reuters reports that the emails seek to lure recipients to a malicious website with computer viruses. Law firms and lawyers nationwide have received fake notices that purport to come from the federal judiciary but are actually phishing attempts, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts said. Read the notice from the office.

Though Memphis residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of gun reform on Tuesday, the measures will not go into effect unless state law is changed. The Commercial Appeal reports that the measures were written as “trigger laws,” which will only take effect if state legislators change the law or carve out an exception for Memphis. According to the Daily Memphian, Memphis City Council Chairman JB Smiley Jr. says the council should approve the measures and have an ordinance on the books should state law change.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti recently announced settlements with corporate defendants Heritage Pharmaceuticals and Apotex — contingent upon obtaining signatures from all necessary states and territories — to resolve allegations that both companies engaged in widespread, long-running conspiracies to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition and unreasonably restrain trade with regard to numerous generic prescription drugs. The deals total $49.1 million. As part of the settlement, both companies agree to cooperate in the ongoing multistate litigations against 30 corporate defendants and adopt a series of internal reforms to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust laws.

The Utah Supreme Court on Monday released a plan to allow graduates of American Bar Association-accredited law schools to practice in the state after completing 240 hours of practice under the supervision of an experienced attorney, along with other requirements including specific coursework and a written exam similar to the Multistate Performance Test. Law graduates seeking licensure in Utah could still opt to sit for the bar exam, Reuters reports. The court is gathering public comment on the proposal through Dec. 19 and will make the final decision on its adoption. Utah is following the lead of Oregon, Washington and Arizona in developing alternative pathways for attorney licensure.  

The American Bar Association (ABA) is revising its diversity, equity and inclusion standards for law schools, according to an ABA memo from the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. Bloomberg Law reports that the Standards Committee has reviewed public comments and comments filed in opposition by a coalition of law school deans and law organizations to proposed changes to its previous revision proposal. The committee is recommending further revisions to make it clear that the council is not abandoning the value of diversity and inclusion. The revised standards now call for schools to demonstrate action and commitment and access to the study of law specifically addressing race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability and other factors. If the accrediting body approves this second version of new standards, it will gather another round of public comments.