Candidates who passed the July 2024 Tennessee Bar Exam were admitted to the practice of law at a ceremony in Jackson today. Representatives from the Tennessee Bar Association and its Young Lawyers Division were on hand to congratulate the new admittees. Ceremonies continue in Memphis tomorrow. Matthew Flood, a staff attorney at West Tennessee Legal Services, congratulated the new lawyers, saying, “Today represents the pinnacle of years of study, and countless late nights and early mornings. The students of yesterday have become the attorneys of today, and in short order will be the leaders of tomorrow.” See a photo from today's event.

Candidates who passed the July 2024 Tennessee Bar Exam were admitted to the practice of law at a ceremony in Nashville today. Representatives from the Tennessee Bar Association and its Young Lawyers Division were on hand to congratulate the new admittees. Ceremonies continue in Jackson tomorrow and Memphis on Thursday. Watch for coverage and photos from these events coming soon in TBA Today and on social media. See photos from today's event.

Smith County recently received a $1.8 million grant to restore the Historic Smith County Courthouse. The grant comes as part of a larger allocation of $101.6 million in funding from the Department of Economic and Community Development as part of the second round of broadband and digital opportunity grants. The grant will cover the replacement of windows with energy-efficient models and the HVAC units. The first floor will be remodeled for office space and a free Wi-Fi room for citizens, including a designated area for health screenings and telehealth visits. The second floor will be revamped for county commission meetings and local business training sessions. Free Wi-Fi will be accessible on and around the courthouse grounds. The Smith County Insider has the story.

Morgan & Morgan, one of the country's largest personal injury law firms, recently announced that seven college football players — two from the University of Louisville, three from the University of Kentucky, one from the University of Georgia and one from the University of Southern California — have signed Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals with the firm. Sports Illustrated reports that the deal will allow all seven of the athletes to be featured on billboards, social media advertisements and YouTube ads as the firm promotes its NIL practice. Morgan & Morgan has offices in Memphis, Murfreesboro and Nashville.

In October, 13 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against TikTok — the culmination of a two-year investigation into the social media company — which alleges the social media platform was designed with the express intention of addicting young people to the app. The suit argues the multi-billion-dollar company deceived the public about the risks. According to NPR, internal TikTok communications, now public, allegedly show a company unconcerned with the harms the app poses for American teenagers, despite the company's own research validating many child safety concerns. The documents reveal, among other things, that TikTok implemented a time-limit tool aimed at "improving public trust" rather than actually limiting time spent on the app; that content moderation features are missing content around self-harm and eating disorder videos; and that the company changed its algorithm to prioritize users it viewed as beautiful. The Associated Press reported on the original lawsuit.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has proposed a new rule to increase federal contracting opportunities for small businesses by expanding the “rule of two” to multiple-award contracts. This rule mandates that agencies set aside contracts for small businesses if two or more can provide competitive bids. Business Journals reports that, if adopted, the SBA estimates this change could unlock up to $6 billion annually in federal spending for small businesses. The SBA has been actively expanding support for small businesses through increased certification, expanded loan programs, and reforms to make loans more accessible, aiming to foster growth and inclusivity in federal contracting and financing.

Fatal drug overdoses in Nashville continue to decline in the third quarter of the year, mirroring a national trend that has seen death counts fall for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Nashville Banner. As of Sept. 30, there were 391 fatal overdoses in Nashville, a 26% drop compared to last year. The data also shows there were nearly 1,100 suspected overdose-related emergency room visits through the first three quarters of 2024 marking a 28% drop.

Knox County Criminal Court Judge Hector Sanchez is Tennessee’s first Hispanic trial court judge. Raised by a single mother, he overcame challenges to pursue his passion for law. Sanchez moved to Knoxville in 2003 and interned at the Knox County District Attorney’s office throughout law school. After serving in the Marine Corps and working as a prosecutor, Sanchez was appointed to the bench in 2022. According to a press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts, Sanchez credits his military experience and upbringing for shaping his perspective as a judge, allowing him to empathize with defendants while maintaining a commitment to justice. Sanchez also presides over the Knox County Veterans Treatment Court.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, alongside a bipartisan coalition of 30 state attorneys general, today announced the completion of a $1.37 billion settlement agreement with Kroger, addressing the grocery chain’s role in the opioid crisis. Tennessee will receive up to $42.9 million for opioid abatement, with payments to begin early next year. According to a press release from Skrmetti's office, Tennessee has secured more than $1 billion in settlements from various parties involved in the crisis, with most funds directed to the state’s Opioid Abatement Fund. Kroger has agreed to injunctive relief that requires its pharmacies to monitor, report and share data about suspicious activity related to opioid prescriptions.

The Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration will host Gov. Bill Lee’s public budget hearings for Fiscal Year 2026 on Nov. 5, 6, 12 and 13. The hearings will be live streamed. Check the department's website for the schedule of dates and times for individual state agency hearings.