The TBA Young Lawyers Division, in collaboration with law firms and businesses in Chattanooga, held the 2026 Chattanooga Leadership and Law Academy, which introduces high school students to the practice of law. The program featured courtroom observation and discussion with General Sessions Court Judges Tori Smith and Christie Sell, and panel discussions with civil law attorneys, criminal law attorneys, and those in law-adjacent careers. Federal Magistrate Judge Mike Dumitru gave the keynote address. Mary Frances DeVoe, TBA YLD district representative and John Jolley, TBA YLD Mock Trial Committee chair, also participated in the event. TBA YLD Board member Ariel Anthony helped start this program 10 years ago and continues to serve as the chair. See photos from the event.

President Donald Trump, along with several cabinet members, attended a Memphis Safe Task Force roundtable, according to the Daily Memphian. In remarks that also touched on foreign and domestic policy, Trump praised Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Memphis Mayor Paul Young — who was not in attendance — for their efforts, noting the decline in the city’s homicide rate. The Commercial Appeal reports that the task force has made 7,240 arrests and seized 1,188 firearms. Trump was joined on the visit by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. Lee, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, and House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, were on hand to represent the state. The task force has been working in Memphis since September 2025 and has added more than 1,500 federal personnel to the city’s law enforcement presence. Watch the remarks from USA Today. Congressman Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, was set to hold press conference prior to the president’s event according to News 5, while state Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, held a protest rally and Mayor Young released a statement after the visit.

The Davidson County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is warning residents about scam emails and text messages claiming recipients have outstanding parking or toll violations, according to Local News Break. The messages include fake links or QR codes that lead to fraudulent websites. In a press release, Clerk Joseph P. Day said the court does not send texts or emails about past-due tickets. Officials advise recipients not to click links or scan QR codes, and not to share personal or financial information. Legitimate Tennessee government emails end in “@tn.gov” and residents should use verified contact information rather than details provided in suspicious messages. Those with questions can call 615-880-3305 or email circuitclerkpr@nashville.gov to confirm.

Each year, the Chattanooga Bar Association (CBA) honors an outstanding citizen in the Chattanooga area with the Liberty Bell Award for public service. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 award, which will be presented at the group's annual Law Day Luncheon on May 6 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT at St. John's Restaurant. Nominations must be received by April 3 and may be sent to CBA Executive Director Lynda Minks Hood by mail at The Pioneer Building, Suite 420, 801 Broad St., Chattanooga, TN 37402, by fax at 423-265-6602 or online using this form. More information on the nomination process is available at Chattanoogan.com. Learn more about the Law Day event on the CBA's website.

Chief U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman of the Western District of Tennessee ruled last week that she will not split the civil case stemming from Tyré Nichols’ death into two trials, the Commercial Appeal reports. Lipman said separating the claims could prejudice the City of Memphis because ongoing stays in related criminal cases have limited discovery involving the individual officers. Attorneys for Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, had sought to bifurcate the case in an effort to speed it to trial, arguing it could otherwise be delayed until 2028 or 2029 due to stays on the criminally charged officers. City attorneys opposed the request, saying it would hinder their ability to defend against liability claims. Lipman denied the motion but granted a request from Wells’ attorneys to hold a status conference within a week of the ruling, which was set for today.

Agathos Classical School of Columbia was named the 2026 Tennessee State High School Mock Trial champion after two days of preliminary rounds. The school prevailed over the University School of Nashville. Tennessee State Supreme Court Justice Sarah Campbell presided over the round, while members of the TBA Young Lawyers Division's (YLD) Executive Committee, TBA President Heidi Barcus and TBA President-elect Charlotte Knight Griffin 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 Unicoi County High School of Erwin was awarded the 2026 Sportsmanship Award. The top three artists in the inaugural Artist in the Courtroom Contest also were recognized. James Overstreet of Houston High School in Germantown was selected as the top artist.

Special thanks to YLD Mock Trial Committee Chair John Jolley, Vice Chair Bridget Pyman, Long Range Planning Coordinator Ashley Tipton and members of the committee for organizing this year's event, which involved 16 teams, more than 200 participants and more than 100 volunteers, including sitting Tennessee judges, lawyers and the YLD's Diversity Leadership Institute's law students. Agathos Classical School will represent Tennessee at the National High School Mock Trial Competition in Des Moines, Iowa in May. The team is coached by Columbia attorneys Jason Whatley and Cory Ricci of Whatley & Associates and Luke Worsham. See photos from this event.

Individuals interested in learning more about mock trial are encouraged to view the new TBA YLD Mock Trial 101 video available on the TBA website.

Senior Judge Mark Ward ruled earlier this week that death row inmate Tony Carruthers is competent to be executed. According to the Nashville Banner, Ward found that Carruthers’s testimony showed him to be someone who understood his conviction and sentence but simply believed it was wrong. Defense attorneys had argued that Carruthers is not competent because he is consumed by psychotic delusions that he is the victim of a vast conspiracy and will be released once that conspiracy is exposed. They said they plan to appeal Ward’s decision. Carruthers is scheduled to be executed on May 21 for the murders and the kidnapping of Marcellos Anderson, his mother Delois, and Anderson’s friend Frederick Tucker.

University of Tennessee (UT) Chancellor Donde Plowman fired Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology Tamar Shirinian in February over a Facebook post celebrating Charlie Kirk's assassination. The action, just being reported now, cites reputational harm to the university and potential safety risks as justification for the termination. Shirinian had been suspended in October 2025 while the university pursued termination. She subsequently filed a lawsuit arguing the action amounted to viewpoint discrimination and political retaliation. In February, Shirinian expanded the suit to include top UT officials and board members in the complaint. She has requested an administrative appeal and is awaiting trial, which is scheduled for early 2027. Knox News has more on the story.

After more than two weeks in detention in Alabama and Louisiana, Nashville Noticias journalist Estefany Rodríguez was freed on bond late Thursday afternoon. “Today we celebrate that Estefany has been released from the ICE detention center in Louisiana and is on her way home to be with her family,” Mike Holley, an attorney with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, said in a statement. The group is representing Rodríguez in her habeas case against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). An immigration judge approved Rodríguez's release on a $10,000 bond but federal officials initially reserved the right to appeal. They ultimately did not. The Nashville Banner has more on the developments

Williamson County leaders broke ground last week on a new juvenile justice center. WKRN reports that the new center will include six courtrooms, space to meet staff and filing demands, a secure juvenile detention center and an alternative learning center that will provide resources and programs for all county schools. According to Williamson County Juvenile Court, in 2019, juvenile services had an annual caseload of around 5,100 cases. They are projected to see 28,000 cases by 2044. The county anticipates opening the new center in 2028.