Belmont College of Law’s transactional and mock trial teams have experienced success this year, with teams and individuals earning regional and national recognition. Ally Bojczuk (3L), Kendall McMullen (2L) and Katelyn Watlington (3L) were declared national champions at the L. Edward Bryant Jr. National Health Law Transactional Competition. Nate Conder (3L), Garrison Luckett (3L) and Kaitlyn Phillips (3L) were regional finalists at the National Trial Competition (NTC) in Birmingham, Alabama. Belmont’s team of Zach Lambert (3L), Hunter Lindsey (3L), Taylor Patton (2L) and Alexis Phelps (3L) were regional semifinalists at the American Association of Justice Mock Trial Competition. And Torin Shanahan (3L) and Mary Kate Tumelty (2L) represented Belmont and advanced to the semifinal round of the Magnolia Cup Negotiation Competition, a new competition for the school.

The Tennessee House on Thursday voted to vacate the Tennessee State University (TSU) board in its entirety. The Tennessean reports that a $2-million external forensic audit, commissioned by legislators and released on Thursday, found no instances of fraud or malfeasance at the historically Black university in Nashville, though it noted that a 250% increase in scholarships between 2019 and 2023 was not sustainable. Gov. Bill Lee signed the legislation into law on Thursday evening and announced eight new appointees. They include TBA members Terica Smith, Charles Traughber and Dakasha Winton. All new appointees are TSU graduates.

Davidson County Circuit Judge Joe Binkley Jr. on Wednesday denied a petition from former state Rep. Scotty Campbell, R-Mountain City, to view records relating to a sexual harassment complaint filed against him, which led to his resignation in April 2023. The Tennessean reports that the judge ruled that the records are not subject to disclosure under the Tennessee Public Records Act and that separation of powers prohibits the court from reviewing the Tennessee House of Representatives' internal rules unless a constitutional violation has been alleged. In February, Campbell sued the General Assembly's Office of Legislative Administration Director Connie Ridley, alleging that the office, which serves as the legislature's human resources department, withheld the records to cover up a complaint against House Republican Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby. Faison has denied the allegations as well as the existence of any complaint filed against him.

The 2024 Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Initiative (CCPBI) Gala will be held April 20 in Nashville at the offices of Bass, Berry & Sims, located at the Pinnacle at Symphony Place. Individual tickets are available, and organizations are invited to support the initiative by becoming recognized sponsors. The gala will be a cocktail supper, with live music and a brief presentation, including awarding the inaugural Branham Grants. The CCPBI, a partnership between the TBA Access to Justice Committee, TBA Corporate Counsel Section and the Tennessee Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, established the grants in honor of long-time access to justice champion Andy Branham, who passed away in 2022. The Branham Grants support pro bono projects designed to provide civil legal resources and support for people with, affected by, or at risk for addiction in Tennessee as well as those in recovery. See photos from last year's event. 

TBA’s Legislative Updates podcast is out with a new episode featuring attorney and TBA lobbyist Berkley Schwarz and Adams and Reese attorneys and TBA lobbyists, Brad Lampley and Ashley Harbin. This week they discuss HB2710/SB2254, the TBA's conservatorship bill; HB2645, the adoption birth certificate bill; and HB2644, the adoption clean-up bill. They also discuss the TBA's testimony on Tuesday to the Senate Judiciary Committee. After testimony from TBA's Executive Director Sheree Wright and Williamson County attorney David Grimmett, the committee approved a motion in support of adding $26.145 million to the governor's budget for the purpose of increasing indigent representation funding. Legislative Updates airs each week on the TBA’s Facebook page. It is also released as a podcast on the same day and can be found on the TBA’s website or wherever you listen to podcasts.

In a new episode of the American Bar Association's (ABA) Business Law podcast "Path to the Bench," Davidson County Chancellor Anne Martin speaks about her journey, finding fulfillment in the law and the role of a judge. She also discusses the importance of mentorship and paying it forward in one’s career.

The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), as well as all courts and state offices, will be closed March 29 in observance of the Good Friday holiday. Many city and county offices across the state also are closed.

The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the appointment of a full-time U.S. magistrate judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The district court is now accepting applications for the position, which will serve a term of eight years. Application forms are available on the court’s website or may be obtained from the court clerk’s office. Applications must be saved as a pdf and emailed to Human_Resources@tned.uscourts.gov no later than 5 p.m. EDT on April 5. For more information contact Merit Selection Panel Chair Zac Greene with Miller & Martin. Read more in the court’s announcement.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young kicked off the first part of crime summit with U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty this week. The event comes as residents and businesses are concerned about the ongoing crime problem and just days after Young announced his Black Mayors’ Coalition on Crime initiative, Local Memphis reports. Young said initial conversations focused on “things that we know we would have some bipartisan agreement on,” while Hagerty said he was optimistic that the group could “make some real progress.” The second part of the summit is taking place today as Young meets with 21 mayors from across the country to finalize his response. The Commercial Appeal has the list of participants.

Tennessee Attorney General’s Office has issued a warning to consumers in advance of the upcoming solar eclipse, set for April 8. In its advisory, the office writes that while the Volunteer State is not in the path of totality for eclipse, “past eclipses have resulted in viewers sustaining eye injuries, some severe and permanent, due to either looking directly at the sun with no protection or by using eclipse viewing glasses that had been falsely marketed as providing protection.” The office also warns consumers to be careful where they buy viewing gear, noting that events of this nature bring out “unscrupulous sellers.” Read more from the alert.