A former Memphis Grizzlies security leader has sued the team, alleging his firing was illegal and based on his age and race, the Commercial Appeal reports. In 2023, according to the federal lawsuit, Godfrey Howard, who began working security for the team in 2001 and also serves as a Memphis police officer, claims he was passed over for two security leadership positions in favor of younger white men despite serving as interim director of team security in 2023. Howard, who is Black, was terminated in April 2024 without being given a reason, the lawsuit also states. After filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which dismissed the charge and issued a right-to-sue notice without making a determination on the merits, Howard filed suit alleging violations of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and other equal rights laws. The Memphis Grizzlies declined to comment, citing a policy against discussing pending litigation.

The Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk’s Office announced it will begin implementing automatic expungements for certain cases starting March 23. Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk Heidi Kuhn has advocated for legislation over the past two years aimed at allowing automatic expungements in the courtroom for cases that have been dismissed or identified as nolle prosequi with no costs. The effort is intended to simplify the process and ensure individuals do not leave the courtroom believing their case has been removed from their record when they otherwise would still need to file for an expungement. The clerk’s office said the new in-court procedure will apply only when a case is dismissed as nolle prosequi with no costs and will not apply to other court systems in the county.

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee swore in Brian C. Lea on March 2 as a U.S. district judge, WBBJ reports. Lea fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr. Lea earned his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2009 and, following law school, served as a law clerk to Judge Edward Earl Carnes of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and to Justice Clarence Thomas of the U.S. Supreme Court. In between and following his clerkships, Lea worked in private practice. Most recently, he served as deputy associate attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice. The U.S. Senate approved his nomination last month. 

A joint convention of the General Assembly confirmed Kyle Hixson’s nomination to the Tennessee Supreme Court on March 5. According to Crossville News, Cameron Sexton, speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, praised the confirmation, noting Hixson’s experience and approach to the law. Hixson is a Crossville native and judge on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. He was nominated to the post in January by Gov. Bill Lee to replace Justice Holly Kirby, who is retiring at the end of June. Lee had previously appointed Hixson to the state Court of Criminal Appeals in 2022 after he had served two years as a criminal court judge according to the Tennessee Journal. Hixson graduated from the University of Tennessee and the University of Tennessee College of Law.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has agreed to settle its claims in an antitrust case accusing Live Nation Entertainment and its Ticketmaster subsidiary of illegally monopolizing the live music industry, the AP reports. A trial on the case began last week. Under the tentative deal, Live Nation would pay a $280 million fine, divest itself of at least 13 amphitheaters, cap ticketing service fees at 15% and open its ticketing processes to competitors. The suit was brought by DOJ and a coalition of states. A number of those states — including Tennessee — said they would not join the settlement but continue with the trial.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the 3rd Judicial District Circuit Court following the appointment of Judge William E. Phillips II to the Tennessee Court of Appeals. The district covers Greene, Hamblen, Hancock and Hawkins counties. A public hearing for the position will be held April 27 at 9 a.m. EDT at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, 821 W. Louise Ave., Morristown, 37813. To be considered, the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) must receive a completed application by noon CDT on March 25. The application and instructions are available online. Any member of the public may attend the hearing to express, orally or in writing, objections concerning applicant(s) for the vacancy. For questions or additional information, contact John Jefferson at the AOC at 615-741-2687.

The city of Murfreesboro recently announced the hiring of Smyrna Town Attorney Jeffrey L. Peach to be its next city attorney beginning in May. Peach has 17 years of experience as a Tennessee municipal attorney. He has served as town attorney for Smyrna since 2013 and was hired as a staff attorney in 2008. The Murfreesboro City Council voted to appoint Peach during a council meeting last week following a public interview at a council workshop in February. “Jeff Peach has faithfully served as town attorney and staff attorney for the town of Smyrna for more than 17 years, working on a number of important and complex legal matters, including civil litigation, employment, land use planning and zoning concerns, and other municipal legal issues,” Mayor Shane McFarland said.

More than 250 lawyers attended the 2026 Estate Planning & Probate Forum on Friday at the Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin. The program offered seven hours of continuing legal education, including one hour of dual credit, and featured sessions on litigation and estate planning, public receivership, a probate panel and a legislative update. Speakers included Estate Planning & Probate Section Chair Robert Malin as well as Rebecca Blair, Chancellor William Cole, Arthur Cook, Jennifer Exum, Donald Farinato, General Sessions Judge Toby Gilley, Zachary Glaser, Lisa Helton, Robin Miller, David Parsons, Al Secor, Andrea Sinclair, Jared Smith and Ashley Stearns. Attendees also were able to interact with 17 exhibitors who were on hand to promote services and products that benefit estate planning practioners. See photos from the event.

A judge in Memphis will hear arguments this week on whether death row inmate Tony Carruthers is mentally competent to be executed, the Nashville Banner reports. Attorneys with the Federal Public Defender’s Office argue Carruthers suffers from schizoaffective disorder and psychotic delusions that prevent him from rationally understanding why the state plans to execute him. A forensic psychiatrist retained by the defense is expected to testify that Carruthers’ delusional beliefs — including that a conspiracy of judges and attorneys framed him and that his release from prison is imminent — render him incompetent for execution. Experts for the state are expected to argue he is fit to be executed. If the court finds him competent, Carruthers’ execution is scheduled to take place on May 21 at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. Carruthers was sentenced to death in 1996 for the kidnapping and murders of three people in Shelby County.

Feedback about the Tennessee Supreme Court's order considering a range of potential changes to regulation of the legal profession is due to the TBA Legal Access and Regulatory Reform Task Force by March 16. The task force will be reviewing responses submitted by email as well as comments submitted as part of a statewide survey and six virtual town hall events, which took place in January and February, and ongoing conversations with stakeholders. The task force then will make recommendations for any proposed action to the TBA Board of Governors. Members are encouraged to review the TBA's Legal Access & Regulatory Reform resource page to become familiar with the issues at stake. Feedback to the task force should be submitted via email to townhall@tnbar.org. Comments on the court order also may be filed directly with the court by April 30.