Campbell County Sheriff Wayne Barton says an investigation is underway after six inmates in the Campbell County Jail are believed to have overdosed, reports WATE Knoxville. Barton said that six inmates were taken to LaFollette Medical Center yesterday after suspected overdoses. The individuals were treated and are now back at the jail. The nature of the substance and its source are unknown at this time.

Fall out from the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on affirmative action continues with ramifications for law firms, law schools and private organizations. The American Alliance for Equal Rights has dropped its suit against Perkins Coie’s fellowship program after the law firm made changes to eligibility criteria, Reuters reports. But the group said today it would sue three other firms – Winston & Strawn, Hunton Andrews & Kurth and Adams and Reese – if they do not change their law student diversity fellowship programs. Bloomberg Law has that story. In other news, Yale and Harvard are among law schools saying they will eliminate “diversity statements” in their application processes, Law.com reports. Finally, an appeals court has blocked a venture capital fund from awarding grants to businesses run by Black women. That move reverses a lower court’s decision, according to Reuters.

The U.S. government has agreed to pay $125 million to refund users of the electronic records system PACER to resolve a class action suit alleging the judiciary overcharged those who downloaded court documents. The settlement will provide automatic reimbursements of up to $350 for anyone who used PACER from April 2010 to May 2018, Reuters reports. Anyone who paid more than $350 during that time will be able to apply to receive a pro rata share of the remaining settlement funds. The settlement resolves a 2016 lawsuit filed by three nonprofits alleging the judiciary overstepped its authority when collecting fees. A federal judge still must sign off on the deal according to Bloomberg Law.

President Joe Biden recently detailed new efforts to eliminate so-called junk fees, including a proposed Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule that would require businesses to disclose all charges for goods and services upfront. Biden said the new rule was “the most comprehensive action” his administration has taken on hidden or confusing charges. In remarks announcing the rule, the president also said the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau soon would propose a new rule to make it easier for consumers to switch banks. Bloomberg Law has more on the story.

Congress last year required federal judges to periodically disclose their stock trading information online to boost transparency and flag any potential conflicts. Judges are complying with the mandate, but watchdogs say the judiciary has been slow to post the information in a timely manner. Court officials tell Bloomberg Law they are doing their best, but the additional workload is stretching resources. That is leading the judiciary to ask Congress for nearly $300,000 to hire more people to do the job.

The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) announced it has secured an agreement to improve and expand educational opportunities for students in the Fayette County School District. Under the consent order, approved by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, the school district will improve its practices for identifying and serving students in its gifted programs and dual enrollment classes, and revise student discipline policies to prevent racial discrimination. Read more in a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee.

Nashville-based Bass, Berry & Sims has announced the establishment of a new practice group focused on controlled substances, the Nashville Post reports. The Controlled Substances Enforcement & Diversion Group will advise Drug Enforcement Agency-registered clients, including health care providers, in their efforts to comply with drug regulations. The group will be led by Lisa Rivera, a former federal prosecutor, and Brian Irving.

Metro Nashville filed suit yesterday seeking to overturn recently passed legislation giving state leaders appointments on the Metropolitan Sports Authority, the board that oversees Nissan Stadium, Bridgestone Arena and other Nashville sports facilities. The Nashville Post reports that Metro Legal Director Wally Dietz said in a release that the city “cannot sit idly by and let the state deprive the Metropolitan Government and the people who live here of their rights under our Tennessee Constitution.” In passing the legislation, state leaders argued they should have a voice on the board because the state is financing $500 million in bonds for construction of a domed stadium to replace Nissan Stadium. Metro is seeking an injunction ahead of the law's effective date of Jan. 1, 2024.

Teams from several Tennessee high schools recently competed in the Empire Windy City Classic Mock Trial Tournament in Chicago with Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA) winning the championship round against Centennial High School from California. This was MBA’s fifth Empire championship, tying Trinity Pacific School of California for the most titles ever. Two other schools from Tennessee also competed. CSTHEA, a Chattanooga home school, finished in sixth place while St. Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis finished in 12th place. Three students from St. Mary’s also took home individual awards: Krithica Vaidyanathan won fifth place Best Witness, Caroline Hunt was named fifth place Best Attorney and tied co-student Zoe McMullen for seventh place Best Witness. MBA will return to Chicago in November to compete for the Empire World Championship. See photos from winning team.

The Tennessee Journal, a longtime state government news publication, and its bill tracking service has been acquired by State Affairs, a 2021 startup delivering political news in several states. The journal and Tennessee Legislation Service was owned by M. Lee Smith Publishers. Smith, onetime legal counsel to Gov. Winfield Dunn, founded the journal in 1975. Editor Erik Schelzig, a former Associated Press reporter, will continue to run the publication, the Nashville Post reports. In addition to Tennessee, State Affairs has reporters in Georgia, Indiana and Kansas.