Elected officials and community stakeholders in Memphis, including law enforcement leaders and state legislators, yesterday convened in a non-public public safety summit hosted by the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office. The gathering aimed to foster collaboration and address the root causes of crime in the city, with legislators considering potential legislation to address aggravated assaults and juvenile offenders within the criminal justice system. The Daily Memphian reports that they agreed on various initiatives to combat the city's crime crisis, focusing on violence prevention programs, addressing crime hotspot areas, providing rehabilitative services and sharing data among agencies. Preliminary results are expected in six to 18 months, with ongoing efforts to solve public safety issues.

The ACLU of Tennessee has filed a lawsuit to block the enforcement of the Adult Entertainment Act, which critics argue effectively bans drag shows. The Tennessee Lookout reports that this action comes after District Attorney Ryan Desmond warned organizers of Blount County Pride that he intended to enforce the act at their upcoming Sept. 2 event. While a federal judge previously declared the law unconstitutional, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has advised that the ruling only applies in the Memphis area, leading to continued enforcement threats in other parts of the state.

The Biden administration is requesting an additional $4 billion from Congress to replenish FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, bringing the total request to $16 billion. The Hill reports that this funding is needed in response to recent extreme weather events, including the Maui wildfires and Hurricane Idalia. President Joe Biden has emphasized the urgency of approving this funding to aid disaster-affected communities, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) today urged Congress to take swift action to approve it.

The Tennessee Bar Association closed at 2 p.m. CDT today and remain closed through Monday in observance of Labor Day. The TBA's office will reopen on Tuesday at 8 a.m. CDT. Visit the TBA.org website for information on CLE or other TBA programs and for staff contact information.

The University of Tennessee College of Law has received a $2 million gift in the name of the Chattanooga-based law firm of Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers PC, a longtime supporter of the law school. The gift will support UT Law’s Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution, Legal Clinic, the Douglas Blaze Professorship, and scholarships for students interested in pursuing legal careers in advocacy. Dean Lonnie Brown said, “Because of the firm’s generosity, we have been able to build and sustain a first-rate advocacy program that consistently produces graduates who are distinctly prepared to hit the ground running once they begin practice. We are profoundly grateful for the firm’s continued commitment and support.”

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission meeting today in Franklin selected three nominees to forward to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration in filling a vacancy in the 21st Judicial District. They are: Nolensville lawyer Russell D. Gill, Brentwood lawyer Erin W. Nations and Franklin lawyer David H. Veile. The vacancy on the court, which serves Williamson County, is due to the Sept. 29 retirement of Circuit Court Judge Michael W. Binkley. Read the announcement from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

A former Memphis Police Department officer was sentenced today to 18 months in prison and one year of supervised release for violating an arrestee’s civil rights by using excessive force against him, the Department of Justice announced. According to court documents, Armando Bustamante admitted that while on duty in January 2021 he used his service weapon and hands to strike an arrestee in the head without legal justification. “The Justice Department will aggressively prosecute those law enforcement officers who abuse their authority and violate federal civil rights laws.” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. 

Tennessee access to justice leaders today announced creation of the Justice Frank F. Drowota Trust to provide supplemental funding for organizations providing legal services to low-income individuals. The announcement was made today during a luncheon at Equal Justice University in Murfreesboro. Leaders involved in the trust include TALS immediate Past Director Ann Pruitt, former TBA President Buck Lewis, Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee and Justice Drowota’s wife, Claire Drowota, who will serve as trustees. Former University of Tennessee College of Law Dean Doug Blaze, TBA President Jim Barry and Pruitt will serve as trust advisors and trustee successors. In response to the announcement, Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Page said, “Everyone in Tennessee’s judiciary and beyond thought Frank was the finest judge and finest person we had ever known. The Court is pleased that his memory is being honored in this way.” For more information and to support the Drowota Trust, contact Buck Lewis. See additional photos from the event.

The Memphis-based Community Legal Center has named Melissa Janoske McLean as its new associate executive director. Janoske McLean previously spent 18 years as a professor of public relations, public speaking and social media, including seven years with the University of Memphis. She earned a Ph.D. in public relations and crisis communication from the University of Maryland, and undergraduate and master’s degrees in organizational communication from Radford University.  The Community Legal Center is a nonprofit law firm that provides legal services for low-income and otherwise vulnerable Memphians.

The Equal Justice University welcomed a record 300-plus registrants to its annual program this week in Murfreesboro. Presented by the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services and sponsored by the TBA and other groups, the three-day program launched yesterday with a presentation from Rachel Rossi, director of the U.S. Department of Justice's Office for Access to Justice. TBA President Jim Barry and Executive Director Sheree Wright both addressed today's luncheon crowd and the Drowota Trust was announced. The event wraps up tomorrow with a keynote address by Legal Services Corporation President Ron Flagg. Please look for a full story tomorrow on the Access to Justice Awards, presented throughout the conference. See photos from the event.