TBA’s Legislative Updates podcast is new this week with attorneys and TBA lobbyists Berkley Schwarz of Pier Strategies LLC and Brad Lampley and Ashley Harbin of Adams & Reese. This week's episode covers adoption bill SB2165/HB2350, probate bill SB2184/HB2451 and family law bill SB2324/HB2429. Tune in to the podcast on the TBA website or through this link. Attorneys may also support the TBA’s lobbying efforts by contributing to LAWPAC.

Memphis-based FedEx has filed a lawsuit seeking refunds of fees it paid under the Trump administration's emergency tariffs. The move comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the administration exceeded its authority in imposing the tariffs. That decision opens the door to potential refunds on more than $175 billion in tariff collections, prompting expectations of widespread litigation from companies seeking repayment. FedEx is pursuing a full refund of the duties it paid, though the lower courts must still determine how the recovery process will be implemented. Experts say consumers are unlikely to qualify without detailed documentation. Reuters has the story.

Gov. Bill Lee on Wednesday announced the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) will join the Trump administration’s “A Home for Every Child” initiative, a national effort led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to expand the number of foster families and improve outcomes for children. DCS will partner with ACF and the Children’s Bureau to support improvement work connected to the federal Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) process. Tennessee’s participation will focus on outcomes-driven goals to expand the number of licensed foster homes, retain current foster families, support kinship caregivers, strengthen prevention services, and improve visibility into capacity and outcomes through more timely data and reporting. Read more in a press release.

The number of judges in U.S. immigration courts has dropped by about a quarter in the last year due to firings and resignations — even when accounting for new hires, according to NPR. Twelve immigration courts have lost over half of their judges while two courts have no judges at all. Former judges and staff say the system’s ability to provide timely, fair hearings has been strained, while the U.S. Department of Justice maintains the changes are intended to improve efficiency and enforce immigration laws. New hiring efforts have focused on bringing in judges with law-enforcement or military backgrounds as the remaining courts face mounting backlogs.

At its winter meeting last month, the TBA Board of Governors announced a vacancy in two board positions: West Tennessee Grand Division Governor (a one-year term) and 7th District Governor (a three-year term). The 7th District includes the counties of Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, McNairy, Madison, Obion, Tipton and Weakley. To be considered for either of these positions, email a statement of interest and resume to TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright at barED@tnbar.org by March 3. The board will consider nominees at its March meeting. Read more about the 2026-2027 election on the TBA website.

Tennessee Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti has joined a coalition of state attorneys general urging the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct a thorough antitrust review of the proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Bros., warning that the deal could harm consumers, creators and the broader film industry. In a statement, Skrmetti emphasized the potential harm to creative professionals: “This merger threatens to devastate movie and television production and abandon America’s enduring legacy as the dominant force in global cinema. We are exploring options to protect Tennessee consumers and creators.”

After more than a week of conflicting reports about whether the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was planning to open an immigration detention facility in Lebanon, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn announced yesterday that DHS will not move forward with the facility. Though supportive of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) mission, the Tennessee Lookout reports that Blackburn opposed the location for a proposed detention center. Local officials and at least one Republican state lawmaker also spoke against the location, citing the strains it would place on local safety and law enforcement resources. The Lookout also reports that Blackburn is working with state, local and federal leaders to “find a proper placement” for the detention center. In related news, ICE will open a new legal office in Nashville’s MetroCenter. The Nashville Business Journal has details on those plans.

SCOTUSblog founder and appellate attorney Tom Goldstein has been found guilty on 12 of 16 counts of tax crimes and mortgage fraud, Bloomberg Law reports. During the trial, Goldstein denied that he ever willfully cheated on his taxes, blaming any errors on his returns on his staff and outside accountants. The jury phase of the trial is not over yet. Goldstein has asked the jury to decide whether he must forfeit his Washington, D.C., home. In a separate article, the news source looks at the potential grounds for appealing the verdict.

The American Bar Association (ABA) reportedly is in settlement talks with the American Alliance for Equal Rights over settling the group’s lawsuit challenging ABA law school scholarships. In a recent court filing, the parties asked for more time to engage in settlement discussions, according to Bloomberg News. The alliance sued the ABA in April 2025, alleging its Legal Opportunity Scholarship violates civil rights law. The scholarship offers $15,000 to about 25 first-year law students. Last year, the ABA widened eligibility to students who “have demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.” That change reversed the previous guidelines, which limited applications to students who were members of underrepresented racial or ethnic minority groups.

The Tennessee Attorney General's (AG) Office plans to settle a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union-Tennessee (ACLU), which challenged a state law penalizing local officials who support sanctuary city policies. According to WPLN, the state concedes it cannot support the law’s constitutionality, saying it “infringes[s] on principles of legislative immunity and independence.” It thus has agreed not to enforce the law. Last year, the AG's office said it was open to a settlement. In a recent statement to the news outlet, AG Jonathan Skrmetti said: “Sanctuary policies remain illegal in Tennessee, but city and county officials cannot be imprisoned for voting for such policies. As a result, we agreed that dismissal of this case was the appropriate outcome.” According to Tennessee Lookout, the settlement must be approved by the courts before it takes effect. Read more from the ACLU.