The Department of the Interior yesterday announced that nearly $725 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is available to Tennessee and 21 other states to reclaim abandoned coal mine lands. The money will help communities clean up dangerous environmental conditions and pollution caused by past coal mining. WATE in Knoxville reports that Tennessee is eligible for just over $8.5 million, and that at least 5,050 acres of abandoned mine land has already been reclaimed as a part of the Tennessee Land Reclamation Section that was started in 1981.

According to documents obtained through an open records request, Gov. Bill Lee’s administration accused the National Rifle Association of wanting to use involuntary commitment laws “to round up mentally ill people and deprive them of other liberties.” The memos were drafted in April as part of the administration’s attempt to pass legislation following the Covenant School shooting in late March. The Associated Press reports that the documents promote Lee’s proposal as “more targeted and more limited” than what the NRA currently supports.

The budget committee of the Sumner County Commission voted last week to eliminate the county’s human resources department, a move which would save the county approximately $100,000 annually. The Tennessee Lookout reports that HR Director Cheryl Lewis-Smith told the committee that she was concerned about the welfare of Sumner County employees and the potential liability risks to the county if the HR department is dissolved. The vote must be approved by the full commission.

Nashville Soccer Club owner John Ingram wrote a letter to members of the Metro Council Wednesday expressing “significant concerns” regarding proposed upgrades at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, reported the Tennessean. The letter included Ingram's concerns about running two similarly sized stadiums adjacent to one another and the resulting competing for non-soccer and non-racing events. Legislation to approve a deal for the renovations was filed Friday with the Metro Council.

A public meeting about the proposed new federal courthouse in Chattanooga will be held June 14 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. EDT at the Mac Avenue Event Space, 1304 McCallie Ave., Suite A. The public will have an opportunity to learn about possible locations for the courthouse and provide input on potential environmental impacts. The Chattanooga General Services Administration says that the facility will include seven courtrooms, nine judge chambers and offices for court-related agencies and secured parking spaces as well as the GSA, reported the Chattanoogan. The courthouse also will house the district clerk, bankruptcy clerk, U.S. Probation Office, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office and Federal Public Defender's Office. 

The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) is accepting nominations for its three annual Access to Justice Awards: Janice M. Holder Award, B. Riney Green Award and New Advocate of the Year Award. Nominations and any supporting documents must be submitted by June 30. The awards will be presented at the 2023 Equal Justice University Conference. Learn more about the awards process.

Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Melissa Boyd will be off the bench for a few months dealing with an undisclosed illness, the Commercial Appeal reports. Her predecessor, Senior Judge Mark Ward, will fill in during the absence. Prior to losing reelection to Boyd in 2022, Ward spent 18 years on the court. He is slated to take over on June 7. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve the people of Tennessee in this new role," Ward said about the appointment.

Vanderbilt University School of Law graduate Beth Cruz, class of 2010, has been named assistant dean and the Martha Craig Daughtrey director for public interest. Cruz will be responsible for creating public interest law opportunities and facilitating public interest law careers for students. She also will oversee pro-bono programs and contribute to the school’s externship and summer public interest stipend programs. Cruz returns to the school from the Nashville Public Defender’s Office, where she led the Education Rights Project. The public interest position honors Daughtrey and recognizes her commitment to public service, contributions to the school as a professor, and service as a judge in both federal and state courts. Spring Miller, who served as the inaugural assistant dean for public interest, has left to join the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. Read more from the school.

Graduation ceremonies at law schools across the state are wrapping up this month with special keynote addresses and award recognitions. At the University of Tennessee College of Law’s ceremony, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee encouraged graduates to lead with integrity and use their law degrees for good. At the Duncan School of Law, 91 graduates heard from federal Judge Curtis L. Collier, who urged them to consider the law as a form of public service. A number of students also received awards. At Vanderbilt University Law School, 23 graduates were recognized with academic and citizenship awards while 31 were recognized for pro bono work. And at the Nashville School of Law, students heard from Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sarah Campbell, who praised the sacrifices many of them made to attend law school while continuing to work.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP has opened a new office in Atlanta with more than 20 attorneys, the Nashville Business Journal reports. It's a move that has been a strategic priority for the Birmingham-based firm for years, according to Jonathan Skeeters, managing partner and chairman of the board, who is based in the firm’s Nashville office. The move follows expansions to Florida and Texas. The new office is located in the Promenade Tower at 1230 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309. See the list of lawyers joining the office.