Sheriff's departments in Tennessee have formed at least 23 new partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement (ICE) since enactment of a new state law requiring county sheriffs to cooperate with ICE or forfeit state funding, the Tennessean reports. Another six city police departments reportedly have signed agreements as well. Collaborating with federal law enforcement through an ICE 287(g) partnership allows ICE to delegate some limited immigration enforcement to local law enforcement agencies. Historically, participation has been optional. Currently, 94 local law enforcement agencies in Tennessee have 287(g) agreements with ICE, most of which were created in the last 12 months. In May, Davidson County Sheriff issued a statement saying the new law pertains only to certain sheriffs and does not apply to Davidson County.

A Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) investigation is underway after a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent fatally shot Alfonso Ivy on July 8 while members of the Memphis Safe Task Force attempted to serve an arrest warrant at an extended-stay hotel in the 6500 block of Poplar Avenue in East Memphis, the Commercial Appeal reports. According to the U.S. Marshals Service and TBI, Ivy was wanted on felony drug charges in Shelby County and allegedly pointed a handgun at officers, prompting a DEA agent to open fire. Officers rendered first aid until emergency medical personnel arrived, but Ivy died at the scene. No officers were injured. According to News Channel 3, court records show Ivy has had more than 50 encounters with the criminal justice system dating back to 1997, including convictions for drug, weapons and assault offenses. He was released from state prison in 2025 after serving seven years. He has served 12 years in prison over multiple sentences.

Due to the early retirement of James B. “Jimmy” Dunn, district attorney general for the 4th Judicial District, the governor’s office is accepting applications to fill the position until the next biennial election in August 2028. Under the Tennessee Constitution, a district attorney general must have been a resident of the state for five years and of the judicial district for one year. The 4th Judicial District includes Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties. Attorneys interested in being considered for the appointment should submit a resume and cover letter to Alexa Witcher, chief counsel to the governor. Materials should be emailed to her assistant Katelin.Brown@tn.gov no later than 5 p.m. CDT on July 24. View the notice of vacancy for more information. Dunn spent 20 years in office after being elected district attorney general in 2006 and was reelected in 2022, the Knoxville Daily Sun reports. He recently announced he will retire on Aug. 31.

Justice Kyle Hixson last week was sworn in as the newest justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court. The ceremony, presided over by Gov. Bill Lee, was held at the Tennessee Theatre in downtown Knoxville. Chief Justice Jeff Bivins spoke, saying, “Justice Hixson, Kyle, we know you will be a great justice on this court. Your combination of intellect, experience, integrity and personality will serve you well. But more importantly, they will allow you to continue your public service as a servant to the people of Tennessee. We welcome you to the Tennessee Supreme Court and congratulations to you, my friend.” Hixson was confirmed by the state legislature in March and began his term on July 1. Lee appointed Hixson to the state Court of Criminal Appeals in 2022 following two years as a criminal court judge. Hixson graduated from the University of Tennessee and the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Holly Kirby. See photos of the ceremony from Knox News and read more in a press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The American Bar Association (ABA) is asking a judge to order the White House to release certain communications with law firms and presidential allies related to executive orders issued in 2025 against several major law firms. The group wants to see if Trump allies Steve Bannon and Boris Epshteyn acted as intermediaries between the White House and targeted law firms, Bloomberg News reports. The ABA sued the administration for what it calls a “law firm intimidation policy.” Following the president’s actions in 2025, four law firms sued while nine agreed to spend $1 billion in free legal services on “shared causes” and abandon diversity recruiting initiatives. The four that sued are awaiting a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit after trial courts struck down the executive orders.

A three-judge panel will hear the complaint filed by the city of Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority over a new law that takes appointment of the airport board away from the mayor. Chattanoogan.com reports that Judge Alex McVeagh this week referred the matter to the Tennessee Supreme Court for designation of the panel. In related news, the Times Free Press reports on new appointments that have been made to the state-constituted board. Meanwhile, a similar suit brought by the Nashville Airport Authority has been put on pause by U.S. District Judge William Campbell. He stayed the suit pending resolution of another suit filed against the Federal Aviation Administration in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, The Tennessee Journal reports. The situation also has been complicated by the newly formed state board taking office and filing to withdraw the suit against the state.

The ACLU and National Immigration Law Center are asking U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson to reopen a lawsuit challenging Tennessee's new law criminalizing illegal immigration. Richardson dismissed the case in June, ruling that the plaintiffs did not have legal standing because they could not demonstrate that their removal orders were “valid” and “outstanding” as required by the law. In a Monday filing, lawyers offered new details showing their two pseudonymous plaintiffs, "Lucy" and "Benjamin," both have outstanding removal orders and therefore are at risk of arrest under the law. The filing argues that reopening the case is needed to avoid "manifest injustice" and a drawn-out appeal. Richardson responded Thursday, asking attorneys why they waited two weeks to seek expedited reopening and why they did not file a new case, since his dismissal was without prejudice. The Tennessee Lookout reports on the developments.

Gov. Bill Lee has said that he will not pursue a pause or moratorium on executions in the state, or order a review of the current execution protocol following the failed execution attempt of death row inmate Tony Carruthers. According to WPLN, Lee told a group of reporters in Knoxville that the protocol was “carried out appropriately” and “the Department of Correction did exactly what they were supposed to.” Actions News 5 has reaction to that decision from Carruthers’ attorneys. Lee’s decision comes after the ACLU called for a pause in executions, a number of death row inmates are seeking reprieves and Republican state senators have asked for an investigation into the attempted execution of Carruthers.

Judge Peter Frech was sworn in July 8 in Nashville as the newest judge on the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims. He was appointed in April to replace Judge Thomas Wyatt of Chattanooga, who retired at the end of June. A blog post from the court noted that Frech brings diverse experience and dedication to the bench. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a military police corrections specialist, graduated with a degree in political science from Middle Tennessee State University, and earned his law degree with a concentration in advocacy and dispute resolution from the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law. Frech will hear cases in both the Nashville and Murfreesboro offices.

Chattanooga native and Ex-NFL linebacker Darron Lee — who played for the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills — was indicted in June by a grand jury for the alleged murder of his girlfriend at their new home in Ooltewah. He is being held without bond in the Hamilton County Jail, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. Lee now has hired former Hamilton County District Attorney (DA) Neal Pinkston as his defense lawyer, according to the paper. Sports news website Heavy.com reports that Pinkston spent eight years as Hamilton County’s district attorney before returning to private practice after losing his 2022 re-election bid to current DA Coty Wamp. He replaces public defender Mike Little, who represented Lee through his earlier appearances. Lee’s next court date is scheduled for Oct. 8.