Joey Aguilar, the University of Tennessee’s starting quarterback this past season, received a 15-day temporary restraining order allowing him to practice with the team, Knox News reports. Aguilar is suing the NCAA over rules that would deny him additional eligibility to play. His argument is partly based on the fact that he began his career at a non-NCAA junior college. The next step for Aguilar is to seek a preliminary injunction. A hearing on that issue is set for Feb. 13.

A jury has convicted a man for threatening to kill a federal judge and two prosecutors in Memphis last year. Justin Stiger, 34, was convicted after a two-day trial and just 2.5 hours of jury deliberation, according to the Daily Memphian. Stiger was indicted in 2022 on an unrelated drug case. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years. He later requested a change to his plea, which broke the original plea agreement. U.S. District Judge Mark Norris denied the request and ordered a new sentencing hearing. At that proceeding, Norris sentenced Stiger to a decade behind bars and Stiger allegedly threatened to kill Norris and two prosecutors. The threat case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee with East Tennessee’s U.S. District Judge Travis McDonough presiding. Sentencing is set for June 18.

The Tennessee Court of Appeals has ruled that Metro Nashville must consider releasing certain records related to the Covenant School shooting, the Nashville Banner reports. Authoring Judge Kristi Davis wrote that “no record in Metro’s file should be deemed exempt simply because it contains some exempt information.” The appeals court remanded the case back to the Davidson County Chancery Court to resolve which of the shooter’s writings should be exempt from disclosure. A number of news outlets are seeking access to the shooter’s journals and writings while the school and several parents are seeking to stop the disclosure. After Metro denied all requests — arguing the investigation was ongoing — Chancellor I’Ashea Myles agreed that Metro could deny all requests. According to Fox 17 News, police department attorneys now acknowledge the investigation is complete.

Among the projects included in Gov. Bill Lee’s budget is $4.9 million to create a 10-person rapid DNA unit. According to Axios, the technology would allow for a two-hour turnaround on tests, would be portable and could be done on site during disasters. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has had testing lags for rape kits and other DNA evidence for years. A state review recently recommended that lawmakers adjust DNA testing laws to allow for rapid DNA technology during booking.

U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger earlier this week denied a bid to file an amicus brief from the Indian Gaming Association, the National Congress of American Indians, gaming associations from four states and 21 federally recognized tribes. The Nashville Post reports that the groups had expressed support for the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council’s effort to block sports betting company Kalshi from offering sports event contracts in the state, arguing the contracts amounted to illegal sports wagering under the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act. Kalshi sued the council on Jan. 9 after receiving a cease-and-desist letter threatening civil and criminal penalties. Trauger granted a temporary restraining order, preventing the council from taking regulatory action while Kalshi’s preliminary injunction motion is pending, with Kalshi maintaining that the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission has exclusive authority over its contracts.

Less than a year after two lawmakers considered a government effort to dissolve the state’s high school athletics association, Sen. Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, said he is no longer pursuing that option, and that he and the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) are now more aligned, the Commercial Appeal reports. Lowe said the association has responded to concerns from parents and students, citing the creation of a student advisory committee, and that a majority of member schools now support state legislation to loosen high school transfer rules. During the 2025 legislative session, the TSSAA opposed efforts by Lowe and Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, to codify transfer rules in state law, though the association later amended its constitution to allow a one-time transfer with exceptions while maintaining concerns about legislative involvement in its bylaws. Since then, the sides have worked together on a proposal that would allow student-athletes one transfer during their four-year varsity careers without a bona fide change of address if the move occurs between school years, while leaving eligibility standards and enforcement of recruiting rules to the TSSAA; the changes would likely take effect in the 2026-2027 school year if approved.

Federal prosecutors on Jan. 23 charged two American citizens connected to a Hardin Valley construction site after an immigration raid, alleging they harbored undocumented workers for financial gain and interfered with federal agents, Knox News reports. Tyler Shane Wells of Morristown and Alexander Bonilla-Servin of Smyrna were indicted on charges including harboring undocumented immigrants for commercial advantage and forcibly impeding federal officers. Prosecutors allege the pair conducted counter-surveillance and that Bonilla-Servin used his truck to strike an agent’s vehicle as it entered the site, a claim disputed by witnesses who say an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent struck his vehicle and agents then drew weapons and removed him. Bonilla-Servin also faces a separate obstruction charge filed Jan. 13, according to the news outlet. U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra Poplin ordered him released pending trial, finding he was not a danger.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is now accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, following the appointment of Judge Kyle A. Hixson to the Tennessee Supreme Court. Applicants must be licensed attorneys who are at least 30 years of age, have been residents of the state for five years, and must reside in the Eastern Grand Division of Tennessee. Applicants must complete the application and submit it to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) by noon CST on Feb. 17. Questions about the application process should be submitted to AOC Assistant General Counsel Laura Blount at (615) 741-2687 or laura.blount@tncourts.gov.

Thousands of legal immigrants will lose access to TennCare beginning in October under a new Trump administration policy, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. Tennessee officials also separately are considering barring pregnant women without legal immigration status from publicly funded prenatal care, the paper reports. The director of TennCare told lawmakers last month that about 8,500 refugees and asylum-seekers would be removed from the state’s Medicaid program beginning Oct. 1. The changes stem from federal policy provisions included in a federal bill signed into law last year. State officials also are reviewing whether Tennessee’s Child Health Insurance Program could exclude pregnant women without legal status from receiving prenatal care.

Newly appointed Shelby County Interim Chief Public Defender Jerri Green has plans to improve morale, client experience and staffing, the Daily Memphian reports. Green was appointed by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris on Jan. 6 following the retirement of longtime chief Phyllis Aluko. In an interview with the paper, Green says she is focused on making the office more welcoming for clients while addressing long-standing resource gaps and increased caseloads tied to a recent surge in arrests. The office has faced staffing shortages and morale challenges, even as demand for its services remains high in a county where many defendants cannot afford private counsel. Green, a Memphis City Council member and Democratic candidate for governor, said her priority is quality representation over speed, emphasizing constitutional rights and opposing what she described as “assembly line justice.”