Chief Justice John Roberts delivered today a brief, touching tribute to retiring Justice Stephen Breyer at the end of what was the final oral argument session of Breyer's 28-year tenure on the high court, CBS News reports. His voice breaking with emotion, Roberts noted that Breyer will retire from the Supreme Court at the end of its current term, which will likely conclude by the end of June, meaning the arguments heard by the justices today were the last with Breyer on the bench. NPR has Justice Breyer's remarks, from January when he announced his retirement, about his hope for the "American experiment." 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee will release more details Monday surrounding why he abruptly canceled the execution of Oscar Smith, delaying his previous plan to reveal the reasons this week, the Republican’s spokesperson confirmed. Fox 17 News reports that Casey Black said in an email Tuesday that the governor’s office will “be releasing more information and action steps.” Last week, Lee issued a statement saying there had been an “oversight in preparation for lethal injection” as he granted a temporary reprieve to the 72-year-old Smith. A day later, he said the reprieve was needed because of a “technical oversight,” without explaining further.

The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday issued two orders naming 75 individuals to the state’s nine disciplinary district’s hearing committees. The first order appointed 49 individuals while the second order re-appointed 26 individuals. The new terms for all will expire on March 16, 2025. Justice Sharon Lee dissented to both orders but no additional information was provided.

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee is moving from its current location in the Estes Kefauver Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse to the new Fred D. Thompson U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building, located at 719 Church Street, Nashville 37203. Beginning May 6, all court proceedings and operations will be held in the new courthouse. Learn more details from the court. 

The TBA Young Lawyers Division, Chattanooga Bar Association Young Lawyers, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, La Paz and the Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Initiative partnered to put on a family law advice clinic at Hamilton County Family Justice Center on April 23. Volunteer attorneys met with clients to give free counsel, advice and brief service on a wide range of family law topics. Other community partners, like American Job Center and Her Song were also onsite to provide clients with other resources. Eighteen attorneys volunteered their time, the equivalent of more than $10,000 in donated services. "I appreciate to have a place to go and ask questions freely without feeling any judgment," one client wrote. "Thank you all for your kindness and service."

President Joe Biden has granted clemency to 78 people. TNJ: On the Hill has the details on five with ties to Tennessee.

The Tennessee Bar Association’s renewal portal for 2022-2023 is open! Renew your membership to continue your access to CLE programming with three pre-paid credits, TBA’s Practice Management Center, free online legal research through Fastcase and timely information through TBA Today, TBA Podcasts and the Tennessee Bar Journal. Also now available is access to the TBA’s Group and Solo Health Insurance Plans. Attorneys not participating in the TBA's firm billing program can login and access renewal information through your MyTBA dashboard.

Knox County Juvenile Court Judge Tim Irwin recently presented the Susan D. Kovac Award to three outstanding child welfare attorneys in the county. Christina Kleiser with the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office received the 2020 award, John A. Anen received the 2021 award and Knox County Juvenile Court Magistrate Irene B. Joseph received the 2022 award. The awards for 2020 and 2021 were not presented in person in those years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The award ceremony took place as part of an annual fundraiser for the Volunteer Advisory Board, which hosts an appreciation dinner for foster care parents and helps meet the emergency needs of children in foster care.

A federal judge in Louisiana yesterday said he will block the Biden administration from rescinding Title 42, siding with Republican-led states that asked the courts to temporarily retain the pandemic-era border policy. The decision from Judge Robert Summerhays will prevent the president from ending Title 42 on May 23 as planned. Title 42 has been used more than 1.5 million times by the administration to rapidly expel migrants without letting them seek asylum. The Hill reports that the judge has not yet issued the order so the parties can “confer regarding the specific terms to be contained in the [order] and attempt to reach agreement.”

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee “quietly signed” legislation on Friday that imposes penalties on public schools that allow transgender athletes to participate in girls’ sports, the Associated Press reports. Last year, the governor signed a measure mandating that student athletes must prove their sex matches what is listed on their “original” birth certificate. This year’s bill adds penalties to that ban, which already has been challenged in the courts. Under the new law, the Tennessee Department of Education would withhold a portion of state funds from local school districts that fail to determine a student’s gender for participation in middle or high school sports. The measure does not specify exactly how much money should be withheld by the state. The law will go into effect July 1.