Braden Boucek was sworn in Dec. 24 as U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. Judge Whitney Hermandorfer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit administered the oath of office during a brief ceremony at the Fred D. Thompson Federal Courthouse in Nashville. Boucek was nominated by President Donald Trump on July 1 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Dec. 18. As U.S. attorney, he serves as the chief federal prosecutor and legal representative for the United States in 32 counties across Middle Tennessee, representing approximately 2.9 million residents. Before his appointment, Boucek served as senior vice president of litigation at the Southeastern Legal Foundation and previously as vice president of legal affairs at the Beacon Center. He earned his law degree from Florida State University College of Law.

A legal fight is brewing over religious charter schools in Tennessee after Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issued an opinion that the state’s law blocking them is “likely” unconstitutional under the First Amendment. Now a Christian nonprofit in Knox County, Wilberforce Academy of Knoxville, has sued the local board of education. It wants to open an "explicitly" Christian charter school. Nationally, backers of religious charter school have argued that state bans are unconstitutional and amount to religious discrimination, citing U.S. Supreme Court precedents that found states could not block private schools from receiving public funds because of their religious affiliation. According to the Tennessee Journal, Gov. Bill Lee has said he will defer to Skrmetti’s opinion that the ban is likely unconstitutional. The Daily Memphian has more on the issue from Chalkbeat.

Launched in 2015, Memphis Children’s Health Law Directive (Memphis CHILD) is a medical-legal partnership (MLP) that helps low-income families in Shelby County with legal matters affecting the health or well-being of Le Bonheur Children's Hospital patients. MLPs place attorneys into health care settings to address legal issues impacting the health of patients. Top case areas for Memphis CHILD include Social Security Income (SSI) benefits, education concerns, housing issues, conservatorships and family law. Each partner — including Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS), University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Le Bonheur, University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS) — plays a unique role in the collaboration to provide comprehensive legal services for kids and families. Read more in an article from the Winter 2025 issue of Le Bonheur's "Securing the Promise" publication.

Judge D. Michael Swiney officially retires from the Tennessee Court of Appeals on Jan. 12, 2026. In this profile from the Administrative Office of the Courts, he looks back on his career and ahead to what retirement might bring. Swiney views his time on the bench as an important civic duty. “I don’t want to say I was called to be a judge, but I’ve always thought that public service is important and it’s something that those of us that have the opportunity to do it need to consider it.” As for post-retirement life, Swiney and his wife Suzann continue to take that matter "under advisement." “We decided we are going to wait and then decide when the time actually arrives,” he said. “I know I’d like for at least a little while not to have anything scheduled, even if it’s supposed to be something that’s fun.” Swiney is a 1978 graduate of the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law. He worked in private practice in Knoxville from 1979 to 1999. Beginning in 1994, he served as a certified mediator with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee until he was appointed to the Court of Appeals in July 1999. He also served as an adjunct professor at Winston College of Law from 1997 to 2006.

Nashville School of Law (NSL) 3L Scott Vincenti has been awarded the inaugural Bill Koch Harry Phillips American Inn of Court (AIC) Scholarship. The scholarship, years in the making, honors NSL Dean William C. Koch Jr.’s three decades of service as president of the Harry Phillips American Inn of Court in Nashville. “I am grateful for the many contributions that funded this scholarship, and I am delighted that Scott Vincenti is its first recipient,” said Koch. Each year, the scholarship will be awarded to a full-time third or fourth-year student who has worked hard to stay in good academic standing, ranks in the top 20% of the class, and shares a statement of financial need. Read more in a press release from the law school.

U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan previously announced he would assume senior status on Oct. 5, 2026, after more than two decades on the federal bench in East Tennessee, allowing him to hear a reduced caseload. According to a new opinion piece in Knox News, his tenure has left a lasting imprint on Knoxville’s legal community, where he has been recognized for his public service, mentorship and long-standing civic involvement. Varlan earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School and has served as a district judge for 22 years following a legal career. Varlan served as Knoxville’s law director for a decade before entering private practice and later being confirmed to the bench by the U.S. Senate.

State lawmakers are preparing for Savanna’s Law to take effect Jan. 1, 2026. According to WBIR, the law creates a public registry of domestic violence offenders. It is named for Savanna Puckett, a Middle Tennessee sheriff’s deputy killed by her ex-boyfriend in 2022, who had a history of domestic assault arrests. The law establishes a registry for individuals convicted more than once of domestic violence. Sen. Becky Duncan Massey, R-Knoxville, co-sponsored the legislation. A victim advocate at the Anderson County Family Justice Center noted that many abusers never face criminal charges and that victims often seek civil orders of protection instead. “There’s nothing you can do that can solve everything. But if we can do something that solves some of it, that’s important,” Massey said.

TBA staff enjoyed their annual holiday party earlier this month and wish all TBA members a happy holiday season! The TBA will be closed Wednesday and Thursday in observance of the Christmas holiday. Offices will reopen Friday at 8 a.m. CST. Online CLE programming will remain available throughout the holidays.

The American Bar Association’s (ABA) Task Force on Law and Artificial Intelligence (AI) recently released its final report. The “Year 2 Report on the Impact of AI on the Practice of Law” focuses on the future of AI and the law. The task force, created in August 2023, brought together lawyers and judges from across the ABA to address the impact of AI on the legal profession and the practice of law. The report addresses these areas and provides insights and resources that will help equip the legal community to address these developments. It also lists AI-related programs and events recommended by the task force and from across the ABA, many of which are available to lawyers, judges and members of the public at ambar.org/aiLaw. Read more in a press release from the ABA.

The Justice Frank F. Drowota Trust, a charitable fund dedicated to providing supplemental financial support to direct providers of civil legal services, has announced five grant recipients for 2025. This year’s awards highlight organizations that continue to advance justice for low-income Tennesseans through advocacy, representation and community outreach. Recipients are: Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Legal Aid of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, West Tennessee Legal Services, Community Legal Center (CLC) and the Tennessee Justice Center. The trust also announced the launch of its website, DrowotaTrust.com. The site serves as a comprehensive resource, offering information about the mission, history and purpose of the trust, as well as profiles of Trustees Buck Lewis, Sharon Lee and Claire Drowota, news updates, and a secure link for donations. To discuss donations from a bequest, RMD from retirement accounts or other form of gift contact Lewis at blewis@bakerdonelson.com.