Death row inmate Harold Wayne Nichols has asked Gov. Bill Lee for clemency, requesting that his sentence be converted to life in prison a month before his scheduled execution. The Associated Press reports that the clemency petition argues that Nichols turned his life around in prison, becoming a model inmate who helps make the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution a safer place and even mentoring at-risk youth. The petition also quotes former corrections officers and prison volunteers who vouch for his rehabilitation. On Monday, Nichols declined to choose between lethal injection and the electric chair.

Legal Services Corporation's (LSC) Rural Justice Task Force has released a comprehensive report with recommendations to strengthen legal access in rural communities. The task force's goal is to better serve the millions of rural Americans who face unique challenges — such as limited transportation, scarce providers and geographic isolation — when seeking legal help. LSC has also expanded Heartland Disaster Help to better support Americans in areas vulnerable to natural disasters. Simply enter an address and learn about the disasters most common to that area, find recovery assistance resources and explore ways to prepare and protect homes, families and communities.

The TBA’s annual two-day Health Law Forum kicked off today in downtown Nashville with a keynote on "AI in Healthcare — What's Real, What's Hype and What's Next" followed by a session on regulatory fraud and abuse. TBA President Heidi Barcus moderated a panel on medical malpractice updates. Other topics covered included the impact of the "One Big Beautiful Bill' on health care, legality of DEI and health equity programs and an ethics update with a panel including TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright. The forum continues tomorrow with AI and ethics, legislative review, federal civil and criminal enforcement, the rise of telehealth and the FDA approval process for compounded weight loss drugs. Also on tap for tomorrow is the section's annual meeting and lunch. Members do not have to be registered for the forum to attend the lunch. Now in its 37th year, the Health Law Forum is the premier health law program in the state, providing essential insights from health law providers, practitioners and regulators. See photos from the first day.

Since January, Tennessee has seen one of the nation’s largest expansions of local immigration enforcement partnerships, growing from just two to 48 law enforcement agencies under federal 287(g) agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Tennessee Lookout reports that the deals now include sheriffs, small-town police, constables and state highway patrol officers, significantly widening the reach of federal immigration enforcement across the state. Supporters say the agreements promote public safety and uphold immigration law, while critics warn they encourage racial profiling and divert police from local priorities. The Trump administration and Tennessee lawmakers have offered financial incentives — including salary reimbursements, equipment funding and grants — to enter into one of three model agreements: jail enforcement, warrant service officer or task force.

An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller's Office uncovered extensive misuse of public funds in the City of Martin, leading to indictments of Mayor Randy Brundige, Economic Development Director Brad Thompson and former city employee Natalie Brundige. Investigators found that the officials collectively misappropriated more than $450,000 through unauthorized credit card use, luxury travel and unearned compensation. Additionally, Thompson's personal consulting firm billed the city for for grant-writing and administrative services that were already part of his duties. Comptroller Jason Mumpower called the case “troubling,” emphasizing the need for stronger oversight of city spending and employee accountability. The three were indicted by the Weakley County Grand Jury on Monday. WBBJ reports on the developments.

The TBA Administrative Law Section has announced recent Belmont University College of Law graduate Zach Sterne as the winner of its 2024-2025 writing competition for his essay "Standing Up for Setting Aside: Vacatur’s Valid Role as a Remedy Under Section 706 of the Administrative Procedure Act." Sterne graduated from Belmont in May 2025, where he served as managing editor of the Belmont Law Review and was recognized as its “Most Valuable Editor.” During law school, Sterne also distinguished himself as chief brief writer and swing advocate for the championship team at the 2025 McGee Civil Rights Moot Court Competition, where he earned both the Best Oral Advocate Award and Top Respondent Brief Award. Sterne is now an associate attorney at Ortale Kelley, where his practice focuses on federal litigation, civil rights, appellate advocacy, complex tort litigation and government liability. The section currently is accepting submissions for its 2025-2026 writing competition. Check out the guidelines here and apply by April 30, 2026.

The Middle Point Landfill in Murfreesboro, which takes in trash from Davidson County and more than 30 other localities, has received multiple state and city violations this year for issues including litter, leachate runoff and methane emissions, WPLN reports. In March, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation cited the landfill for “major violations” and “minor violations” between June and September. The city of Murfreesboro also issued violations in September for air and water pollution. City attorneys raised concerns about recurring methane emissions and leachate containing PFAS chemicals entering nearby waterways. Middle Point, owned by Republic Services and BFI Waste Systems of Tennessee, dismissed the city’s claims as “grandstanding,” saying the violations were minor and that it passively receives PFAS-contaminated materials from other sources. The landfill, Tennessee’s largest by volume, also has faced years of odor complaints.

TBA President Heidi Barcus has formed a task force to gather and review feedback from TBA members regarding the Tennessee Supreme Court’s order soliciting comments on regulation of the legal profession. Feedback should be sent to townhall@tnbar.org by Dec. 12 at 11:59 p.m. CST and should be specific in nature. All comments will be shared with the task force. The TBA welcomes candid feedback from all viewpoints. Watch for more information in TBA Today in the coming months on additional ways to share your thoughts on this important issue. Thank you to those members who have agreed to serve on the task force. They are: Brandon Bass, Lisa Cole, Dixie Cooper, Mike Galligan, Ed Lanquist Jr., Mary Beth Maddox, Jimmie Miller, Randy Noel, Sarah Sheppeard, Scott Sims, Charles Swanson, Danny Van Horn, Howard Vogel. and John Wilks. The task force will be chaired by Sarah Sheppeard.

Tennessee public libraries are reviewing their collections after Secretary of State Tre Hargett sent a series of letters ordering librarians to assess the “age-appropriateness" of books in their children and young adult sections. The review aims to “identify any materials that may be inconsistent with Tennessee age-appropriateness laws, in violation of any federal law, including President Trump's Executive Order, or otherwise contrary to any other applicable state or federal laws.” The letters also reminded librarians that they have to comply with relevant laws in order to receive grant funds, the Nashville Scene reports. Library directors are to provide a final report of their findings to the Tennessee secretary of state and the Tennessee state librarian and archivist by Jan. 19, 2026.

The Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Board unanimously approved a $300,000 settlement in a lawsuit filed by the family of 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante who was fatally shot by another student at Antioch High School earlier this year, The Tennessean reports. The settlement covers all attorneys fees. The family filed the suit in July against Metro Nashville and MNPS, seeking $700,000 in damages. The suit argued that the district should have known the shooter posed a danger to students and failed to prevent the violence, and that it was negligent in operation of its security system for not detecting the shooter’s firearm. MNPS Board Chair Freda Player said the district has partnered with the Metro Nashville Police Department to increase the presence of school resource officers at Antioch High and to add safety measures districtwide.