An attorney for former state Rep. Robin Smith of Hixson is calling for a full presidential pardon following her federal sentencing in a public-corruption case, NewsChannel 5 reports. Smith pleaded guilty to honest-services wire fraud connected to a taxpayer-funded mailer scheme. After her guilty plea, she cooperated with prosecutors in their cases against former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and one of his top aides. In October, she was sentenced to eight months in prison, followed by one year of probation and a $7,500 fine. Her attorney argues that Smith has met the conditions they say merit clemency. Smith’s sentencing order begins Jan. 5, 2026.

The U.S. Marshals Service released immigration arrest totals from the Memphis Safe Task Force for the first time since mid-October, reporting that Task Force officers made 319 administrative, or immigration-related, arrests in October. According to the Daily Memphian, that is about 17% of the total 1,862 arrests during the month. Other arrests included 813 served warrants for unspecified charges, 203 for narcotics, 162 for firearms and 10 for homicide.

Gov. Bill Lee announced Monday that $5 million in state funds will be distributed to food banks in all 95 counties, with grants allocated based on the number of people receiving SNAP benefits in each region. The announcement comes as families across the state continue to face uncertainty over federal food assistance programs during the federal shutdown. Lee said the funding is part of the state’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative, which is coordinating relief efforts statewide, NewsChannel 5 reports. Tennesseans needing food assistance or wanting to volunteer can visit FeedTN.org for more information. The Trump administration said earlier this week that it will partially fund food aid for millions of Americans after two federal judges ruled it must use contingency funds to pay November benefits.

The state’s Court of Criminal Appeals upheld the conviction of Russell Maze on Friday. Maze, a Nashville man, has been imprisoned for more than two decades for the shaking death of his infant son. According to ProPublica, the court said there was insufficient evidence to prove his innocence, despite the original medical examiner in the case — whose testimony helped secure the 2004 conviction — recanting that testimony. The examiner now says the baby died of natural causes. The district attorney's office had launched a reinvestigation of the case and determined that the baby died from an undiagnosed medical condition. The court rejected that finding, saying the review failed to establish any new scientific evidence, and that the evidence it did yield failed to provide "clear and convincing proof" that Maze is actually innocent.

The Tennessee Department of Correction is requesting a $13 million contract increase for CoreCivic, the private prison company that operates four state facilities. According to the Moore County News, the increase — part of an $86 million budget request for fiscal year 2026-2027 — would raise the department’s total budget to $1.57 billion and CoreCivic’s contracts to $243 million. Correction Commissioner Frank Strada said the additional funding is needed to address inflation and maintain pay parity between CoreCivic and state-run facilities. CoreCivic has faced criticism for high staff turnover and inmate death rates, including at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, which is under Department of Justice investigation following a riot this summer. The company has been penalized more than $45 million since 2022 for failing to meet staffing requirements.

Emily Hatch Bowman has been named the new Nashville office managing partner for Bradley, according to a press release from the firm. Bowman assumes the role previously held by Lauren Jacques, who served as office managing partner for the last four years and oversaw the firm’s move to the ONE 22 ONE building in the Gulch in January 2024. Bowman joined Bradley in 2000 and has more than 25 years of experience in real estate finance. Her practice spans the country, serving as lead counsel on a wide range of real estate finance transactions. Of her new role, Bowman says, “We are committed to deepening our relationships with clients, hiring the most talented attorneys from across the city who provide representation in key industries, and continuing to grow our presence in Nashville and nationally.”

The oversight board of Knox County's Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center plans to remain in place for another six months before deciding whether to hand control of the troubled facility to the sheriff’s office. According to Knox News, the board wants more time to respond to a new report from the University of Tennessee's County Technical Advisory Service, which found severe security lapses, outdated practices, poor recordkeeping and even evidence of animals once housed in the building. The report described the facility as “frozen in time,” citing unlicensed operations and excessive overtime costs. While interim leaders work on urgent fixes, county officials are considering long-term options, including a proposal from the McNabb Center to create a “blended model” that integrates mental health treatment for detained youth.

The Nashville Bar Association (NBA) has released the results of a member poll of applicants being considered to fill a vacancy on the Davidson County General Sessions Court. The candidates rated included Jodie Bell, Mark Andrew Cole Sr., Leroy Ellis, David Jones and C. Michael Robinson. The vacancy is due to Judge Jim Todd's appointment to Criminal Court Division III. The association reports that 276 responses were received by the deadline. See the poll results in a release from the NBA. The full Metro Council will vote on the appointment on Nov. 18.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been transferred to Tennessee for a hearing this week on criminal charges stemming from a 2022 traffic stop. A Pennsylvania judge authorized the transfer on Friday. Abrego Garcia is charged with smuggling migrants across the country, to which he has pleaded not guilty. The Tennessee Lookout reports that the multi-day hearing comes after U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw found in October there was a “likelihood” that the Department of Justice (DOJ) indictment against Abrego Garcia was vindictive. Crenshaw also recently warned Trump administration officials of possible sanctions if they continued making inflammatory statements about Abrego Garcia.

A coalition of news organizations is suing Tennessee’s top prisons official and a warden, alleging state execution protocols unconstitutionally limit the media’s access and hamper thorough and accurate reporting. The group, which includes the Nashville Banner, Nashville Public Radio and The Associated Press, argues that media members should be given access to the full execution process. Under current protocols — which went into effect in January — media are allowed to view condemned individuals only after they already are strapped to a gurney and hooked up to IV lines. The group also complains that officials give no indication as to when injections begin. Read more from WPLN.