In the October episode of BarBuzz, TBA celebrates Pro Bono Month in Tennessee by highlighting the attorneys and organizations keeping the spirit of service alive year-round. The episode features Cristina Arce de Bagaglio, director of the Pro Se Parents' Clinic at the Community Legal Center; Michele Johnson, executive director of the Tennessee Justice Center; and Nicole Grida, chief executive officer of Memphis Area Legal Services. They share stories from the front lines of providing access to justice, and offer practical ways lawyers across the state can make a difference through pro bono work. Missed a past episode? Check them all out in the BarBuzz archive.

The Knoxville Bar Foundation inducted 12 new fellows this week. They are: Hon. G. Keith Alley, Melissa B. Carrasco, Hon. Tyler M. Caviness, Hon. Katherine A. Crytzer, Tammy Kaousias, Christina F. Magrans-Tillery, Stacie D. Miller, James P. Moneyhun Jr., Alicia J. Teubert, Kate E. Tucker, Shannon F. van Tol and Carlos A. Yunsan. Each year, the foundation selects fellows who have distinguished themselves in the practice of law and in service. Its membership represents less than one percent of the lawyers practicing in the Knoxville community. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded nearly $600,000 in grants to fund the delivery of legal services. Read more in a release and see a photo of the group.

Tennessee consumers who were sent but did not cash restitution checks last year from the LA Investors settlement now can claim funds through the state's unclaimed property program, according to the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office. The office began distributing restitution in December 2024 to consumers who responded to deceptive mailers from a company called LA Investors doing business as “Local Records Office.” The company offered consumers a copy of the deed to their home for $89 even though consumers can get copies from their county Register of Deeds for cents per page. The state sued the company in 2017. Checks for a partial refund were sent to nearly 4,000 consumers. Any checks not cashed expired in May. The funds now have been sent to the Tennessee Department of the Treasury’s Unclaimed Property Office. Read more in a press release.

Tennessee had the highest rate of opioid use disorders last year, Axios Nashville reports. The opioid epidemic has plagued the state for years, but new data from FAIR Health’s Opioid Tracker shows that the challenge only continues. According to the data, Tennessee’s diagnosis rate has skyrocketed since 2021. Last year, the rate reached 1,447 people diagnosed out of every 100,000, nearly triple the national figure. The news comes as the state undertakes opioid prevention efforts funded by lawsuit settlements with drug manufacturers, pharmacies and other parties found culpable in the crisis.

Columbia University's Knight First Amendment Institute has sued the U.S. government to obtain records about deals President Donald Trump made with nine large U.S. law firms earlier this year. According to Reuters, the institute says the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Justice Department have denied "or constructively denied" its requests under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for records of the agreements and any communication the firms have had with the government. The FOIA request covers communications with A&O Shearman, Cadwalader, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Milbank, Paul Weiss, Simpson Thacher, Skadden Arps and Willkie Farr. The institute is a nonprofit affiliated with Columbia University that defends press freedoms and free speech.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee today announced the launch of FeedTN.org, a platform that will connect Tennesseans with resources and opportunities to serve during the federal government shutdown. The platform is designed to respond to warnings from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that there will be insufficient funding to cover November’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits if the shutdown continues. The governor also said his Faith Based and Community Initiative (GFBCI) is working with a coalition of more than 300 non-profit and faith community leaders to identify needs, share information and mobilize rapid response across the state. Read more in a press release from the governor’s office.

Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal has ruled that a lawsuit filed by a number of Tennessee elected officials challenging deployment of the National Guard to Memphis will not be fast-tracked, the Commercial Appeal reports. The order came in response to three motions filed by Gov. Bill Lee, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and Major General Warner A. Ross III. The motions sought to expedite certain proceedings in the case while delaying a hearing on a temporary injunction. All motions were denied, with Moskal saying the “significance of the issues raised in this matter” requires more time for the parties to fully argue their positions. However, she did rule that if all parties agree on a rescheduled date for the injunction hearing, she would honor that request.

A Tennessee judge is again playing a key role in the legal battle over Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who is awaiting prosecution and possible deportation. A new order from federal District Court Judge Waverly Crenshaw warns of possible sanctions against Trump administration officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, if they continue to make inflammatory statements about the defendant. WPLN reports that Crenshaw wrote: “Government employees have made extrajudicial statements that are troubling, especially where many of them are exaggerated if not simply inaccurate.” These include statements about the “character, credibility, reputation or criminal record of a party” and “any opinion as to the accused’s guilt or innocence.”

The Tennessee Education Association (TEA) is pushing for changes to the state’s K-12 education system. According to Fox 17, TEA’s new proposal, "Reimagining Tennessee’s Public Schools for the Future," compiles ideas from educators across the state and calls for a residency-first licensure model and more flexible school calendars with the goal of enhancing teaching and learning. Survey results show 81% of educators feel too much time is spent on mandatory assessments while 83% believe the results are not used properly. TEA is urging Gov. Bill Lee and state policymakers to adopt the recommendations to create what they say would be a more innovative and engaging education system.

The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) has launched a new, statewide portal for volunteer opportunities in partnership with Paladin, a leading pro bono management platform. The TBA Pro Bono Portal will play a crucial role in TBA’s work engaging Tennessee attorneys in pro bono and public interest opportunities by centralizing events, cases and training resources in one place. Using the portal, the TBA will work with over 15 legal aid providers across the state as well as its own Young Lawyers Division and other bar leadership groups to aggregate pro bono opportunities in a real-time, statewide database the legal community can access for free. “The TBA is proud to be part of the collaborative efforts working for quality, accessible legal services for all in our state. Paladin is the perfect tool to remove barriers that keep lawyers from volunteering. It will amplify clinics, individual cases and other opportunities for TBA members and the larger legal community,” said TBA President and Knoxville lawyer Heidi Barcus. She also thanked World Within for funding the first year of the portal. Read more about how the portal will work in a press release from the TBA or sign up for a free CLE on Nov. 5 to learn how to use the portal.

In related news, the TBA Access to Justice (ATJ) Committee recently sponsored a strategic action summit to engage bar leaders in identifying concrete ways the legal community can support legal service organizations in Tennessee. The event, hosted at Butler Snow's Nashville office, brought together leaders from key law firms, corporate legal departments and other stakeholders from across the state. Participants discussed practical ways to provide direct, meaningful pro bono assistance to organizations on the front lines of delivering legal aid to low-income and vulnerable Tennesseans. The summit, as well as ongoing ATJ Committee initiatives, will help craft TBA’s strategy for engaging Tennessee attorneys in pro bono and public interest opportunities. See photos from the day.