A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by state Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, that alleged Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and other legislative leaders violated his First and 14th Amendment rights, WSMV reports. The lawsuit centered on Jones’ expulsion, reinstatement and treatment as a lawmaker after he and two other representatives joined gun reform protests on the House floor following the Covenant School shooting in Nashville. The group, known as “The Tennessee Three,” drew national attention as lawmakers debated whether their actions were protected speech or disruptive conduct. In a 52-page opinion filed last week, U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson dismissed the case in its entirety, ruling that Jones lacked standing. The decision follows multiple motions to dismiss filed by Sexton and the other defendants.

Federal attorneys representing a Tennessee death row inmate are suing the state for allegedly denying them access to execution records. Federal Defender Services of Eastern Tennessee, which represents Harold Wayne Nichols, filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Knox County Chancery Court against the Tennessee Department of Correction, WSMV reports. The attorneys argue that a state secrecy statute prevents the release of records that normally would be public, including information about lethal injection drugs, testing and execution procedures. The lawsuit claims the department has repeatedly denied requests for nonconfidential data related to past executions, including those of Oscar Smith and Byron Black. Witnesses at Black’s execution reported that he appeared to be in distress. Nichols, who was convicted of the 1988 rape and murder of a woman in Chattanooga, must choose his method of execution by Nov. 11, but his attorneys say he cannot make an informed decision without access to the records. He is scheduled to be executed on Dec. 11.

A University of Memphis law student won a lawsuit against the City of Memphis on Monday, Action News 5 reports. Tyler Foster filed the lawsuit in July alleging violations of the Tennessee Public Records Act (TRPA )after the city delayed his requests for police disciplinary records through what he said were inflated fees, inconsistent policies and a sustained pattern of noncompliance. City attorneys argued the lawsuit was moot and said the delay was due to a high volume of open records requests and internal confusion. Shelby County Chancellor Melanie Taylor Jefferson sided with Foster and ordered the city to provide all requested records, reimburse his court costs and comply with an injunction prohibiting future violations of the state’s public records law.

It’s open enrollment season for TBA’s group health insurance plan and one law firm administrator is touting the benefits of the plan for lawyers in his office. Cornelius & Collins Firm Administrator Mark E. McMickle says, “If you are in the market for group health insurance, I highly recommend evaluating plans offered by TBA Member Insurance Solutions. We found their plans significantly more affordable in another year of sharply increasing health insurance premiums. Our experience dealing with TBA Member Insurance Solutions has always been exemplary. They provide answers and direction in an otherwise complicated regulatory area. Over the years as a law firm administrator, I have had the pleasure of assisting two firms with making the move to the TBA. Time and money matter, and we saved both by making the move to TBA Member Insurance Solutions. Learn more about the plans offered and get a quote today. Apply by Dec. 5 for coverage starting Jan. 1, 2026.

A $1 million pledge to the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law recently was made on behalf of Chattanooga law firm Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers. The gift will support scholarships for students interested in pursuing legal careers in advocacy, as well as the Douglas A. Blaze Leadership and John K. Morgan scholarships. “Winston Law deeply appreciates the continued support of Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers,” said Dean Lonnie T. Brown Jr. “The firm’s significant investment in our students and programs helps ensure that our advocacy tradition remains strong and continues to prepare future litigators for successful and fulfilling careers with our signature commitment to serving the public good.” Read more in a release.

Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert plans to appeal a ruling that allows ouster proceedings against her to resume, the Commercial Appeal reports. The announcement came a day after the Tennessee Court of Appeals reinstated the case against her, reversing a Shelby County Circuit Court judge's ruling that the case be dismissed for a lack of standing. The issue centers on whether the outside counsel bringing the case on behalf of the Shelby County Attorney's Office has standing to sue. Halbert, who is term-limited and cannot run for reelection, has faced a range of complaints during her time in office, including a previous ouster attempt that ultimately was dismissed.

Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti this week announced a $1 million 33-state settlement with online clothing retailer TFG Holding Inc., which operates JustFab, ShoeDazzle and FabKids. The settlement resolves allegations that the company deceived consumers about its VIP Membership Program and made cancellations and refunds unreasonably difficult. Of the total amount to be paid, $110,781.35 will go automatically to affected Tennessee consumers. Others who wish to seek refunds may do so by submitting a written complaint to TFGHoldingResolutions@jfbrands.com by Jan. 30, 2026. Consumers may also file a complaint with the attorney general’s office.

Tennesseans who took advantage of the extra time provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to file their 2024 tax returns are now running out of time, the Nashville Banner reports. The deadline to file is 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 3. On April 14, the IRS offered relief to any area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which included all 95 Tennessee counties after storms on April 2 produced widespread tornadoes and flooding. The extension applies to individual tax returns normally due on April 15, quarterly estimated tax payments normally due in April, June and September, and more. Those who suffered uninsured or unreimbursed losses also have the option to claim the losses on their 2024 or 2025 tax returns.

An electrocardiogram monitoring Tennessee inmate Byron Black’s heart showed “sustained cardiac activity” for nearly two minutes after he was pronounced dead from a lethal injection, the Associated Press reports. The comments by his attorney, federal Public Defender Kelley Henry, came in a filing requesting that attorneys for Black and other death row inmates be allowed to depose key people who carry out executions as part of a lawsuit challenging the state’s lethal injection protocol. The state opposes making those individuals available for depositions, arguing it will risk the identities of the execution team. Instead, the state proposed that officials with the Tennessee Department of Correction testify.

Judge Kenny Armstrong, one of three Black judges among Tennessee’s 24 intermediate appellate judges, will retire from the Court of Appeals in February. The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is accepting applications for his seat through Nov. 5. A Tipton County native and Duke Law graduate, Armstrong previously served in the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps, as a federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C. and as clerk and master of the Shelby County Chancery Court before his 2014 appointment to the appellate bench, The Tennessee Journal reports. Armstrong dissented in a 2-1 decision in June that upheld a state law cutting the size of the Nashville Metro Council in half. He argued that the article in the Tennessee Constitution establishing that county commissions can have no more than 25 members specifically does not apply to merged city-county governments like the one in Nashville, which has 40 members.