A week after an explosion killed 16 people at the Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) plant near Bucksnort, families of the victims are taking legal action against the company, claiming it failed to adequately protect their loved ones, NewsChannel 5 reports. The explosion occurred Oct. 10 at the facility in Humphreys and Hickman counties. The lawsuit seeks $3 million in compensatory damages and $9 million in punitive damages from AAC Investments LLC, the parent company of AES. Attorney Lee Coleman said his firm now represents two families and is investigating additional cases involving as many as eight other potential companies that could be added as more evidence becomes available. AES representatives declined to comment on the litigation but said the company is “committed to learning what caused this unprecedented tragedy” and has always been dedicated to “the highest safety standards.” The investigation into the explosion remains ongoing.

Last week, the TBA communications team attended the National Association of Bar Executives’ annual Communications Section Workshop in Boise, Idaho. TBA staff members Stacey Shrader Joslin and Julia Wilburn served on a panel titled “Serving the Whole of Your Membership,” where Wilburn discussed efforts to support rural lawyers and Joslin highlighted TBA programming for members at all stages of their legal careers. Later that afternoon, staff member Azya Thornton moderated a social media roundtable discussion. See photos from the workshop.

Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal on Friday denied a motion for a restraining order in a lawsuit challenging Gov. Bill Lee’s deployment of the Tennessee National Guard to Memphis. Instead, she set a hearing on a temporary injunction for Nov. 3, according to the Commercial Appeal. Several local and state lawmakers filed the suit Friday against Lee and the state attorney general, seeking to immediately halt further National Guard activity. The lawsuit argues that Lee’s deployment violates the Tennessee Constitution and state law, citing a provision that states the militia “shall not be called into service except in case of rebellion or invasion, and then only when the General Assembly shall declare, by law, that the public safety requires it.” Gov. Lee's office defended the deployment saying, “The Tennessee National Guard is the state’s army under Tennessee law. As the commander-in-chief, Gov. Lee has the authority to authorize the Title 32 strategic mission to Memphis. We are confident the court will uphold the Governor’s constitutional authority.” WREG has more on that response.

Federal courts across the country are preparing to furlough some staff and curb operations on Monday amid the ongoing government shutdown. Furlough notices will be handed out on Oct. 20 “and orderly shutdown activities will commence,” Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Director Robert Conrad said in a Thursday memo obtained by Bloomberg Law. Conrad said the judiciary “will have no funding to incur obligations or make payments for most activities” now that additional funds have run out. The U.S. Supreme Court says it will run out of money tomorrow, which means the court building will be closed to the public until further notice. It will remain open for official business, according to The Hill. In related news, thousands of lawyers who represent indigent defendants already have been working for over three months without pay. The judiciary expected to pay lawyers on the Criminal Justice Act panel once it received funds for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, but then the shutdown hit. Bloomberg has more on that story.

Mayor Lee Harris has declared a state of emergency in Shelby County, citing a strain on local resources caused by the increase in federal and state law enforcement deployed to Memphis by Gov. Bill Lee and President Donald Trump, according to the Tennessee Lookout. It notes pressures on the county’s overcrowded detention centers as a result of an estimated 200% increase in daily arrests made by members of the Memphis Safe Task Force. The emergency declaration loosens spending rules to respond to an increase in arrests, detentions and other costs incurred by law enforcement. The local state of emergency will continue “until the end of Memphis Safe Task Force operations or until detention facility populations are reduced to capacity level or below,” the declaration states. In related news, a group of state and local leaders reportedly have sued the state over deployment of the National Guard to Memphis. The group, which includes Harris, are seeking a preliminary injunction to block their involvement, the Daily Memphian reports.

Beginning Nov. 3, the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) will transition from physical mail to scanned, digitized personal mail for inmates at all department facilities. Mail from family and friends will be sent to an off-site facility, where it will be processed, scanned and delivered in digital format to inmates via their department-issued tablets. The new process aims to reduce contraband and increase security while providing faster, more reliable mail delivery to inmates, the Tennessee Tribune reports. Privileged mail from attorneys, court clerks, legal aid clinics, government officials or agencies will not be affected and will continue to be sent directly to the facility where the inmate is housed. Privileged mail sent to the scanning facility will be forwarded, and outgoing inmate mail will not be affected. TDOC implemented a pilot program of the new system in June at three facilities.

Five people have been nominated to fill the vacancy on the Davidson County General Sessions Court left by Judge Jim Todd, who recently was appointed to a seat on the Davidson County Criminal Court to replace Cheryl Blackburn. The nominees are: defense attorney Jodie Bell, former state lawyer Mark Andrew Cole Sr., Leroy Ellis, Davidson County District Attorney General Office attorney David Jones, and lawyer C. Michael Robinson. They now have three days to file their completed questionnaire with the metro clerk. Candidates will appear before the Metro Council’s Rules, Confirmations and Public Elections Committee on Nov. 14. The full Metro Council will vote on the appointment on Nov. 18. Read more about them from the Nashville Banner.

The 2026 law school admissions cycle just began and data from the Law School Admission Council indicates the pool of applicants is 33% larger than it was at this time last year. According to Reuters, experts attribute the increase to the political climate and a tough job market for new college graduates. The current increase comes on top of last year’s boom, when the cycle started with a 26% jump in applicants before ending in an 18% increase — with 12,000 more people seeking a seat in law school.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met in Nashville on Oct. 15 to select nominees for a vacancy in the 20th Judicial District’s Third Circuit Court. After holding a public hearing and conducting public interviews, the commission selected the following nominees to forward to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration: Bethany P. Glandorf, Morgan E. Smith and John R. Wilks. Read about the nominees on the Administrative Office of the Courts’ website. The lawyer chosen by the governor will fill a vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Phillip R. Robinson on Oct. 17.

Due to the resignation of Christopher R. Stanford, district attorney general for the 31st Judicial District, Gov. Bill Lee’s office is accepting applications to fill the position until the next biennial election in August 2026. Applicants must have been a resident of the state for five years and a resident of the district — which covers Van Buren and Warren counties — for one year. To be considered, attorneys should submit a resume and cover letter to Chief Counsel to the Governor Erin Merrick by 5 p.m. CDT on Oct. 27 by emailing her assistant Katelin Brown. Read more in the official notice.