The U.S. Supreme Court has added a case to its docket regarding the scope of the federal Video Protection Act. On Jan. 26, the court granted certiorari in Salazar v. Paramount Global, a case originating in Tennessee. The decision has the potential to limit class action lawsuits against websites that share their customers’ video viewing habits with third parties. The outcome will turn on the definition of who qualifies as a “consumer” for purposes of the act, according to legal observers. Learn more about the case from JD Supra or read the decision from the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Davidson County Juvenile Court Clerk Lonnell Matthews Jr. deals with young people who most consider “troubled.” His own life was profoundly changed by violence when his younger brother was shot and killed in a drug deal gone bad. As such, a keen understanding of the fine line that separates the “troubled” from others shapes his approach to the job. Matthews was recently named co-chair of a new Community Safety Task Force, which brings together leaders and community members from across the city of Nashville and gives him a different avenue to pursue the work that has shaped his adult life. Learn more about his plans for the role in this interview with the Nashville Banner.

Legislation to increase bankruptcy fees and extend the terms of temporary bankruptcy judges has been signed into law, Bloomberg Law reports. The Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act of 2025 was signed by President Donald Trump on Feb. 6. It increases compensation for Chapter 7 trustees in no-asset bankruptcies for the first time since 1994. The rate will raise from $60 to $120 per case. The law also extends the terms for some temporary bankruptcy judges from five years to 10 years. The bill, S. 3424, cleared the U.S. House in a voice vote last month and passed the U.S. Senate in December.

The Defendant, Camry Chrishay Veazey, was convicted by a Davidson County Criminal Court jury of aggravated assault, a Class C felony, and reckless endangerment, a Class A misdemeanor. See T.C.A. §§ 39-13-102 (Supp. 2021) (subsequently amended) (aggravated assault), 39-13-103 (2025) (reckless endangerment). The trial court merged the convictions and imposed a three-year sentence, to be served on probation. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient to support her convictions and that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting evidence of a firearm found in the Defendant’s car one month after she shot the victim. We affirm the judgments of the trial court.

This consolidated appeal is before this court on the Petitioner, Jason Lee Fisher’s, application for permission to appeal the Marshall County Circuit Court’s denial of his petition for a writ of error coram nobis and the denial of his motion to reopen post- conviction proceedings. The Petitioner argues that the circuit court1 erred in denying both his petition for a writ of error coram nobis and his motion to reopen post-conviction proceedings based upon a claim of juror bias during his trial. He also raises constitutional challenges to the error coram nobis and motion to reopen post-conviction statutes. Finally, he contends that the circuit court erred by finding that he failed to establish prejudice on his juror bias claim. Discerning no error, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court denying the petition for a writ of error coram nobis, and we deny the Petitioner’s application for permission to appeal the denial of his motion to reopen post-conviction proceedings.

A plaintiff sued his son and daughter-in-law over, among other things, a warranty deed to disputed real property. The plaintiff later filed an amended complaint alleging several claims against the daughter-in-law’s attorney. The attorney filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that the litigation privilege bars the plaintiff’s claims against her. The trial court granted the motion to dismiss, and the plaintiff appeals to this Court. Discerning no error, we affirm.

The state Senate Judiciary Committee approved two of Gov. Bill Lee's recent judicial nominations: Kyle Hixson of Knoxville to replace retiring Justice Holly Kirby on the Tennessee Supreme Court and Madison County Chancellor Steven Maroney to replace Judge Kenny Armstrong on the Tennessee Court of Appeals, according to a TBA representative who attended the meeting. The nominations still must be considered by the full Senate and House. The meeting also included a budget review for the Administrative Office of the Courts and the state Attorney General's Office. In related news, Lee’s choice for another open position on the Court of Appeals has withdrawn from consideration. The Tennessee Journal reports that Rachel Park Hurt, who would have replaced retiring Judge D. Michael Swiney, withdrew after Republican legislators raised questions about her past support of Democratic political candidates. Hurt, a partner with the Knoxville law firm of Arnett, Baker, Draper and Hagood and president of the Knoxville Bar Association, was nominated by Lee on Jan. 22. The committee did not consider her nomination.

Robert William “Bob” Godwin died Jan. 26 at the age of 84. A graduate of the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law, Godwin joined the JAG Corps and later practiced law for 55 years in Fountain City. He referred to himself as “a simple country lawyer.” A celebration of life was held Feb. 7 at Hexagon Brewing. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Young Williams Animal Center, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, the ACLU or National Immigrant Legal Service.

The Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) will host its second annual Student Public Interest Fellowship (SPIF) Auction on March 26 at 5 p.m. EDT. The event raises funds to support students who take summer internships at public defender and district attorney offices and legal aid organizations. Live and silent auctions will be held and Bridgett McMahan, president of the LMU Law Alumni Association, will serve as the evening’s speaker. McMahan is the president of Broadway Electric Service Company (BESCO) and Engert LLC. Read more about the event in Knox TN Today.

All four law firms fighting President Donald Trump’s executive orders will make their arguments against the directives on the same day now that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has consolidated the cases, Bloomberg Law reports. The firms — Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale and Susman Godfrey — did win their request to file separate response briefs. They argued they needed to make separate arguments because their cases involve different facts and laws. The firms will brief the court from March 6 to April 10 prior to making oral arguments. All four won injunctions against the orders last year. The U.S. Justice Department is appealing those decisions.