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Posted by: Azya Thornton on Dec 12, 2025

MURPHY, Circuit Judge. This case’s tragic facts took place during Joseph Hehrer’s detention at a county jail. After Hehrer showed signs of illness (including vomiting), medical staff repeatedly evaluated him. Yet they failed to uncover that he suffered from a previously undiagnosed condition: diabetes. Four days after Hehrer’s first request for medical care, his health worsened. Paramedics rushed him to a hospital, and he died days later. Hehrer’s estate brought federal claims against the county and its officials and state-law claims against the medical provider and its personnel. As relevant now, the estate asserted that several corrections officers acted with deliberate indifference to Hehrer’s medical needs and that the county failed to adequately train them. But we agree with the district court that the officers reasonably deferred to the medical professionals. The court thus correctly granted summary judgment to the county and its officials and reasonably refused to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the state-law claims. We affirm.

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Dec 12, 2025

The Defendant, Kristopher Pappas, was convicted after trial by jury of aggravated assault by causing serious bodily injury, as a lesser-included offense of attempted second degree murder, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. The trial court denied his request for judicial diversion and entered judgments for a total effective sentence of five years’ incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the Defendant claims that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions because he acted in self-defense and that the trial court erred in denying judicial diversion. We ordered supplemental briefing to address whether the trial court erred by instructing the jury that aggravated assault is a lesser-included offense of attempted second degree murder. Following our review, we reverse the Defendant’s conviction for aggravated assault and remand for a new trial on the lesser included offense of attempted voluntary manslaughter for that count. We affirm the judgment of conviction for reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon and the denial of judicial diversion as to the remaining count.

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Dec 12, 2025

The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday it will not pursue criminal charges against General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer following an October dispute with Shelby County sheriff’s deputies. Deputies and Sawyer clashed verbally over whether her private security guard could carry a firearm inside the D’Army Bailey Shelby County Courthouse, according to the Daily Memphian. Video of the encounter circulated on social media, prompting calls for Sawyer’s resignation from Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Eads, and other Memphis leaders. Taylor alleged Sawyer tried to facilitate bringing a gun into the courthouse, while Sawyer said her security guard had previously been allowed inside with a permitted weapon. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office conducted its own review before referring the matter to District Attorney General Steve Mulroy. “There is simply no evidence that Clerk Sawyer solicited, aided or directed her security guard to bypass courthouse security,” the DA’s office said in a statement.

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Dec 12, 2025

Tennessee death row inmate Harold Wayne Nichols was executed by lethal injection Dec. 11 at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, The Tennessean reports. Nichols was pronounced dead at 10:39 a.m. CST. He had been on death row for 35 years and was sentenced to death for the beating and rape of 20-year-old Karen Pulley in Chattanooga. Gov. Bill Lee said Tuesday he would not halt the execution after Nichols requested clemency. The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals also denied two of Nichols’ motions. The state executed Oscar Smith in May and Byron Black in October. In March, nine men on death row, including Smith and Black, filed a lawsuit challenging the use of pentobarbital in Tennessee’s new lethal injection protocol citing the "risk of tortuous death."

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Dec 12, 2025

Virginia and Tennessee will begin restricting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases of sugary drinks in 2026. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, joined by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced the approval of six new state SNAP food-choice waivers under the Make America Healthy Again initiative, WCYB reports. Hawai'i, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee submitted waivers that will amend the statutory definition of “food for purchase” beginning in 2026. In Tennessee, the restrictions will include processed foods and beverages such as soda, energy drinks and candy. “The Trump administration’s leadership to create innovative, responsible solutions that strengthen families and improve health outcomes will have a lasting impact on Tennesseans for generations to come,” Gov. Bill Lee said.

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Dec 12, 2025

The confirmation vote for former Nashville auto executive Lee Beaman to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) board has been delayed, the Tennessee Lookout reports. The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works planned to advance Beaman’s nomination but removed it from the agenda on Wednesday after questions arose about his Washington, D.C. properties and his ties to Tennessee Republican Rep. Andy Ogles. Beaman told senators he purchased two D.C.-area rowhouses through Crockett Ventures and leased them to the nonprofit Ambassador Services International for $1 per year. The nonprofit is run by Beaman's pastor, Steve Berger. Several lawmakers are believed to be living in the properties, and Democratic senators voiced concerns of a potential conflict of interest for Beaman. Beaman told the committee he has no control over the nonprofit or its subleases, and is not involved in the organization's operations. Beaman briefly served as Ogles’ campaign treasurer in 2022.

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Dec 12, 2025

Tennessee’s unemployment rate remained at 3.6% in September, according to the state's Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The release of the data was delayed because the federal government shutdown affected the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state’s seasonally adjusted rate was unchanged from August, while the U.S. rate was 4.4%, eight-tenths of a point higher than Tennessee’s. Total nonfarm employment increased by 3,400 jobs over the month, led by gains in accommodation and food services, durable goods manufacturing and government.

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Dec 12, 2025

The TBA will host “Justice Outside the Courtroom: Evaluating Arbitration in Family Law Disputes” on Dec. 18 from 11 a.m. to noon CST, a webcast examining whether the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act offers sufficient protections for families navigating divorce, parenting issues and other domestic matters. The program will explore gaps in confidentiality rules, child-centered standards, judicial review and enforceability, while comparing practices in states with specialized family arbitration statutes. Speakers include Rebecca Ketchie, Amy Amundsen, Chancellor Kasey Culbreath, Leslie Gattas, Professor Becky Jacobs and Carolyn Zack. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.

Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Dec 12, 2025

The TBA's Year End CLE Event includes a Mediation Package featuring seven total credit hours, including three dual and four general, with programs covering mediation ethics, dispute resolution updates, family law consultations, divorce and tax issues and more. The package includes courses such as “Mediation Ethics – The Ethics of Rule 31,” “The Art of the Family Law Consultation” and “Divorce & Taxes,” with registrants seeking CME credit able to self-submit through the AOC’s ADR Portal using their proof of completion. Check out the specific courses included on the TBA website. Looking for something else? TBA also has six, eight, 10, 12 and 15-hour packages based on specific topics or practice areas, live webcasts and on-demand video all month long. Explore all the Year End options to complete your CLE requirement by Dec. 31.

Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Dec 12, 2025

The TBA has announced that open enrollment for its group health insurance has been extended to Dec. 15. Due to strong enrollment, member interest and requests for additional time to review coverage options, TBA Member Insurance Solutions has negotiated a one-time extension. After Dec. 15, enrollment will be closed until Fall 2026. The plan, offered through BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, is available exclusively to TBA members and offers guaranteed issue coverage with no health questions or pre-existing condition exclusions. For rates, plan details and enrollment information, visit the TBA website.


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