Petitioner, Kentavis Antwon Jones, appeals the dismissal of his post-conviction petition, arguing that the post-conviction court erroneously dismissed the petition for not being in the proper form without giving him reasonable opportunity to correct the petition with the assistance of counsel. He also argues that he is entitled to equitable tolling due to the negligence of his trial counsel. The State responds that the post-conviction court properly dismissed the petition as untimely and that Petitioner is not entitled to equitable tolling. Following our review of the entire record and the briefs of the parties, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Defendant, Jonathan Hall, pled guilty in two separate cases to one count of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in exchange for dismissal of a related domestic violence charge and an effective eight-year sentence with the trial court to determine the manner of service. The trial court sentenced Defendant to concurrent sentences of confinement, four years for the aggravated assault charge to be served at 100% and eight years for the possession of a firearm charge to be served at 85%. Defendant appeals, arguing that the trial court erred by denying his request for a suspended sentence. Upon our review of the entire record, the briefs of the parties, and the applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

In this case, two Tennessee voters challenge the state House and Senate redistricting maps the General Assembly passed after the 2020 census. Gary Wygant, a Gibson County voter, alleges that the House redistricting map violates Article II, Section 5 of the Tennessee Constitution because it splits more counties than needed to comply with federal law. Francie Hunt, a Davidson County voter, alleges that the Senate redistricting map violates Article II, Section 3 of the Tennessee Constitution because it fails to consecutively number one of the four Senate districts in Davidson County. We hold that Wygant has standing to challenge only the split of Gibson County, not the entire House map. But his challenge fails on the merits: Wygant did not prove—as he must to establish a violation of Article II, Section 5—that the split was unnecessary to comply with federal law and lacked a rational or legitimate basis. We further hold that Hunt lacks standing to challenge the Senate map because she did not suffer an injury in fact from the misnumbering of Davidson County’s Senate districts. We therefore affirm the trial court’s judgment rejecting Wygant’s district- specific challenge on the merits, reverse the judgment concluding that Hunt has standing, and vacate the judgment holding the Senate map unconstitutional.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a Tennessee public employee who claims she was unlawfully fired from her state government job for criticizing Charlie Kirk in a Facebook comment following his assassination. Monica Meeks was dismissed from her role at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance even though her Facebook profile did not link her to the job, ABC 3340 reports. The lawsuit names Tennessee Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance Carter Lawrence and argues that Meeks’ First Amendment rights were violated given that her post did not disrupt government functions. Other state and university employees have reported being terminated for comments about Kirk.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 8 declined to hear an appeal from a Tennessee woman challenging the rejection of her '69PWNDU' personalized plate, The Tennessean reports. Leah Gilliam argued that states’ rules for what is and isn’t allowed on personalized plates are often unclear and can amount to a “dizzying array of censorship.” She had asked the court to rule that her plate expressed her own views, not the government’s. The justices let stand a ruling from Tennessee’s highest court that vanity plates constitute government speech under the Supreme Court’s 2015 Walker precedent. The Tennessee Supreme Court issued its opinion in February, rejecting Gilliam’s First Amendment challenge to the state’s personalized plate program.

Herrin, McPeak, Shepard & Ketchie in Johnson City has announced a new firm name as attorneys Hunter S. Shepard and Rebecca J. Ketchie join K. Erickson Herrin and Samuel K. McPeak as partners, according to a news release. Shepard, a Johnson City native, focuses on local government and law enforcement defense in civil rights litigation, while Ketchie brings experience in local government representation and civil litigation and is a Tennessee Supreme Court listed Rule 31 family law mediator. In addition, Thomas J. Garland and Jeffrey M. Ward will join the firm in January 2026, adding decades of experience in government defense, civil litigation and mediation. Garland has practiced for nearly 40 years and published works on federal discrimination law. Ward, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, is a Rule 31 mediator and member of the Tennessee ADR Commission. The firm said it looks forward to continuing more than 40 years of service to the region.

Charges against former District Attorney Chris Stanford have been dismissed, ending a case stemming from accusations that he fired shots during a police pursuit of a triple-murder suspect, News Channel 5 reports. Stanford was indicted after prosecutors said he improperly intervened in a police pursuit of a triple-murder suspect in Smithville last year and was charged with reckless endangerment. The judge overseeing the case dismissed the charges after Stanford resigned from his post in October. Because he is no longer serving in office, the court found the statutory basis for pursuing the charge no longer applied.

Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Ron Durby died Dec. 9. Durby earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee and practiced with the Legal Aid Society and attorney Clarence Shattuck before being appointed Hamilton County clerk and master in 1986. He went on to serve 18 years as a general sessions court judge. Visitation will be held at Red Bank Baptist Church on Dec. 13, beginning at 11 a.m. EST.  A celebration of life service will follow at 1 p.m. with burial afterward at Hamilton Memorial Gardens. The church is located at 4000 Dayton Blvd., Chattanooga 37415. Read more about his life in this obituary.

Gov. Bill Lee said Tuesday he does not plan to halt the execution of Harold Wayne Nichols, who was convicted in the death of Karen Pulley and is set to die by lethal injection on Thursday. According to Chattanoogan.com, Lee said, “After deliberate consideration of Harold Wayne Nichols’ request for clemency, and a after a thorough review of the case, I am upholding the sentence of the State of Tennessee and do not plan to intervene.” In addition, the Nashville Banner reports that the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has denied two motions by Nichols. He now has been placed on death watch, the Tennessean reports. He was moved from his death row cell to a room next to the execution chamber, where he will be under 24-hour observation. His execution is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Dec. 11.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) and the Belmont College of Law are seeking attorney volunteers for a wills clinic at Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School in Nashville on Jan. 5, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CST. Volunteers will help draft simple wills, durable powers of attorney and health care powers of attorney for teachers using the Gavel platform. Those interested in participating or needing more information should email Ginny Blake at ginny.blake@belmont.edu.