A Grundy County jury convicted the Petitioner, Bobby Joe Patrick, of two counts of rape of a child, and the trial court ordered an effective sentence of sixty-seven years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The Petitioner appealed, and this court affirmed the trial court’s judgments. State v. Patrick, M2019-02026-CCA-R3-CD, 2021 WL 2102914, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App. May 25, 2021), perm. app. denied. (Tenn. Feb. 10, 2022). The Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief, claiming ineffective assistance of counsel. After a hearing, the post-conviction court denied relief. On appeal, the Petitioner maintains that he is entitled to post-conviction relief due to the ineffective assistance of counsel and cumulative error. Following our review of the record, we affirm the post- conviction court’s judgment.

The pro se Petitioner, Anthony Cartwright, appeals the summary dismissal of his petition for writ of habeas corpus. Because the Petitioner’s challenge to the amendment of his indictment does not state a cognizable ground for habeas corpus relief, we affirm the judgment of the habeas corpus court.

Defendant, Ricky Burnette, was convicted by a Knox County jury of theft between $2,500 and $10,000, a Class D felony, and sentenced to twelve years’ incarceration as a career offender. In this direct appeal, he contends: (1) the trial court erred when it determined that his convictions from 1991 were admissible for impeachment purposes; (2) the trial court improperly limited the testimony of a witness concerning an ongoing investigation, (3) the trial court abused its discretion in permitting testimony regarding the contents of a stolen vehicle, (4) the trial court erred in failing to give a curative instruction after a witness referred to Defendant’s “classification,” (5) the trial court improperly bolstered the State’s expert witness by asking a hypothetical question, (6) the trial court improperly sustained an objection to the cross-examination of a State’s witness, (7) the trial court improperly instructed the jury on flight, and (8) the cumulative effect of these alleged errors entitles him to relief. Upon a review of the record, the briefs of the parties, and the applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

A dispute over the construction of a custom home went to arbitration. After the arbitrator found in favor of the builder, the builder applied for confirmation of the arbitration award. The homeowners responded by moving to vacate. The trial court vacated the award and sent the case back to arbitration. In the court’s view, the arbitrator exceeded his powers by deciding the case based on a defense the builder did not raise and by failing to postpone the hearing. Because the homeowners failed to establish a basis to vacate the award under the Uniform Arbitration Act, we reverse.

An inmate at the Shelby County Division of Corrections has died, officials said Wednesday, the Daily Memphian reports. Demarcus Kerr was found unresponsive at the corrections facility near Shelby Farms and taken to Saint Francis Hospital last week. Kerr died on May 10; the cause of death is unknown pending autopsy results. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office will handle the investigation. Several inmate deaths were reported in 2025.

The U.S. Supreme Court paused a 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that would have reinstated an in-person requirement for obtaining mifepristone, keeping mail-order access available while the underlying lawsuit continues. The case stems from Louisiana's challenge to 2023 FDA regulations allowing mifepristone to be prescribed via telehealth and mailed to patients, with the state arguing these rules undermine its abortion ban and lack sufficient safety data. The Hill reports that opponents of the ruling, including Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito in dissent, contend that mailing the drug may violate federal law and that the court is enabling what they view as an improperly regulated distribution scheme. The dispute remains unresolved — the case returns to the 5th Circuit and could reach the high court again — while the FDA conducts its own ongoing safety review of mifepristone's protocols. Read the order.

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, announced Friday that he will not seek reelection in the newly redrawn 9th Congressional District or any other Tennessee congressional district, the Daily Memphian reports. Cohen made the announcement in Washington, D.C., two hours before the noon filing deadline for the new districts. He will leave the U.S. House in January after serving 10 terms over 20 years. Cohen was first elected to Congress in 2006 after an unsuccessful bid for the seat in 1996. Before joining Congress, he served 24 years in the Tennessee Senate following his election in 1982. Rep. Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, announced Tuesday that he will continue his campaign in the 9th District alongside Tennessee Senate Democratic Caucus Chair London Lamar of Memphis and activist DeVante Hill of Bartlett. The Commercial Appeal also reports on the developments.

Dodson Parker Behm & Capparella recently announced that Candi Henry has been named managing partner of the firm, effective July 1. Henry will succeed Tyler Chance Yarbro, who was selected by Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell to serve as the next director of the Metro Department of Law. Henry, who rejoined the firm in January, most recently served as chief legal counsel for the Greater Nashville Regional Council, advising the 13-county governmental entity and its affiliated organizations on a range of public services. She previously spent more than a decade with the firm and began her legal career clerking for Judge William C. Koch Jr. on the Tennessee Court of Appeals and the Tennessee Supreme Court. “Candi typifies the judgment and deep commitment to the community that have defined this firm from its beginning more than 40 years ago,” founding partner Margaret L. Behm said in a press release. As managing partner, Henry will oversee the firm’s day-to-day administration while continuing her litigation and transactional practice.

Tennessee’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.6% in March, even as 93 of the state’s 95 counties reported lower unemployment rates than the previous month, according to data released Thursday by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Williamson County recorded the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.5%. Cheatham, Dickson, Rutherford, Sumner and Wilson counties also ranked among the 10 lowest rates statewide. Davidson County posted a 2.8% unemployment rate, improving from 3.2% in February and narrowly missing the top 10. Tennessee added 12,100 nonfarm jobs in March, with the largest gains in health care and social assistance and accommodation and food services. The state’s unemployment rate remained below the national average of 4.3%.

The window will soon close for Tennesseans to apply for FEMA aid in the wake of the January ice storm. According to WPLN, the federal agency has distributed nearly $24 million among more than 10,000 applicants so far. The money reimburses people for disaster-related expenses, including temporary lodging and home repairs. It can also go toward medical bills and transportation related to storm injuries. This level of assistance was approved by the president in April and is open to people in 29 counties. The deadline is June 10. Learn more by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov.