Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) will hold its annual Pro Bono Celebration at the Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City on Sept. 26 at 11:30 a.m. EDT. The event will feature inspiring stories, recognition of pro bono heroes and remarks from Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Mary Wagner. The court also will recognize the current Attorneys for Justice at the event. Purchase tickets to attend on the LAET website.

Former U.S. Rep. Mark Green is joining with New Orleans attorney and lobbyist Marc Hebert to launch a business venture, the Nashville Banner reports. Business filings in Florida show that Green and Hebert have started Prosimos to help American businesses launch ventures overseas with the goal of thwarting Chinese businesses. Talking about the new role, Green said, “We’re in a battle for alliances globally and if we want to win those alliances, we should have foreign governments become addicted to American businesses. And the battle is very clear. It’s between us and China. … If an American company doesn’t do it, a Chinese company will.” Green left Congress in July. Early voting in the race to succeed him began this week.

Tennessee Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti joined the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a bipartisan coalition of six other state attorneys general today in a lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent entity, Live Nation Entertainment. The suit alleges the companies engage in a ticket scalping scheme that locks out fans and drives up prices. The suit cites violations of the federal Better Online Ticket Sales Act (BOTS Act) and the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. The coalition is seeking injunctive relief to stop the alleged practices and monetary relief to compensate harmed consumers. Read more in a press release from the AG’s office.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Sept. 16 issued an order soliciting comments from the legal community and the public on seven questions related to regulation of the legal profession. The court said the goal of the effort is to lower barriers to entry into the profession and ensure availability of affordable legal services in the state while ensuring the competency of attorneys and safeguarding the public. Comments should address whether the court should (1) modify, reduce or eliminate reliance on American Bar Association (ABA) accreditation in setting minimum educational requirements for lawyers; (2) consider alternatives to ABA accreditation; (3) consider adopting alternative pathways for admission to the bar; (4) consider modifying requirements for admission for those licensed in other states; and (5) modify, reduce or eliminate regulations prohibiting non-lawyer ownership of law firms or fee sharing with non-lawyers. Feedback also is sought on whether there are less costly alternatives to the traditional three-year law school curriculum and whether any legal services currently provided by lawyers could be competently provided by paraprofessionals. Comments should include docket No. ADM2025-01403 and be submitted by March 16, 2026, to Clerk James Hivner, Re: Regulatory Reform, 100 Supreme Court Building, 401 7th Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37219 or by email to appellatecourtclerk@tncourts.gov.

Representatives of the TBA were at Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) today to talk to students about membership in the association. Knoxville attorney and YLD District Representative Mari Jasa was in attendance to answer any questions students had about entering the legal profession and getting involved with the TBA while in law school. LMU Law students Jillian McGauley and Charlie Pritchett, who were members of the YLD's inaugural Rural Judicial Fellowship program, also were on hand to share their experiences. Students also were encouraged to apply for the award-winning DLI program. The 2026 class application is available and due on Nov. 2. See photos from the day.

The TBA is now accepting applications for its award-winning Public Service Academy, a nonpartisan, statewide effort to encourage attorneys to run for office and take on public service leadership roles in their communities. Those selected for the academy will take part in the program Nov. 14-15 in Nashville. The program will feature top political and campaign experts who will provide attorneys with the tools they need to run for local public offices such as school board, city council and county commission. Applications are due by Oct. 6. Access the application form here.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has a list of current volunteer legal internship vacancies. Although the department is currently under a hiring freeze, pursuant to limited exemptions, these positions are open and can be filled. Individuals can receive email updates of newly posted vacancies by signing up on the DOJ website. Learn more about legal careers with the department.

LARSEN, Circuit Judge. Miguel Angel Guzman-Torralva was ordered removed from the country in absentia. For the second time, he seeks to reopen the proceedings. Because he still doesn’t meet the requirements for reopening, we DENY his petition in part. And because we lack jurisdiction over one of his claims, we DISMISS his petition in part.

JULIA SMITH GIBBONS, Circuit Judge. Defendant Deputy Justin Due received a 911 dispatch call, reporting a domestic dispute at Plaintiff Michael Hoover’s house. The 911 caller stated that Hoover had threatened her with a gun. When Due arrived at the scene, a woman approached him and said that Hoover had “gone crazy” and “there he is at the door,” referring to Hoover standing in the garage doorway. As Due neared the garage, a second woman walked out into the driveway, recording the event on her phone, while a third woman stood inside the garage, tending to a small child. Due ordered Hoover to show him his hands. Although Hoover raised his hands, Due took out his gun and walked into the garage. When Hoover refused to be handcuffed, Due pushed Hoover back into his house, slammed him against a wall, and punched him in the face. Due continued to shove Hoover until one of the women at the scene told Due that Hoover had never threatened anyone with a gun. Hoover filed this suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that Due violated his Fourth Amendment rights when he unlawfully entered his home and used excessive force against him. The district court denied summary judgment to Due on both claims. Due appeals, arguing that he is entitled to qualified immunity. Because a reasonable juror could conclude that Due’s warrantless entry into Hoover’s home was unlawful, and that his use of force to effectuate that entry was unreasonable, we affirm.