THAPAR, Circuit Judge. Over a decade ago, a new wave of terrorism spread across the Middle East. A group calling itself the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) sought to establish a new regime strictly governed by Islamic law. To do so, ISIS employed brutal tactics—planting bombs, publicly decapitating its enemies, burning people alive, and enslaving women and children. It also launched vicious attacks to conquer territory in Iraq and Syria. And it recruited fighters from around the world to perform these acts of terrorism. Mirsad Ramic was one such fighter. He traveled from the United States to Syria, where he participated in an attack that claimed over 100,000 lives. The United States eventually prosecuted him for providing material support to a terrorist group and receiving military-type training from that group. For those crimes, Ramic faced an advisory sentence of 360 to 600 months’ imprisonment under the Sentencing Guidelines. But the district court sentenced Ramic to only 101 months in prison. Because the district court’s substantial variance is substantively unreasonable, we vacate his sentence and remand for resentencing.

Petitioner, Martin B. Montemayor, pled guilty to second-degree murder and received a life imprisonment sentence without the possibility of parole. Petitioner subsequently sought post-conviction relief on the basis of ineffective assistance of counsel. The post-conviction court in Rutherford County denied relief after a hearing, and Petitioner appealed to this Court. He argues that the post-conviction court erred in dismissing his petition because (1) his guilty plea was not knowing and voluntary; (2) he received ineffective assistance of counsel; and (3) he was incorrectly sentenced as a repeat violent offender. Upon review of the entire record, the briefs of the parties, and the applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

In protracted litigation concerning a dispute over church property, a new chancellor took office several years after a jury verdict, post-trial motions, and an order granting partial summary judgment. The new chancellor set aside the jury verdict and the summary judgment order. We have determined that, under the unique circumstances of this case, the trial court erred in setting aside the jury verdict and in setting aside the order granting partial summary judgment. Therefore, we reverse and remand.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue issued a business tax assessment against a company based on the company’s gross receipts from sales of computer software, cloud hosting, and cloud-based services. The company challenged the assessment by filing a complaint in the chancery court. Both parties filed motions for summary judgment. The court granted summary judgment to the company, finding that the sales of computer software and cloud hosting were not subject to business tax. The court upheld the Tennessee Department of Revenue’s assessment of business tax against the company’s sales of cloud-based services. Lastly, the court found that the company was the prevailing party and awarded the company attorney’s fees pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 67-1-1803(d). The Tennessee Department of Revenue appealed. Discerning that the court erred in its determination that the company’s cloud hosting sales were not subject to business tax, we reverse that portion of the court’s decision. Because this affects the attorney’s fees award, we vacate the award of attorney’s fees and remand for further proceedings. We affirm the trial court in all other respects.

The plaintiff filed this lawsuit in circuit court against the University of Tennessee (at Martin), alleging twelve separate counts relating to the University’s handling of a charitable gift made by the plaintiff. The claims ranged from breach of contract to defamation to infliction of emotional distress, among others. The circuit court granted the University’s motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, concluding that the Tennessee Claims Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over suits against the State for the torts alleged by the plaintiff and any breach of contract claim. The plaintiff appeals. We affirm.

Police are investigating after gunfire was reported outside the Montgomery County Court Complex in Clarksville today. According to the Tennessean, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said the agency and the police department responded to the scene and secured it around 1:45 p.m. CDT. "There is no danger to the public," the sheriff's office wrote in a statement. The case will be investigated.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a First Amendment lawsuit, alleging a “startling pattern” of retaliation and harassment by Memphis Safe Task Force agents against residents in Memphis, the Tennessean reports. The lawsuit focuses on four Memphis residents who allege they were followed, threatened, harassed, “falsely” arrested and rushed with vehicles by task force agents after attempting to photograph or film agents’ activities. The suit also challenges Tennessee’s so-called “Halo” law, which restricts approaching law enforcement officers within 25 feet after being ordered to retreat. The suit argues the law is vague and has been used to suppress constitutionally protected activity. Defendants include federal and state officials connected to the task force. The suit seeks to halt the alleged retaliation and block enforcement of the Halo law. The task force has been operating in Memphis since 2025.

Tennessee lawyers will gather in June for the 2026 TBA Annual Convention. This year's CLE lineup, which will offer 8.5 hours of credit, will include a presentation on using technology to transform the way litigators prepare, organize and present their cases from managing discovery to preparing depositions, presenting evidence and collaborating with co-counsel. Join Tara Cheever with Lit Software for this interactive, demonstration-driven session. Attendees will discover how to streamline workflows, enhance mobility and seamlessly integrate new technology into traditionally Windows-based environments, without disrupting existing systems. The program will take place June 11 from 10:45-11:45 a.m. EDT at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Knoxville. Learn more about the convention and register here. Can’t make the full convention? Day passes for Thursday’s Tech Showcase are available and include access to this CLE session.

The American Bar Association (ABA) Litigation Section’s Children’s Rights Litigation Committee will host “Building Pathways for Children & Youth: A Collaborative Convening” on June 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT at Family & Children’s Service in Nashville. The free event will bring together lawyers, advocates, community leaders and private-sector representatives to discuss ways to better support children and youth through collaboration and community engagement. The program also will include a youth experiential learning lab, collaborative brainstorming sessions and a panel featuring Tennessee leaders with lived experience in youth systems, including representatives from Youth Villages. Lunch will be provided. More information and registration is available through the ABA website.

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian is urging Gov. Bill Lee to allow DNA and fingerprint testing for Tony Carruthers, Action News 5 reports. “Tennessee is about to execute Tony Carruthers without testing DNA and fingerprint evidence that could prove his innocence,” Kardashian said in a post on Instagram, according to the Commercial Appeal. Carruthers was convicted in a 1994 triple murder where three people were found buried in a Memphis graveyard. Advocates say unidentified forensic evidence at the scene could prove his innocence. Carruthers is set to be executed on May 21.