Petitioner, Waynard Q. Winbush, appeals the dismissal of his pro se petition for writ of habeas corpus. After a thorough review of the record and applicable authorities, we affirm the judgment of the habeas corpus court.

Tennessee’s state legislature reconvened today for what likely will be a three-day special session, the Nashville Banner reports. The session — convened after the U.S. Supreme Court found that racial gerrymandering in Louisiana was unconstitutional — will focus on redrawing the state’s congressional map, including the state’s last Democrat-controlled district in Memphis. Gov. Bill Lee, who called the session, said, “We owe it to Tennesseans to ensure our congressional districts accurately reflect the will of Tennessee voters.”

Yesterday, six bills were filed. Most are placeholders that do not include full bill language. Details should emerge tomorrow during the committee process. One bill, HB7006/SB7006, introduced by House Minority Leader Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, does contain a specific redistricting plan. Today, the House and Senate set the stage for the session with floor action according to the Tennessean and WREG. At a press conference last night, Democrats said they plan to lay “the foundation for legal challenges” to delay or overturn any Republican changes, the Nashville Scene reports.

Tomorrow, the House will reconvene at 9 a.m. with action planned in three committees: the Congressional Redistricting Committee will meet at 11 a.m. followed immediately by the Finance, Ways & Means Committee and then the Calendar & Rules Committee. The Senate will reconvene at 8:30 a.m. Committee meetings scheduled in that chamber include the State & Local Government Committee at 9:30 a.m., Judiciary Committee at 11 a.m. and Finance, Ways & Means Committee at 2 p.m. All times central.

Retired Colonel Karen Victoria Fair of Alcoa died April 6 at age 62. Fair graduated with honors from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point University in 1985 and immediately began her Army career. She was a decorated veteran with over 25 years of leadership, including service as general counsel for Commanding General First Armored Division in Wiesbaden, Germany, and strategist and later division chief to the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. She served as a deputy general counsel in Iraq during “Operation Iraqi Freedom.” She was appointed by the Pentagon as litigation manager and led a team that successfully prosecuted soldiers for the human rights violations in the highly publicized Abu Ghraib scandal. Fair graduated on the Commandant’s List as a top scholar in international and operational law from The Judge Advocate General’s Legal School at the University of Virginia Law School, and she received the James L. Powers Award for Highest Excellence in Trial Advocacy while completing her law degree at the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law. Services were held April 15.

In a statement issued on May 1, Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall asserted that Metro Nashville is exempt from newly passed legislation HB2219/SB2223, which requires sheriffs' offices to enter into agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) known as 287(g) partnerships. The Tennessean reports that Hall said the bill only pertains to sheriffs certified by the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, a categorization that does not involve Metro Nashville-Davidson County. In related news, U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, and Lindsay Graham, R-South Carolina, last week introduced the 287(g) Expansion Act to provide financial incentives for local governments to participate in the program, which allows ICE to partner with state and local law enforcement to identify and remove individuals in the country without legal status.

Save the date for this year's Elder Law Forum, the premier event for Tennessee senior-centric lawyers. Join speakers Amy Bryant, Barbara Moss, Beverly Sharpe and Jon Toy on July 17 at the Nashville School of Law for sessions on conservatorships, fraud concerns, guardians ad litem, special needs trusts, ethics and more. For more information and to register, visit the TBA's website.

TBA members should have received printed membership renewal statements by now, but for those who would prefer to renew online, the web-based portal remains open. Be sure to log into your TBA account and go to the MyTBA dashboard to get started. TBA members receive the daily TBA Today newsletter, bi-monthly Tennessee Bar Journal, three free hours of CLE, resources for starting and building a new firm, a free legal research tool, savings on a range of products and services and more!

West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS) is in urgent need of volunteer attorneys to take on conservatorship cases for low-income clients across the region. There are currently a number of cases awaiting representation. Volunteer lawyers can make a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable Tennesseans who have no other avenue for legal assistance. Cases are available to fit a variety of schedules and preferences — some require in-person appearances in Memphis, while others can be handled entirely virtually, making it easy to give back. Experienced probate attorneys or those willing to learn are welcome to volunteer. WTLS will provide the support and resources needed to succeed. To take a case or learn more visit the TBA Pro Bono Portal and select the "Guardianship & Juvenile" section.

Greeneville attorney Curt Collins has been appointed Greene County Juvenile Court magistrate by Greene County General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge Kenneth Bailey, replacing David Leonard, who died in January. A part-time appointment, Collins will hold court on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Collins said, “I am humbled and honored to serve in the position previously held by my mentors, Magistrate Dave Leonard and Judge Bailey. I cannot fill the void left by the passing of Judge Leonard, but I pledge to seek justice and deal respectfully with all who are before me." Collins is a founding partner at Collins Shelton Blair & Wright PLLC in Greeneville. The Greeneville Sun has more.

FBT Gibbons, formerly Frost Brown Todd, will undergo a major office renovation, expanding its footprint to include the full 19th floor and a part of the 18th floor for a collective 35,876 feet. The Nashville Post reports that the firm has extended its lease through October 2037 at SoBro’s Symphony Place, 150 Third Ave. S., where it has operated since 2012. “Over the years, we’ve had a front‑row seat to Nashville’s remarkable growth, and this extension reflects our decision to double down on the market with space that allows us to grow significantly from here,” Brian Masterson, partner-in-charge, said in a press release.

Rogersville attorney Mark Stapleton was sworn in as 3rd Judicial District Circuit Court judge last Thursday. Judge John Dugger Jr. administered the oath. Stapleton was appointed by Gov. Bill Lee to fill a vacancy created by the elevation of Judge William Phillips to the Court of Appeals. The Citizen Tribune reports that Stapleton pledged to his future litigants that he will come to court every day ready to be fair, honest and respectful. “We’re gonna demand the same thing in our court rooms,” he said. “It’s a professional place to be and we’re going to treat it as such.” Stapleton has said he plans to run for the bench in the August primary and serve at least through the November general election.