Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis will remain a party to the civil lawsuit filed by Tyré Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, according to the Commercial Appeal. In an order filed April 24, the court denied a request from Wells’ attorneys to remove Davis from the case, an effort tied to maintaining a November trial date. Attorneys for Davis, who also represent the city of Memphis, argued the proposed voluntary dismissal sought to preempt her appeal of the denial of qualified immunity. They said Davis instead seeks dismissal on the merits, which they contend would clear her of liability in the case.

Former Judge Bernard "Bernie" Weinman died April 20 at age 92. He earned his law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1961 and, after five years in practice, was appointed by Mayor William B. Ingram as a judge of the Memphis City Courts, becoming the youngest and first Jewish judge on the court. During his tenure, he served as chief administrative judge, instituted new programs and advocated for indigent defendants. Elected to the Shelby County Criminal Court in 1974, he served as Division II judge for 30 years, presiding over high-profile cases and issuing rulings including a case of first impression, later affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, allowing victim impact statements in capital sentencing hearings. After retiring, he served as an assistant disciplinary counsel for the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary, on the Shelby County Civil Service Commission and practiced with his son at Weinman and Associates. A funeral was held at Temple Israel on April 23. Donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.

The Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board will hear oral arguments in three cases in Nashville on June 9. The cases include Howell v. 501K Recycling, involving a dispute over additional medical treatment for an alleged work-related aggravation of a preexisting condition; Torres Atunez v. MG Dyess Inc., addressing whether an employee’s misrepresentation of identity voided an employment contract; and Harris v. Express Services, which considers issues related to a willful misconduct defense and medical benefits. The arguments will be held in-person in Nashville at the Tennessee Supreme Court, 401 7th Ave. N, Nashville 37219, starting at 1 p.m. CDT. The docket is available online.

If you plan to attend the 2026 TBA Convention but have not yet booked your hotel, time is running out! The TBA hotel room block at the Crowne Plaza Knoxville will close May 8 at 5 p.m. EDT. Book now to take advantage of our special discounted rate. Can't make it to the full convention? Join colleagues on June 11 for TBA's first-ever Tech Showcase. Day passes for Thursday are now available online.

The appeal concerns the scope and enforceability of a liability waiver. The trial court determined the liability waiver applied to the plaintiff’s claims of personal injury and granted the defendant summary judgment. We agree and affirm.

"A slave is not in the condition of a horse or an ox. His liberty is restrained, it is true. … But he is made after the image of the Creator. He has mental capacities, and an immortal principle in his nature, that constitute him equal to his owner but for the accidental position in which fortune has placed him. … [T]he laws under which he is held as a slave have not and cannot extinguish his high-born nature nor deprive him of his many rights which are inherent in man." Read more from Russell Fowler.

Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Holly Kirby is retiring from the court on June 30, and Access to Justice Committee Chair Linda Warren Seely sat down with her to discuss Kirby's thoughts on leadership over the course of her career. Read this profile on Kirby in the cover story of the Access to Justice issue of the Journal.

For more than 50 years, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) has served as the primary federal funder of free, civil legal aid for low-income Americans. Created by Congress in 1974, LSC distributes grants to nonprofit legal aid organizations in every state and the territories, helping ensure that people who cannot afford an attorney still have access to representation in critical civil legal matters. Today, LSC supports 130 independent legal aid organizations operating more than 800 offices nationwide. Laura Brown, executive director of Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS), gives an update on LSC funding for Tennessee's LSC-funded legal aid organizations: Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET), Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) and West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS).

In her final installment of the President's Perspective column, Heidi Barcus reflects on the need for compassion in the legal profession and the importance of making connections.

This issue's Legal Life highlights 2026 Mock Trial results, a retiring Journal columnist, TBA Board of Governors appointments to vacant seats, June swearing in ceremonies and more.