A Dickson County jury convicted the Defendant, Barry J. Zbleski, Jr., of second degree murder by the unlawful distribution of fentanyl or carfentanil and of the knowing sale and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death or bodily injury. The trial court imposed an effective sentence of twenty years’ imprisonment. On appeal, the Defendant raises two issues: (1) whether the evidence is legally sufficient to support his conviction for second degree murder; and (2) whether the trial court violated his Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses by admitting testimony from a substitute medical examiner. Upon our review, we respectfully affirm the judgments of the trial court.

This accelerated interlocutory appeal requires us to determine whether the trial court erred in denying Appellant’s motion for recusal, which was brought pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 10B § 2.02. Because Appellant’s petition fails to comply with the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 10B§ 1.01, the appeal is dismissed.

The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear oral arguments for its May docket in Knoxville on May 6. The proceedings will take place at the Tennessee Supreme Court building and be livestreamed on the court’s YouTube page. The court will hear two cases — Timothy Allen Curtis and Tammy Curtis Webb, as next of kin of Virginia Curtis ex rel. Bruce Allen Curtis v. Tiffany L. Sharp et al. and James W. Grubb et al. v. Joe D. Grubb et al. — beginning at 9 a.m. EDT and two cases — Emily Elizabeth Buckner v. Complete Wellness Chiropractic Center et al. and In re Nathaniel D. — beginning at 1:30 p.m. EDT. Read more about the cases from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

This accelerated interlocutory appeal requires us to determine whether the trial court erred in denying Appellant’s motion for recusal, which was brought pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 10B § 2.02. Because Appellant’s petition fails to comply with the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 10B§ 1.01, the appeal is dismissed.

This is a termination of parental rights appeal. The trial court found clear and convincing evidence to terminate father’s parental rights to the minor child on three statutory grounds: abandonment by failure to support, father’s confinement as the result of a criminal sentence of ten or more years when the child was under eight years old, and father’s failure to manifest an ability and willingness to personally assume legal and physical custody of the child. The trial court further concluded that termination was in the child’s best interest. We vacate the trial court’s finding as to father’s failure to manifest an ability and willingness to assume custody of the child. We affirm the judgment of the trial court in all other respects.

This appeal arises from the trial court’s modification of a residential schedule in which the trial court awarded the parents equal co-parenting time. We now affirm.

This appeal arises from the dismissal of a defective petition for writ of certiorari for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The trial court granted the Appellee’s motion to dismiss after Appellant failed to verify and notarize the petition under the requirements set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated section 27-8-106. Discerning no error, we affirm.

The 1st Judicial District Court today announced the death of Dr. Mary Langenbrunner, who had been director of the court's clinic since its inception 18 years ago. In a statement, Circuit Court Judge James Edwin "Eddie" Lauderback said Langenbrunner “had an incredible heart for helping people and families, and with the assistance of former Judge Jean Stanley, was instrumental in helping create the Court Clinic. She helped many families mediate their issues, often on a pro bono basis. Please keep her two sons and the rest of her family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

The Tennessee Department of Revenue has announced that winter storm survivors who receive individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also may be eligible for a state tax refund on certain items purchased to replace or repair damaged property. The Natural Disaster Sales Tax Refund program provides eligible residents with a refund of up to $2,500 on appliances, furniture and building supplies, according to News 5. Survivors may file a claim within one year of their FEMA decision letter. Learn more on the department’s website or access the claim form.

Nashville lawyers Erik Halvorson and J. Hunter Robinson, both with Bradley, will receive the TBA's prestigious Justice Joseph W. Henry Award for Outstanding Legal Writing on June 12 during the association's Annual Convention in Knoxville. The award, which will be presented at the Lawyers Luncheon, was established more than 40 years ago and is given each year to the lawyer who writes the most outstanding article published in the Tennessee Bar Journal for the preceding year. Halvorson and Robinson are being honored for their article One Domino Falls: Tennessee Supreme Court Reshapes Foreclosure Claims, which appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of the Journal.

In announcing the selection of Halvorson and Robinson, TBA President Heidi Barcus. said, “This winning article took a complex ruling from the Tennessee Supreme Court and, in straightforward and concise language, explained the consequences for both mortgage-related and non-mortgage-related litigation in Tennessee. This is the kind of writing the Joe Henry Award was created to recognize.” The award is named for Joseph W. Henry, a former chief justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court, who was known for his forthright and clear writing. Read more in a press release from the TBA.