U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan on Tuesday declined the request of 14 Democratic state attorneys general to immediately impose wide-ranging restrictions on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Chutkan ruled that the states had not made the necessary showing of “clear evidence of imminent, irreparable harm,” The Hill reports. A separate judge on Friday rejected a request to block access to two federal departments and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, while according to Reuters, a judge on Monday declined to block access to student borrower data at the Education Department. There are more than a dozen pending lawsuits challenging DOGE’s structure or its access to various federal departments, according to The Hill.

Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison attorney John L. Farringer IV has been elected as the Tennessee Bar Association’s next vice president. He will lead the association as president in 2027-2028. Farringer is a Tennessee native practicing as a commercial litigator for over 20 years. He has been active in the TBA for many years, including as chair of the Access to Justice Committee, as a six-year member of the board of governors, and as the current associate general counsel with a special focus on issues related to indigent representation. He also was a member of the 2011 Leadership Law class and received the 2015 President’s Award for his work as chair of the Medical-Legal Partnership Working Group. Farringer has made access to justice a passion of his career, including handling complex indigent cases and serving as chair of the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission. After taking office as vice president at this summer’s TBA Convention, Farringer will become president-elect in June 2026 and take over the organization’s leadership in June 2027.

Patrick Morrison, TBA YLD Health and Wellness Coordinator, reminds us that as lawyers, our days regularly revolve around screens — whether it is drafting documents, researching cases and statutes, attending virtual meetings or checking emails. On top of this, we often go home and scroll on our phones, watch television, etc. Although technology helps us keep current on issues, stay connected and be productive, excessive screen time can take a toll and could negatively impact our well-being. Like everything else, moderation is key, so could you benefit from a digital detox?

A digital detox involves taking intentional breaks from screens. Research shows that prolonged screen use can lead to eye strain, disrupted sleep patterns and increased stress levels, on top of the increased stress that comes from lawyering. By reducing screen time, we can promote better mental clarity, focus and overall health.

Here are a few simple strategies to incorporate into a digital detox routine:

• Set Screen-Free Times: Dedicate time each day to be screen-free, perhaps during meals, right when waking up or before bed.
• Embrace Physical Activity: Get outside, stretch or go for a walk to give your eyes a break and reset your mind. Try not to scroll while out for a walk!
• Limit Social Media Use: Set specific times during the day to check social media or use apps or settings to track and limit your screen time.

It is not about completely disconnecting but about establishing healthy boundaries that work for you. It can be tough to curb these habits, but a small digital detox each day can improve your well-being. Take time to recharge. Your mind and body will thank you.

The 2025 Estate Planning and Probate Forum will take place next Friday, Feb. 28, at the Embassy Suites Cool Springs in Franklin. The daylong event will feature expert speakers covering topics such as community property trusts, AI developments, a probate panel, ethics, legislative updates and much more. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, offering opportunities for networking with colleagues from across the state. Sessions will run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. The program offers seven hours of CLE including two hours of dual credit. Section members receive discounted pricing. Not a member of the Estate Planning & Probate Section yet? Join here. For more information on the forum, to view the speaker line up and to register, visit TBA’s website.

District 9 Representative: Ginny Blake and Kaley Bonett

As Belmont Law's Public Interest Coordinator, Ginny Blake's primary mission is to champion and facilitate public interest and pro bono initiatives, as well as nurture the law school's vital partnerships with public interest organizations. Specifically, Blake plans, coordinates and executes Belmont Law's pro bono clinics. She also provides guidance to students striving to complete Belmont Law's pro bono pledge. Originally from West Virginia, she graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in public relations from Marshall University and completed her law degree at West Virginia University College of Law. Over the course of her legal education, Blake interned with the federal public defender for the Southern District of Ohio in their Capital Habeas Unit, worked as a student attorney for the West Virginia Innocence Project and was a member of Public Interest Advocates. She was vice president of the Maryln E. Lugar Trial Association and was inducted into the Order of the Barristers upon graduation. She is licensed to practice in the state of Tennessee. Prior to joining Belmont Law, Blake served as head speechwriter and deputy communications director for former Nashville Mayor John Cooper. She enjoys reading, taking aerial dance classes, rock climbing and hanging out with CS Lewis, her pet bunny.

Kaley Bonett is an associate attorney at Richardson Law Group PLLC located in Hendersonville. After graduating from Berklee College of Music and the University of Florida Levin College of Law, Bonett moved to Nashville hoping to contribute to its vibrant and historic culture. Previously, she was a law student scholar for the American Bar Association (ABA), scholarship recipient for the North American Law Summit, fellow for the Multicultural Media Telecom and Internet Council, and a senior editor of the Florida Entertainment and Sports Law Review. In addition to her work at the firm, Bonett is passionate about providing pro bono work to budding artists through the Nashville Arts and Business Council. She hopes to devote the rest of her spare time to serving as the District 9 Representative for the TBA YLD.

TBA YLD members were sent an email today with a ballot for the candidates running for TBA YLD District 9 Representative. The email was sent from Intelliscan Inc. If you did not receive the email in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you still did not receive it, contact elections@tnbar.org to request that it be resent. Electronic voting begins today and will close on March 9.

TBA's Day on the Hill and Big Shrimp Legislative Reception will be held in Nashville on March 19. The events give Tennessee lawyers an opportunity to meet with legislators and talk to them about issues important to the profession, including funding for indigent representation. The TBA Day on the Hill will include an opportunity to meet with legislators in the afternoon, followed by the annual Big Shrimp reception that night. RSVP for these events here. Learn more about the need for increased indigent representation funding or read about how the system works in Tennessee in posts from the TBA's recent Indigent Representation Primer.

Carter County lawyer Jason Lee Holly has been reinstated to the active practice of law. He had been temporarily suspended for failure to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility on Oct. 28, 2024. The court reports that on Jan. 3, Holly provided an appropriate response to the board and filed a petition to dissolve the temporary suspension. At a hearing on Feb. 7, a panel of the board determined that dissolution of the temporary suspension was appropriate.

The Tennessee Attorney General's Office has asked the state Supreme Court to set execution dates for five people on death row, five years after the state last put a person to death, the Tennessean reports. The motions, filed on Friday, ask the court to set dates for Kevin Burns, Jon Douglas Hall, Kennath Artez Henderson, Anthony Darrell Dugard Hines and William Glenn Rogers. The motions are the next step in the process to resume executions in Tennessee after they were paused in 2022. Executions will proceed in the state under a new lethal injection protocol using a single drug, pentobarbital.

Defendant, Robert King Vaughn, Jr., appeals his convictions for attempted first degree murder and aggravated rape, for which he received a total effective sentence of 120 years’ confinement. Defendant contends that: (1) the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support his conviction for attempted first degree murder; (2) no reasonable trier of fact could find that he failed to establish the insanity defense by clear and convincing evidence; and (3) the prosecutor engaged in improper argument by misstating Tennessee law and vouching for witnesses during the State’s closing argument. Following a thorough review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.