Defendant, Bradley J. Cooper, was indicted for one count of aggravated stalking and one count of harassment. The case went to trial, and the jury found Defendant guilty as charged. The trial court merged Defendant’s harassment conviction into his aggravated stalking conviction and sentenced Defendant to an effective sentence of two years’ incarceration. On appeal, Defendant argues (1) his conviction for aggravated stalking violated the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 8; (2) the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction for aggravated stalking; (3) the trial court abused its discretion by refusing to take judicial notice, admit testimony regarding, or allow him to otherwise argue that orders of protection generally expire after one year; and (4) his conviction for aggravated stalking and harassment violated the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. After review, we find that Defendant’s conviction for aggravated stalking violated the Double Jeopardy Clause, and we vacate Defendant’s aggravated stalking conviction. We affirm Defendant’s conviction for harassment in Count 2 but remand the case for entry of a corrected judgment form, removing the condition that Count 2 is merged with Count 1.

This is an interlocutory appeal as of right filed pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 10B by the defendant below, Steven R. Powell, regarding his motion for recusal of the chancellor. Having reviewed the petition for recusal appeal, we determine it to be fatally deficient. We therefore dismiss the appeal.

In this termination of parental rights case, Appellant/Mother appeals the trial court’s termination of her parental rights to the minor child on the ground of persistent conditions, Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(g)(3). Because there is clear and convincing evidence to support this ground and the trial court’s determination that termination of Appellant’s parental rights is in the child’s best interests, we affirm.

Unhappy with a planning commission’s approval of a subdivision concept plan, a not-for- profit corporation and an adjoining property owner petitioned for a writ of certiorari. The court dismissed the case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. It concluded that the commission’s approval of a concept plan was not final for purposes of judicial review. We agree that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction albeit on a different basis.

Because the order from which the appellant has filed an appeal does not constitute a final appealable judgment, this Court lacks jurisdiction to consider this appeal.

April 20, 2026 - April 24, 2026.

Tennessee state Rep. G.A. Hardaway, D-Memphis, who died April 24 at the age of 71, will lie in state at the Tennessee State Capitol on April 30. Colleagues and the public are invited to visit the capitol to pay their respects. According to the Commercial Appeal, a celebration of life service also will be held at a date to be determined. That event will take place in Memphis at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, 70 N Bellevue Blvd. Memphis 38104. Hardaway had served in the Tennessee House since 2007.

Legislation passed by both the House and Senate would limit the use of community bail funds, potentially affecting access to pretrial release for some defendants, according to MLK50. The legislation, HB1450/SB1708 sponsored by Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, and Rep. Charlie Baum, R-Murfreesboro, was amended during legislative consideration to cap bail fund contributions at $5,000 per person and prohibit organizations from posting bond for the same individual more than once a year. Supporters say the measure is intended to protect public safety, while advocates argue it would disproportionately impact low-income defendants who rely on bail funds for release. The proposal comes amid reports of rising bond in Shelby County and broader changes to Tennessee’s bail laws in recent years, including allowing hearsay and prohibiting consideration of a defendant’s ability to pay in decisions to set bail.

A federal judge has ordered the immediate release of a Memphis high school student who had been held in immigration detention since February, finding his continued detention without bond violated his due process rights, the Daily Memphian reports. Yasser Jose Lopez Soza, a junior at Memphis Business Academy, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Feb. 20 while traveling to a school soccer game. In a ruling issued April 23, the court rejected the government’s argument that Lopez Soza could be held without bond as an “applicant for admission” who could be treated for constitutional purposes as if he had been stopped at the border. The judge said that argument was based on a recent ICE policy and not the “plain text” of the law. The judge also noted his lack of criminal history in ordering his release from the West Tennessee Detention Center. Lopez Soza's attorney had filed a habeas corpus petition in March challenging his detention.

Acting Attorney General (AG) Todd Blanche signed an order last week to immediately reclassify state-licensed medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug, according to The Hill. The order would shift state-licensed medical marijuana from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III drug and provide tax relief for licensed operators. The change would not legalize marijuana under federal law but would affect the 40 states that have approved medical marijuana programs. The order also is expected to expedite the process for state-licensed operators to register with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and affirms that cannabis researchers will not face legal repercussions for using state-licensed marijuana. Finally, the order directs the DEA to hold an expedited hearing to fully reschedule marijuana, according to a social media post from Blanche. The DEA plans to hold a hearing on June 29.