The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals recently heard arguments in a challenge to Tennessee’s ban on the recruitment of minors to obtain out-of-state abortions without parental consent. Courthouse News reports that state attorneys argued the law does not restrict access to abortion or violate free speech rights. The plaintiffs, state Representative Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, and abortion rights attorney Rachel Welty, sued over the law on First Amendment grounds. Two federal judges agreed with them, finding the law punished speech based on the opinion or perspective of the speaker. Read more about the appellate court proceeding.

The Bessie Smith Cultural Center will host its 2026 Juneteenth Celebration on June 19 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT at the center in Chattanooga. The community event will feature live music, African drumming performances, food trucks, children's activities, opportunities to connect with local community organizations, free museum admission and screenings of the documentary "Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom." Admission to both the event and the museum will be free throughout the day.

The Tennessee Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection paid three claims on June 9. The first, in the amount of $35,000, was paid on behalf of Knoxville lawyer Darren Vincent Berg, who was disbarred on Feb. 17. The second, in the amount of in the amount of $100,000, was paid on behalf of Nashville lawyer David Steele Ewing, who has surrendered his law license. The third, in the amount of $32,600, was paid on behalf of Greeneville attorney Francis Xavier Santore Jr., who has been suspended since 2024. All were directed to reimburse the fund for the payments. The fund, financed by Tennessee lawyers and judges, was established by the Tennessee Supreme Court to reimburse individuals for losses caused by the rare instances of dishonest conduct by attorneys. The fund is managed by a board of six lawyers and three non-attorney members, who serve without compensation.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) released design renderings for the new federal courthouse planned for Vine Street in downtown Chattanooga. The project is designed to bring several federal court functions under one roof while creating a new landmark for the city. According to News Channel 9, the proposed courthouse will total about 191,000 square feet and house the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and the Circuit Library. The building also will include seven courtrooms, nine judges' chambers, 40 interior parking spaces and space for federal agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Attorney's Office. GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst said the project is intended to combine security, efficiency and accessibility in a single facility. Additional project milestones, including a construction timeline, will be announced as the project moves forward.

By order of the Tennessee Supreme Court on June 10, the law license of Davidson County attorney Adrianne Grimm Thompson was transferred to disability inactive status. Thompson may not practice law while on disability inactive status and must comply with the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 28.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on May 29 suspended 12 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee, nine of whom also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. Lawyers reinstated in the last month include eight suspended this year and two suspended in 2025. TBA has administrative suspensions dating back to 2005. Be sure to check the Board of Professional Responsibility's website for the most up to date information on lawyers' licenses.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division's (YLD) Exploration CLEs received rave reviews last year — including, "it was the single greatest CLE I've ever been to," "insightful" and "very original idea." Now make plans to join colleagues for the fourth Exploration CLE at Long Hunter State Park in Nashville on Sept. 25. Take the day to experience the magnificence of one of Tennessee's state parks while earning three hours of CLE credit. The day will include lunch and a ranger-led hike. More information and speakers will be announced soon.

The University of Tennessee Winston College of Law hosted its 2026 Orr Symposium on June 3, bringing together judges, lawyers, scholars and access to justice advocates to examine attorney shortages in Tennessee's rural "legal deserts" and discuss possible reforms. According to a release from the law school, the symposium explored issues such as alternative pathways to lawyer licensure, the use of trained non-lawyer legal professionals and strategies to expand legal services in underserved communities. Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Mary Wagner said the court's recent call for public comment on potential regulatory reforms is intended to encourage statewide discussion about unmet legal needs. The program also highlighted findings from Tennessee's 2025 Civil Legal Needs Assessment and introduced the proposed Legal Desert Incubator Program, which would support new lawyers who commit to practicing in rural areas with limited legal representation.

The 2026 TBA Annual Convention kicked off today at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Knoxville with a meeting of the TBA House of Delegates, followed by a welcome reception and group dinners for attendees. On-site registrations are still available — including tickets for tomorrow's Tech Showcase — at the TBA Registration Desk on the Mezzanine level of the hotel. A full schedule of convention events and CLE programming is available on the TBA website.

Thank you to the sponsors who have helped underwrite the costs of this year's TBA Convention! Thank you to Platinum Sponsor Miles Mediation & Arbitration; Silver Sponsors Lexitas, SoFi and TBA Member Insurance Solutions; Bronze sponsors Clio, Easy IT Guys, JAMS, LexisNexis, Pinnacle Financial Partners and The Bar Plan; and Copper sponsors Conservatorship Association of Tennessee, Duck Hunts Medical Records Retrieval, Esquire Deposition Solutions, Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) and Time Miner. Check out our sponsor page for more information on these companies and make plans to visit with many of them during this week's event in Knoxville. Pre-registration has closed but on-site registration will be available.