The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee has announced two leadership appointments effective Aug. 1. Lynda M. Hill will begin serving as the court's newest U.S. magistrate judge following the retirement of Magistrate Judge Barbara D. Holmes. Hill has served as clerk of court for the Middle District since 2020 and previously practiced at Frost Brown Todd LLC in Nashville and Miller & Martin PLLC in Chattanooga. In announcing Hill's selection, Chief District Judge William L. Campbell said, "The District Judges were pleased to select Judge Hill from a group of extremely well-qualified candidates. She has served the Middle District of Tennessee with distinction as Clerk of Court, and we are confident she will continue to do so as a magistrate judge." Additionally, Vicki R. Kinkade has been appointed clerk of court. Kinkade brings more than 40 years of service to the federal judiciary, including more than two decades as the court's chief deputy clerk. One of her most significant contributions was during the design and construction of the Fred D. Thompson U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building. Her efforts helped ensure that the courthouse serves the needs of judges, litigants, attorneys, court staff and the public while providing a secure, modern and efficient environment for the administration of justice.

A public investiture for Hill will take place on Sept. 24 at 3:30 p.m. CDT at the Fred D. Thompson U. S. Courthouse and Federal Building, Courtroom 6B, located at 719 Church Street in Nashville. A reception will follow. Learn more in the press releases from the court.

Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti's office has moved to dismiss Memphis-Shelby County Schools' (MSCS) lawsuit and dissolve the July 1 order that paused the state's takeover of the district, arguing that a July 8 independent audit revealing over $119 million in policy violations shows "circumstances have materially changed" since the pause was granted. The audit identified roughly $54.1 million in potential fraud, waste and abuse — much of it tied to a 2022 custodial contract — and $65 million in transactions possibly violating internal policy or federal grant rules. According to The Daily Memphian, the motion further contends that Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr.'s order violated federal procedural rules and lacked clarity on duration. The filing is separately seeking dismissal of the broader constitutional challenge by arguing MSCS and Shelby County cannot invoke 14th Amendment protections against the state that created them, and that the takeover law is not racially discriminatory. A scheduling hearing before a magistrate judge is set for July 24, with a substantive hearing on the injunction unlikely before August given deposition requirements.

In a letter dated June 30, Lebanon Mayor Rick Bell suspended City Attorney Andy Wright for "poor communication and poor responsiveness, coupled with low productivity." According to the Tennessean, the letter states that Wright's actions "are negatively impacting city operations and the ability of the legal department to appropriately support the city council and other departments who rely on your legal guidance to serve the public," Wright's suspension is without pay and is being served July 6 through July 31; his performance was also addressed in October 2025.

Crystal Jessee, a Republican candidate for Circuit Court judge in Tennessee's 3rd Judicial District, says she is seeking the seat to give voters a voice in selecting judges and cites 22 years of legal experience focused primarily on domestic law, the Greenville Sun reports. According to a candidate questionnaire, Jessee said her priorities, if elected, would include ensuring fair and respectful treatment for everyone appearing in court and expanding the district's veterans drug court and felony drug court programs. Jessee said her practice has centered on divorce, child custody, adoption and other family law matters that make up much of the court's caseload, while also handling personal injury, environmental and complex opioid litigation. Opponent Mark Stephen Stapleton did not respond to the questionnaire by the publication's deadline. The 3rd Judicial District covers Greene, Hamblen, Hancock and Hawkins counties.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Immigration Law Center have renewed their challenge to a Tennessee law that makes illegal immigration a state crime after U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson dismissed a similar lawsuit last month. According to the Tennessee Lookout, the civil rights groups filed a second lawsuit July 17 seeking an immediate and permanent halt to the law, which creates a misdemeanor offense for immigrants who remain in Tennessee more than 90 days after receiving a final removal order from an immigration judge. The lawsuit argues lawmakers violated the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which holds that federal law takes precedence over conflicting state laws, by allowing the state to enforce immigration law. Richardson ruled last month that two plaintiffs lacked standing because they would not be subject to arrest under the law. The same plaintiffs are named in the refiled lawsuit, which provides additional details about their immigration status and alleges they could face arrest under the Tennessee law.

A man died while in the custody of the Shelby County Division of Corrections, commonly known as the Penal Farm, on July 22, the Commercial Appeal reports. Justin Hardaway was booked into the jail on Dec. 18, 2025, and was awaiting trial when he was transferred to a hospital or medical treatment facility custody detail on Wednesday. Corrections staff later found Hardaway in medical distress that evening and transported him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The mayors of Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis have joined more than 200 mayors nationwide in urging Congress to preserve federal food assistance, WSMV reports. Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell signed a bipartisan letter Monday from the U.S. Conference of Mayors calling on Congress to include provisions in upcoming legislation that would reverse the Trump administration's cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The organization said Federal Reserve data shows food insecurity has surpassed levels seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The group is urging Congress to fully fund the program, delay shifts in administrative and program costs, and maintain SNAP benefit levels and eligibility standards. The cuts were included in President Donald Trump's spending plan, which was intended to reduce federal spending.

There is still time to register for "Justice Without Lawyers: Working in Legal Deserts" on July 29 at 11 a.m. CDT. This one-hour program will explore the significant and growing challenges surrounding indigent representation and the increasing prevalence of legal deserts. A panel of judges and attorneys will examine the underlying causes of limited access to counsel, discuss practical strategies for expanding the availability of legal services — including through appointed representation — and consider emerging solutions being advanced by courts and the broader legal community. This free program also will address the professional responsibility and ethical considerations implicated in access-to-justice issues. Dual CLE credit is available for a nominal fee. For more information and to register visit the TBA website.

A federal judge has denied a motion to reopen a legal challenge to a new immigration law enacted in Tennessee this year, The Tennessee Journal reports. U.S. District Court Judge Eli Richardson of Nashville on Monday denied the plaintiffs’ motion for reconsideration as moot. Earlier this month, the ACLU and National Immigration Law Center asked Richardson to reopen their lawsuit challenging a new law creating a state crime for overstaying an order of deportation. Richardson had dismissed the case in June, ruling that the plaintiffs did not have legal standing.

The case to remove Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert from office has been dismissed after nearly two years, Action News 5 reports. Halbert’s attorney confirmed that the case was dismissed following the state’s request. Lee Whitwell, chief litigating attorney at the Shelby County Attorney’s Office, said the decision to drop the case was made after the trial was scheduled for late August, just days after Halbert’s second and final term as clerk is set to expire. Halbert has faced repeated calls in recent years to be removed from office amid reports of poor management. The first ouster attempt, filed by Hamilton County District Attorney General Coty Wamp acting as a special attorney, was dismissed because Wamp did not live in the jurisdiction where Halbert was elected. The second suit, filed by a private attorney who was hired for the job after Shelby County attorney Marlinee Iverson recused herself, was dismissed for lack of standing. A mediated settlement also was attempted but ended without resolution.