A federal lawsuit challenging Tennessee's new congressional map was voluntarily dismissed Tuesday after plaintiffs failed to obtain a temporary injunction in May, the Daily Memphian reports. The suit was filed by a coalition of Democratic voters and congressional candidates, including state Rep. Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, and U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, and argued that the map was enacted too close to the August primary elections to be properly implemented. The case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning no final ruling was issued. It was one of several lawsuits filed following the map's adoption. Separate lawsuits brought by the ACLU of Tennessee and the NAACP State Conference of Tennessee remain pending and challenge the map on the grounds that it violates the 14th and 15th Amendments by diluting Black voting strength through the division of Black communities among multiple districts. A three-judge panel is expected to hear those cases in the coming weeks. The Tennessee attorney general's office declined to comment due to the fact the related litigation remains ongoing.

State Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville, and state Rep. Sam McKenzie, D-Knoxville, plan to work on changes to Tennessee's school book ban law after the local "Roots" controversy exposed problems in its application, Knox News reports. Briggs says he is concerned about the law causing confusion and wants to clarify how a local school board can step in. Tennessee's Age-Appropriate Materials Act in its current form does not outline who gets the final say, according to the paper. The legislators are reacting to a request from the Knox County Board of Education urging the state to look again at the law.

A law passed by the Tennessee General Assembly during the recent legislative session imposes a tax on international financial transfers. Months before the law is set to take effect, an association of financial technology institutions — which includes PayPal and SoFi — has filed a lawsuit that challenges its constitutionality. “This law raises taxes on Tennessee consumers, businesses, and non-profits, and contradicts recently passed federal law while also running afoul of the Foreign Commerce Clause in the U.S. Constitution,” Financial Technology Association President and CEO Penny Lee said, at the time the law was passed. The Nashville Banner reports on the suit.

Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell announced that the city is filing a new lawsuit to block the state's latest attempt to control the airport authority's board of directors. Axios Nashville reports that the Metro Nashville Airport Authority Board also voted to join the litigation. The city is citing federal law, saying the FAA will not approve a change of sponsor if the current board does not consent to the change. The city’s fight on this issue dates back to 2023, when the state first passed legislation aimed at taking over the airport board. Metro sued to stop the takeover and won, and that ruling was unanimously upheld by the Tennessee Court of Appeals. The state challenged that decision and the Tennessee Supreme Court heard the case in February. In May, Gov. Bill Lee signed new legislation giving the state authority over the Nashville and four other airport authorities.

Knoxville businessman and University of Tennessee College of Law (UT Law) graduate James Nicholas "Nic" Arning died June 13 at age 79. Arning earned his law degree from UT Law in 1974. After passing the bar, he assisted friends and clients with wills and other legal matters and occasionally served as appointed pro bono counsel for those in need. Rather than practicing law full time, Arning used his legal training to help grow his family's business, Arning Insurance Agency. The family will receive friends June 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT at Rose Mortuary-Mann Heritage Chapel, 6200 Kingston Pike in Knoxville, followed by a graveside service at 2 p.m. at Edgewood Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Challenger Sports, c/o Knox Youth Sports, Lakeshore Park, 5908 Lyons View Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919.

Tennessee Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti on Jan. 12 announced a multi-million dollar settlement with Metropolis Technologies Inc., following an investigation into its business practices in Tennessee. According to a press release, part of the settlement included millions of dollars in restitution for Tennessee consumers who were improperly charged by the company. The claims process for restitution payments opens today, and payments are expected to be made in early 2027. Some consumers will immediately begin receiving email notices with information about filing a claim to receive payment from the restitution. Eligible consumers need to provide documentation of these violations to receive payment. To be eligible for payment, one must have paid for a parking session at a Metropolis parking lot in Tennessee between July 2021 and Jan. 6, 2026; were wrongfully overcharged, ticketed or booted; and have not previously received a refund from Metropolis. The electronic claim form and more information can be found on the settlement website.

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.