The Murfreesboro City Council voted Jan. 22 to approve a process to select the next city attorney following the Dec. 19, 2025, resignation announcement of Adam Tucker, Rutherford Source reports. Tucker’s last day as city attorney is expected to be Feb. 17. The council approved a selection process set to begin in February that includes advertising the position, appointing an interim city attorney, prescreening candidates, and conducting executive team assessments and council interviews, with the goal of hiring a successor by the end of March.

Nearly 3,000 books are being pulled from public library shelves across Rutherford County following a letter from Secretary of State Tre Hargett prompting a review of juvenile collections across nearly all state public libraries, the Tennessean reports. Four Anne Frank biographies, more than 30 books focused on the Bible, five books on women’s history and suffrage, and books on ancient civilizations were among those removed for review. The request gave libraries 60 days to complete a full audit to avoid risking state and federal funding and has led Rutherford County librarians to flag 2,712 books for review. Hargett’s office has disputed that the letter was an order, saying the review was voluntary and decisions remain local, though librarians said the process caused staffing strains and temporary library closures. A federal judge has declined to block ongoing book bans in November after students sued the Rutherford County Board in April. The books will remain unavailable until a Feb. 2 county library board meeting determines to return them to shelves, relocate or remove.

At its January meeting this past weekend, the TBA Board of Governors certified election filing results. One contested election will be held this year for the office of vice president. Knoxville attorney Mary Elizabeth Maddox and Johnson City attorney Deborah Yeomans-Barton are running to become TBA’s president in 2028-2029. Read a statement from each of the candidates. Electronic voting will begin on Jan. 30 and close on Feb. 13. Watch for an email with a link to the ballot from Intelliscan Inc.

Also this weekend, the board declared election results for uncontested seats with 11 individuals deemed to be elected because they were the only duly qualified candidate to file. It also declared a vacancy in two board positions: West Tennessee Grand Division Governor (a one-year term) and 7th District Governor (a three-year term). The 7th District includes the counties of Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, McNairy, Madison, Obion, Tipton and Weakley. To be considered for either of these positions, email a statement of interest and resume to TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright at barED@tnbar.org by March 3. The board will consider nominees at its March meeting. See the full list of certified candidates and vacancies on the TBA website.

On Feb. 12, the Tennessee Supreme Court will hear oral arguments for its February docket in Nashville. The proceedings will be held at the Supreme Court building and livestreamed to the YouTube page. At 9 a.m. CST, the court will hear three with the first two cases involve the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County challenging the constitutionality of 2023 state laws affecting the size of Metro’s legislative body and the governance of the Metro Nashville Airport Authority, raising questions under the Tennessee Constitution’s Local Legislation, Exemption and Anti-Ripper clauses. The third case centers on whether a hospital may pursue an unjust enrichment claim for post-stabilization medical services provided to TennCare patients without prior authorization. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more about each case.

The TBA will remain closed on Jan. 27 due to inclement weather. The office will reopen Wednesday at 8 a.m. CST. Visit the TBA.org website for information on CLE or other TBA programs and for staff contact information.

The TBA will be closed Jan. 26 due to inclement weather. The office will reopen Tuesday at 8 a.m. CST. Visit the TBA.org website for information on CLE or other TBA programs and for staff contact information.

Just six weeks after the special election to fill a Middle Tennessee congressional district vacated by Mark Green, candidates already have begun picking up petitions to run when the term expires in November. State Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville, who ran in the Democratic primary for the special election, is the latest candidate to pick up a petition. He joins Democrat Joshua Warren Sales and independent Teresa Christie. Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, who was the Democratic nominee in the special election has announced she would not run again. Rep. Matt Van Epps, who won the special election, has filed his signed petition to seek re-election. The Nashville Banner reports on the race.

A bill introduced last week would allow state prison staff to disable illegal drones that smuggle cell phones, drugs and other prohibited items into state prisons. Republican Sen. Tom Hatcher, a retired 10-year veteran sheriff’s deputy from Blount County, introduced SB1631, which also would make it a crime to fly an unmanned aircraft over a prison facility. Violators could face three to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000, according to The Tennessean. The bill would cover state prisons, county jails and mental health institutions. Correction officials are seeking funding for department-operated drones to patrol prison perimeters, deter unauthorized drone flights and strengthen overall surveillance.

The next free advice clinic for Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits is set for noon to 1 p.m. CST on Feb. 19 in Nashville. The clinic, sponsored by the Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts and Bradley, provides assistance with business formation and corporate governance, review of contracts, and guidance in navigating local ordinances and state regulations. Space is limited so early registration is recommended. Attorneys should email vlpa@abcnashville.org to volunteer.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a federal victim restitution law constitutes criminal punishment, reviving a challenge from a convicted bank robber to a statute enacted after his crime. In a 9-0 decision, the court sided with Holsey Ellingburg Jr., who is contesting the government’s efforts to collect restitution related to a 1995 bank robbery under the 1996 Mandatory Victims Restitution Act, Bloomberg Law reports. Writing for the court, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said the law “is plainly criminal punishment for the purposes of the Ex Post Facto Clause,” which prohibits the government from imposing criminal penalties based on laws that were not in effect at the time of the offense. The ruling reversed a lower court decision that had rejected Ellingburg’s challenge on the grounds that the restitution statute was not criminal punishment. Justice Clarence Thomas filed a concurring opinion joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch.