Tennessee has emerged as a national leader in protecting creators’ rights in the age of AI. In this issue's cover story, Nathan Drake, Amy Bryson Smith and Mary Lauren Teague explore three recent copyright decisions that illustrate how courts are analyzing the legitimacy of using copyrighted material without permission to train AI platforms.

It is no secret that construction projects are complex. Brad Bald looks at the importance of change orders in construction projects and how to effectively manage them.

The Tennessee Bar Journal celebrates 60 years this year! Let’s take a look back at the TBA’s flagship publication.

“There are at least eight different holidays between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. How do you celebrate?”

As criminal cases get more complicated, both the state and defense counsel are more likely to rely on expert witnesses. Wade Davies explains the differences in disclosures in federal and state cases in Crime & Punishment.

On Dec. 10, 1869, the Wyoming Territory became the first territory or state to recognize women’s right to vote. An outraged James Stillman, who had been justice of the peace of the frontier mining town of South Pass City since 1867, resigned in protest. And so begins Russell Fowler's recounting of the United States' first woman judge, Esther Morris, who was appointed to fill Stillman's term.

TLAP's Executive Director Buddy Stockwell shares a success story from the program in this installment of The Buddy System.

In this issue, TBA President Heidi Barcus dedicates her column space to 60 years of the Tennessee Bar Journal!

In this issue's Legal Life, a TBA staff member is promoted, the Communications team wins an award at a national conference, a regular TBJ columnist is sworn in as a national president and a Supreme Court justice announces her retirement.

Are you interested in serving on TBA's Board of Governors, House of Delegates or as TBA's delegates to the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates? The 2026 Election Notice has more information on what positions are open and the qualifications for each. Questions? Visit the TBA’s website at www.tba.org/election_guidelines.