Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said 225 inmates have been moved to the Penal Farm as overflow pretrial detention to combat overcrowding at 201 Poplar amid a federal law enforcement surge in Memphis, The Commercial Appeal reports. Harris said there were about 80 inmates at the facility in October 2024. “We would like for the Penal Farm to be separate and set aside for federal detainees and for those convicted of state crimes. But, as needed, we are able to flex some beds to take care of some of the overflow,” Harris said during a press conference Oct. 30. Harris declined to comment on the current population of the intake area at the jail but said all male arrestees are booked at 201 Poplar before staying there or being moved to the Penal Farm.

In the October episode of BarBuzz, TBA celebrates Pro Bono Month in Tennessee by highlighting the attorneys and organizations keeping the spirit of service alive year-round. The episode features Cristina Arce de Bagaglio, director of the Pro Se Parents' Clinic at the Community Legal Center; Michele Johnson, executive director of the Tennessee Justice Center; and Nicole Grida, chief executive officer of Memphis Area Legal Services. They share stories from the front lines of providing access to justice, and offer practical ways lawyers across the state can make a difference through pro bono work. Missed a past episode? Check them all out in the BarBuzz archive.

The Knoxville Bar Foundation inducted 12 new fellows this week. They are: Hon. G. Keith Alley, Melissa B. Carrasco, Hon. Tyler M. Caviness, Hon. Katherine A. Crytzer, Tammy Kaousias, Christina F. Magrans-Tillery, Stacie D. Miller, James P. Moneyhun Jr., Alicia J. Teubert, Kate E. Tucker, Shannon F. van Tol and Carlos A. Yunsan. Each year, the foundation selects fellows who have distinguished themselves in the practice of law and in service. Its membership represents less than one percent of the lawyers practicing in the Knoxville community. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded nearly $600,000 in grants to fund the delivery of legal services. Read more in a release and see a photo of the group.

Dickson native Gary John Meise died Oct. 21 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the age of 60. Meise graduated from Vanderbilt University and began his career as a science teacher at Donelson Christian Academy. He later earned his law degree from Vanderbilt Law School in 1977 and went to work as an associate attorney for Bass Berry & Sims in Nashville. Eventually he relocated to Baton Rouge where he was involved in a number of community groups. A memorial service will be held Nov. 22 at 3 p.m. CST at Dickson First Presbyterian Church, 212 N Main St., Dickson 37055. The family asks that memorial gifts to be made to the Dickson County Help Center, Together Baton Rouge or Baton Rouge University Presbyterian Church.

Tennessee consumers who were sent but did not cash restitution checks last year from the LA Investors settlement now can claim funds through the state's unclaimed property program, according to the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office. The office began distributing restitution in December 2024 to consumers who responded to deceptive mailers from a company called LA Investors doing business as “Local Records Office.” The company offered consumers a copy of the deed to their home for $89 even though consumers can get copies from their county Register of Deeds for cents per page. The state sued the company in 2017. Checks for a partial refund were sent to nearly 4,000 consumers. Any checks not cashed expired in May. The funds now have been sent to the Tennessee Department of the Treasury’s Unclaimed Property Office. Read more in a press release.

Tennessee had the highest rate of opioid use disorders last year, Axios Nashville reports. The opioid epidemic has plagued the state for years, but new data from FAIR Health’s Opioid Tracker shows that the challenge only continues. According to the data, Tennessee’s diagnosis rate has skyrocketed since 2021. Last year, the rate reached 1,447 people diagnosed out of every 100,000, nearly triple the national figure. The news comes as the state undertakes opioid prevention efforts funded by lawsuit settlements with drug manufacturers, pharmacies and other parties found culpable in the crisis.

Columbia University's Knight First Amendment Institute has sued the U.S. government to obtain records about deals President Donald Trump made with nine large U.S. law firms earlier this year. According to Reuters, the institute says the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Justice Department have denied "or constructively denied" its requests under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for records of the agreements and any communication the firms have had with the government. The FOIA request covers communications with A&O Shearman, Cadwalader, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Milbank, Paul Weiss, Simpson Thacher, Skadden Arps and Willkie Farr. The institute is a nonprofit affiliated with Columbia University that defends press freedoms and free speech.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee today announced the launch of FeedTN.org, a platform that will connect Tennesseans with resources and opportunities to serve during the federal government shutdown. The platform is designed to respond to warnings from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that there will be insufficient funding to cover November’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits if the shutdown continues. The governor also said his Faith Based and Community Initiative (GFBCI) is working with a coalition of more than 300 non-profit and faith community leaders to identify needs, share information and mobilize rapid response across the state. Read more in a press release from the governor’s office.

Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal has ruled that a lawsuit filed by a number of Tennessee elected officials challenging deployment of the National Guard to Memphis will not be fast-tracked, the Commercial Appeal reports. The order came in response to three motions filed by Gov. Bill Lee, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and Major General Warner A. Ross III. The motions sought to expedite certain proceedings in the case while delaying a hearing on a temporary injunction. All motions were denied, with Moskal saying the “significance of the issues raised in this matter” requires more time for the parties to fully argue their positions. However, she did rule that if all parties agree on a rescheduled date for the injunction hearing, she would honor that request.

A Tennessee judge is again playing a key role in the legal battle over Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who is awaiting prosecution and possible deportation. A new order from federal District Court Judge Waverly Crenshaw warns of possible sanctions against Trump administration officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, if they continue to make inflammatory statements about the defendant. WPLN reports that Crenshaw wrote: “Government employees have made extrajudicial statements that are troubling, especially where many of them are exaggerated if not simply inaccurate.” These include statements about the “character, credibility, reputation or criminal record of a party” and “any opinion as to the accused’s guilt or innocence.”