Vanderbilt University in Nashville and Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro ranked in the top 20 on a national list of more than 250 schools for their policies upholding the First Amendment, according to The Tennessean. Vanderbilt rose from 140th last year to 7th place after a series of campus protests led to the arrests of four students and one reporter. MTSU debuted on the list at 15. The University of Tennessee at Knoxville ranked 36th, and the University of Memphis ranked 128th.

A U.S. immigration judge has denied an asylum request from Kilmar Abrego Garcia, WSMV reports. A judge in Baltimore on Wednesday rejected Abrego Garcia’s bid to reopen his 2019 asylum case, giving him 30 days to appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals. He also faces criminal charges in Tennessee stemming from a 2022 traffic stop, while U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is seeking to deport him to a third country, first proposing Uganda and then Eswatini. Abrego Garcia’s attorneys have filed motions for a gag order, arguing their client cannot receive a fair trial because of “highly prejudicial, inflammatory and false statements” made about him. A federal judge in Tennessee can restrict prosecutors here from making such statements, but it is unclear whether that authority extends to the Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on Tuesday announced that state Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, has been appointed chair of the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees the the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and sets educational frameworks across the United States. White will serve a four-year term as chair after serving on the board since 2020. White chairs the state House Education Administration Committee and previously worked as a science teacher and K-8 school principal before becoming a small-business owner. The board administers the NAEP, known as the Nation’s Report Card, which tests fourth, eighth and 12th graders in subjects such as math, science and reading. The most recent results, released in September, showed declining scores among students, the Nashville Post reports. McMahon said the new appointments would help deliver meaningful data to policymakers and drive improvements in K-12 education.

The Knox County District Attorney’s Office has dropped trespassing charges against 12 pro-Palestinian demonstrators who were arrested at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UT) in 2024. The group was charged after weeks of campus protests against Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. The charges were dismissed after the demonstrators collectively completed 100 hours of community service, according to Knox News. Two of those arrested, siblings Hasan Husain and Layla Soliz, filed a federal lawsuit in May alleging their First Amendment rights were violated. The suit names the Tennessee Board of Regents, UT trustees and UT System President Randy Boyd as defendants. Their attorney told the news outlet the case is moving forward.

The Tennessee Bar Association offers group health insurance exclusively for members through BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Many firms have found meaningful savings and access to a strong national provider network for their attorneys, employees and covered dependents. Enrollment opens Oct. 6; start planning now! Even if you've already renewed your current coverage, you may still move to the TBA plan. Contact Buck Orrison to schedule a 15-minute consultation to review your current plan and see what options are available. Solo attorney? Explore our separate health plan built just for solo practitioners.

Members of the TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) gathered in Washington, D.C. for the Fall Board Meeting. During the meeting, members planned upcoming events, including pro bono clinics, the Diversity Leadership Institute, the Rural Judicial Fellowship Program, the Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition, and new CLE offerings. The group also discussed the Tennessee Supreme Court’s request for comments on potential regulatory reforms to increase access to quality legal representation. Despite the government shutdown, the group was able to visit museums and historic sites and explore the nation’s capital. Board member Patrick Morrison led the group on a nighttime tour of the monuments.

YLD President Judge Alex McVeagh also recognized several board members for their work over the last quarter, including Mary Frances DeVoe, Chattanooga attorney and YLD East Tennessee delegate to the TBA House of Delegates, for her contributions to numerous pro bono clinics; Donelson attorney Patrick Morrison for his development of CLE programming and his role as health and wellness coordinator; and Nashville attorney Jack Wagster for his contributions as a district representative. Nashville attorney and Diversity Committee Co-Chair Chicoya Smith received the “disco gavel” from YLD Immediate Past President Sean Aiello for her enthusiasm and efforts to bring people together. A special thanks also was given to Cookeville attorney Rachel Moses — a former YLD president (2014-2016) and current TBA YLD fellow and Middle Tennessee governor on the TBA Board of Governors — for joining the trip and supporting the YLD. See photos from the meeting.

The Nashville Coalition Against Domestic Violence will host Meet Us at the Bridge on Oct. 4 at 9 a.m. CDT at the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in downtown Nashville. The annual event is part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and honors those lost to domestic violence and recognizes community members working to end it. Since the event began in 2005, 191 women, men and children have been remembered at the ceremony, with families of homicide victims memorializing their loved ones by dropping purple roses into the river.

Democrats in Congress are pressing three major law firms — Paul Weiss, Kirkland & Ellis and Skadden — for details on potential free legal work for the Commerce Department, which they argue may violate federal law and go beyond previously announced pro bono commitments. Lawmakers Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Adam Schiff of California and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut pointed to reports that the firms assisted with tariff negotiations and Intel’s $8.9 billion deal involving the U.S. government, calling the work coercive and outside the stated focus on veterans, anti-Semitism and justice reforms. Bloomberg Law reports that the lawmakers warned the arrangements may stem from what they characterize as Trump administration “shakedown” deals that traded the rescission of punitive executive orders for promises of nearly $1 billion in free legal services. The firms face an Oct. 6 deadline to respond, but Democrats lack subpoena power to compel disclosure.

The Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville is hosting a free legal clinic for artists Nov. 5 at the Country Music Association. The clinic offers 30-minute consultations with volunteer attorneys for income-qualified creatives across Tennessee. Volunteer attorneys can expect questions on contracts & licensing, copyright, business formation, nonprofit governance and the like. Email vlpa@abcnashville.org for more information or to volunteer.

The TBA will host a Court of Appeals Boot Camp on Oct. 8 in Nashville, offering lawyers the opportunity to observe oral arguments in real cases and hear analysis from participating attorneys on preparation and advocacy strategies. The event, designed to strengthen skills in both written and oral appellate advocacy, also will feature a networking lunch for participants. The program will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT at the Tennessee Court of Appeals. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.