The latest episode of BarBuzz is out! In this special convention edition, recorded live at the TBA's Annual Convention in Knoxville earlier this month, Communications Coordinator Azya Thornton talks with newly installed President Charlotte Knight Griffin and Young Lawyers Division President Jennifer Sneed Perry, Executive Director Sheree Wright and Data and Systems Analyst David Lazar about leadership, member services, professional development and priorities for the year ahead. The episode also features conversations with Tech Showcase exhibitors about emerging legal technology, artificial intelligence and resources available to help attorneys strengthen their practices. Listen to the episode on the TBA's website or directly on the streaming platform Libsyn.

The University of Tennessee System Board of Trustees has approved a $1.9 million settlement with former University of Tennessee assistant professor Tamar Shirinian, ending a federal lawsuit over her firing for a social media post about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Knox News reports. Under the agreement, Shirinian will not be reinstated. The settlement remains subject to approval by state officials, including the attorney general and Gov. Bill Lee. Shirinian was dismissed after posting a comment on Facebook following Kirk's 2025 assassination. The university said settling the case would avoid the costs and demands of continued litigation. Court filings indicate the parties must finalize the settlement by Aug. 28.

Tennessee's lethal injection protocol, adopted in January 2025, eliminated a previous requirement that execution team members practice inserting IV lines during monthly mock executions, the Nashville Banner reports. This change now has drawn renewed scrutiny following the halted execution of death row inmate Tony Carruthers, whose execution was called off in May after prison staff spent more than an hour unsuccessfully attempting to establish a secondary IV line. Court filings in an ongoing challenge to the state's execution protocol contend the revised training requirements are inadequate, with expert witnesses questioning whether execution team members receive sufficient instruction and oversight in IV placement. The Tennessee Department of Correction declined to comment on the protocol changes or the qualifications of execution team members.

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld state laws barring transgender girls and women from participating on female school sports teams, ruling that bans in Idaho and West Virginia do not violate the Constitution, the Associated Press reports. In a 6-3 decision, the court also concluded that the laws do not violate Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education. More than two dozen states, including Tennessee, have enacted similar restrictions. The ruling "seems certain to extend to them as well" according to the news outlet.

The Williamson Remembers Committee unveiled two historical markers in downtown Franklin on June 20 honoring six African American victims of lynchings in Williamson County during the Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras. The markers also acknowledge the lynching of Jewish merchant, believed to be the first Jewish lynching victim in the United States, the Tennessean reports. The markers are part of a broader effort launched by the committee in 2020 to recognize the county's history of racial violence. Community leaders, historians and elected officials participated in the dedication ceremony. A third historical marker is planned outside Franklin City Hall once construction on that new building is complete.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that states may continue counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day, rejecting a challenge brought by the Republican National Committee, Action News 5 reports. In a 5-4 decision, the court upheld a Mississippi law allowing election officials to count mail-in ballots received up to five days after Election Day, provided they are postmarked by Election Day. Writing for the majority, Justice Amy Coney Barrett said federal law establishes when voters "shall give their Votes" but does not specify when ballots must be received. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson joined Barrett's opinion. Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch dissented, while Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined most of the dissent. President Donald Trump called the ruling a "tremendous loss" in a post on social media.

As a part of its Christmas in July programming, TBA will highlight popular sessions from the 2026 Annual Convention. Watch for five webcast programs during the week of July 27. The lineup includes "Before You Buy the AI: A Practical Framework for Evaluating Your Firm's Technology" on July 27, focusing on evaluating legal technology investments; "Don't Outsource Your Mind: Conscious Lawyering with AI" on July 28, examining the ethical use of artificial intelligence in legal practice; the annual "Legislative Update 2026" on July 30, covering recent action by the Tennessee General Assembly affecting attorneys; a July 31 program, "From CCTV to AI: Surveillance, Safety, and the Cost of Privacy," exploring constitutional issues surrounding surveillance technology, privacy and artificial intelligence; and "12 Time Management Things Attorneys Should Do, But Don't" on July 31, offering practical strategies for improving productivity.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has named J. Scott Griswold as the new clerk of the appellate courts effective July 1. Griswold will succeed James M. Hivner, who did not seek reappointment after serving 12 years in the role. As clerk, Griswold will serve the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals and oversee staff in Jackson, Knoxville and Nashville. He most recently served as Knox County clerk and master. Before joining the court system, Griswold was in private practice, focusing primarily on estate planning, estate administration and litigation. He earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law. "Scott Griswold brings a deep well of experience and proven leadership to this role. His years as the Knox County Clerk and Master gave him firsthand knowledge of the demands on our courts and the importance of efficient, accessible operations," Chief Justice Jeff Bivins said in a press release.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients sued the federal government last Thursday, alleging significant delays in the renewal of their status under the Trump administration, according to The Hill. DACA, which provides certain immigrants who were brought to the United States as children with temporary protection from deportation and work authorization, requires recipients to renew their status every two years. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of multiple plaintiffs who submitted renewal applications at least 120 days before their status expired, as recommended, but whose renewals were not processed before existing protections lapsed. One organization involved in the lawsuit said it filed renewal applications for 500 clients this year, with 319 still pending after more than six months.

Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, has filed 14 federal civil rights complaints against the Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights, alleging widespread violations involving the treatment of children with disabilities and foster care practices across multiple Tennessee counties. WSMV reports that the complaints allege disability discrimination, retaliation against parents and foster parents who reported misconduct, falsified case records, improper removals of children, sexual assault in DCS-certified placements and national origin discrimination. Behn is requesting a federal investigation, a halt to active termination of parental rights proceedings, a compliance plan for children with disabilities, anti-retaliation protections and ongoing federal oversight. DCS did not commented on the filings according to the news station.