The Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Shelby County lawyer Andrewnetta Melissa Boyd from the practice of law on Sept. 9 after finding that she failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning one complaint of misconduct. The court notes that this suspension is in addition to an administrative suspension, entered Aug. 20, 2024, for failure to complete continuing legal education obligations.

A news item in yesterday's issue of TBA Today had the incorrect date for the Sevier County Bar Association's 11th Annual Sevier County Juvenile Seminar. The event will take place on Oct. 14. Register for the program and view the agenda. All proceeds will benefit the Women’s Recovery Home.

The Sevier County Bar Association is sponsoring the 11th Annual Sevier County Juvenile Seminar on Oct. 14, with all proceeds benefiting the Women’s Recovery Home. The virtual program will cover juvenile law topics applicable statewide. Register for the program and view the agenda. For those who register, the training will remain available through Nov. 30.

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case challenging President Donald Trump’s tariffs policy in November under an accelerated timetable. The tariffs will stay in place in the meantime, the Associated Press reports. The court agreed to take up an appeal from the Trump administration after lower courts found most of his tariffs illegal. Small businesses and states that challenged the tariffs say they have nearly driven their businesses to bankruptcy. “Congress, not the President alone, has the power to impose tariffs,” attorney Jeffrey Schwab with the Liberty Justice Center said. The Trump administration argues the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act grants the president broad authority to regulate imports, warning that striking down the tariffs could harm the economy and weaken U.S. leverage in trade negotiations.

Attorneys for Byron Black, the man executed by the state of Tennessee last month, say an autopsy confirmed that he suffered from pulmonary edema before his death. But they also say other questions about what he experienced during his execution remain unanswered. “The autopsy report itself fails to document the condition of the veins, which leaves unanswered questions. It also fails to document the EKG results. TDOC [Tennessee Department of Corrections] has indicated that it will not even begin to answer our public records request until Dec. 3 ... As we move through discovery in chancery court, we will obtain further information as to what went wrong," Black's lawyers said according to the Nashville Banner newsletter. Media witnesses, including the Banner, reported that Black lifted his head, groaned and said “oh, it’s hurting so bad” during his Aug. 5 lethal injection.

The TBA’s 2025 Creditors Practice Annual Forum will take place Oct. 1 at the Tennessee Bankers Association’s Bradley L. Barrett Training Center in Nashville. The program offers three general and one dual CLE credit with sessions covering case law and rule updates, e-filing, artificial intelligence and the sovereign citizen movement. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with programming scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. CDT, followed by a networking reception. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced his office has filed a lawsuit against the former owners of Dynamic Therapy Center, a now-defunct Mt. Juliet clinic, accusing them of defrauding TennCare, the state’s Medicaid program. The lawsuit, filed in Wilson County Circuit Court, alleges the defendants knowingly submitted false claims between 2020 and 2023 by billing TennCare for individual physical, occupational and speech therapy sessions while providing group therapy to children in “camps.” Because TennCare reimburses individual therapy sessions at higher rates than group sessions, the scheme allegedly resulted in more than $300,000 in overpayments, according to a press release. The state is seeking recovery of the funds, treble damages, civil penalties of $14,308 to $28,619 per violation, and other remedies allowed under the Tennessee Medicaid False Claims Act.

Crime in Memphis continued to fall through the first eight months of 2025, according to new data from the Memphis Police Department. The Daily Memphian reported this week that there were 28,660 overall incidents from January through August, a 23% decrease from 2024 and a 37% decrease from 2023. MPD’s data represent the number of reported incidents, which may involve more than one victim. The department reported declines across all major categories, with the largest drops in property crimes. Larceny, burglary and robbery are all at 25-year lows. In July, MPD reported overall crime was down 20% compared to the same point in 2024. The news comes amid reports from The Daily Memphian that the White House, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s office and Memphis Mayor Paul Young’s administration have discussed a possible deployment of National Guard troops to Memphis.

Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Tori Smith has announced her candidacy for the August 2026 special election to permanently fill the seat, Chattanoogan.com reports. Smith was appointed to the bench in 2024 to fill a vacancy created by Judge Alex McVeagh’s election to the 11th Judicial District Circuit Court. Her campaign said she has presided “with a commitment to ensuring that all who enter her courtroom are treated with dignity.” Before her appointment, Smith worked as an attorney in the 11th Judicial District Public Defender’s Office. The special election is set for Aug. 6, 2026.

The TBA is now accepting applications for its award-winning Public Service Academy, a nonpartisan, statewide effort to encourage attorneys to run for office and take on public service leadership roles in their communities. Those selected for the academy will take part in the program on Nov. 14-15 in Nashville. The program will feature top political and campaign experts who will provide attorneys with the tools they need to run for local public offices such as school board, city council and county commission. Applications are due by Oct. 6. Access the application form here.