Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) and Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS) both have open positions to fill. LAET is hiring a staff attorney to help oversee the administration of its Pro Bono Project in the Knoxville area. View the job description and get instructions on how to apply on the LAET website. MALS is hiring for several positions: an attorney for its Low Income Taxpayer Clinic funded by the Taxpayer Advocate Service, staff attorneys to join its Consumer/Housing and Elder/Family Units, and a part-time bilingual intake specialist. Visit the MALS website for job descriptions and more information.

On Sept. 5, the Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Mitchell Ray Miller, who now works in Williamson County, from the practice of law for two years with four months to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation with conditions, including engaging a practice monitor and obtaining additional continuing legal education. The court found that in seven separate matters, Miller accepted payment for attorney fees but then either failed to perform the work for which he was retained, failed to appear at scheduled hearings, failed to reasonably communicate with clients or unreasonably delayed matters through a pattern of neglect, resulting in actual or potential harm to multiple clients. Additionally, Miller on repeated occasions failed to respond to BPR inquiries in a timely manner; however, he did ultimately refund all unearned attorney fees. Miller agreed to a conditional guilty plea acknowledging his conduct violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.16, 3.2, 8.1 and 8.4(d).

Rep. Ron Travis, R-Dayton, has announced that he will not seek reelection to the statehouse but will instead run for Rhea County mayor, according to the Tennessee Journal. In a Facebook post, Travis says, "After much reflection, I have decided not to seek re-election when my term ends in 2026. Serving District 31 has been the honor of my life." Current Mayor Jim Vincent recently announced that he would not seek reelection and endorsed Travis as his successor.

Conservative activist Gary Humble has launched a 2026 campaign for Tennessee’s District 27 state senate seat, setting up a rematch with Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, who narrowly defeated him in 2022. The Nashville Post reports that Humble is framing the race as a battle between establishment and grassroots conservatives, pledging support for term limits, transparency measures, gun rights and governing from a “Biblical worldview.” He also highlights opposition to federal health agencies, calls for responsible growth in Williamson County, and ties his platform to his history of leading anti-lockdown protests and faith-based activism.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett defends her 2022 vote to overturn Roe v. Wade in her forthcoming memoir, "Listening to the Law," arguing that abortion rights were never deeply rooted in U.S. history or tradition. According to Reuters, Barrett frames the court’s role as respecting choices made by the people rather than dictating them. She reportedly also reflects on criticism of her Catholic faith and addresses expanded use of the “shadow docket," saying the court is obligated to act on emergency applications. The book is set to be released on Sept. 9.

Matthew Vandergriff, an inmate at the Hamilton County Jail, died last week after going into cardiac arrest. Chattanoogan.com reports that Vandergriff had been routinely treated for a chronic illness. He was being held on charges of arson and violating an order of protection. An investigation by the sheriff's office is pending.

Meta has appointed former Tennessee congressional candidate and anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck to help address “ideological and political bias” in its AI systems. The Tennessean reports that the move stems from an August settlement of Starbuck’s defamation lawsuit, which alleged Meta AI falsely linked him to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Starbuck, who has led online campaigns against corporate DEI programs, says his goal is to ensure neutrality and fairness in AI. In a joint statement, Meta and Starbuck said they had resolved the matter to their mutual satisfaction. “Since engaging on these important issues with [Starbuck], Meta has made tremendous strides to improve the accuracy of Meta AI and mitigate ideological and political bias,” the statement reads. “Building on that work, Meta and Robby Starbuck will work collaboratively in the coming months to continue to find ways to address issues of ideological and political bias and minimize the risk that the model returns hallucinations in response to user queries.”

According to the Shelby County Juvenile Court's recently released annual report, data from the past three fiscal years shows that the court is jailing more children for longer periods than in the prior two fiscal years. Despite a decline in serious offenses, detention admissions rose from 872 in FY 2022 to 1,142 in FY 2024, with the average stay lengthening from 34 to 44 days. Critics argue this rollback in progress harms children and increases recidivism, while the court cites factors such as delayed evaluations, lack of guardians and insufficient community alternatives. The trend has strained the Youth Justice and Education Center, prompting Sheriff Floyd Bonner to withdraw his office from managing the facility in 2024 after warning of overcrowding, prolonged stays and inadequate staffing. MLK50 has the story.

Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) is now accepting applications for its Master of Science in Legal Studies program with concentrations in entertainment; anti-money laundering, fraud and compliance; and business law. The degree's first cohort will begin in 2026. A non-thesis program for business professionals and others seeking a deeper understanding of U.S. laws and the legal system, participants do not require a law degree to apply and will not be eligible to practice law with the degree. The program is housed in MTSU’s Department of Accounting in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business and offered in collaboration with the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment and the Nashville School of Law (NSL). Students will take evening classes for part of the program at NSL and additional classes through MTSU in hybrid, online and in-person formats.

The Spence Wilson Center for Interdisciplinary Humanities at Rhodes College will host a free public lecture on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. CDT by Harvard University professor and Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation Director Dr. Danielle Allen. Pre-registration is required. Allen will talk about her award-winning book "Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality," which revisits the founding document. View a flyer for the event. In advance of the declaration's 250th anniversary in 2026, Allen also is compiling resources to mark the milestone. Check those out on her lab's website.