The Tennessee Supreme Court on Aug. 21 suspended 25 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee; 13 of whom also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. Three lawyers have been reinstated since the list came out: two who had been suspended in 2024 and one in 2025. See the list of all lawyers suspended and reinstated for fee and IOLTA violations in 2025 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

President Donald Trump's order restricting birthright citizenship was blocked for a fourth time earlier this month, Reuters reports. The most recent decision comes from U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman in Maryland, who blocked implementation of the order for children anywhere in the United States who would be affected. Her decision came in a response to a class action suit filed by a number of advocacy groups. She previously had agreed to grant class action status to the case but put that decision on hold while the administration appealed her ruling to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The paper reports that the appeals court recently dismissed the administration's appeal. Boardman's action was consistent with a finding in February that the order likely was unconstitutional. In related news, Bloomberg Law reports that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is moving forward with plans to implement the order if allowed by the courts.

The Office of the Tennessee Attorney General recently announced the opening of a nationwide claims process and portal for customers of the tax debt settlement company Wall & Associates Inc. to submit claims to be considered for restitution. Those defrauded by the company should filed their claim before Dec. 10 online at www.WallConsumerClass.com. Customers also may contact the claims administrators Verus by phone at 609-283-5393, by e-mail at WallConsumerClass@VerusLLC.com or by mail at P.O. Box 6535, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. In a press release, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said the company has collected more than a million dollars from hundreds of Tennesseans over the years.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Aug. 20 dissolved a temporary suspension imposed on Hamilton County lawyer Steven Michael Hodgen on May 31, 2024. The court said that a final order of suspension imposed on Aug. 15 resolves the outstanding disciplinary matter against Hodgen and good cause exists to dissolve the temporary suspension.

Shelby County lawyer Brian Kirk Kelsey was reinstated to the practice of law on Aug. 20. He had been suspended on Dec. 8, 2022, after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of aiding and abetting the acceptance of excessive contributions. The Tennessee Supreme Court approved the reinstatement based on Kelsey receiving a full and unconditional presidential pardon or the offenses on March 11.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will host a free webinar on Aug. 26 to discuss manufacturing tax exemptions. Department staff will discuss the various tax exemptions for manufacturers and provide details about the registration and application process. Register for the webinar or see all upcoming educational events from the department. Read more about the program in a press release.

Brian Bivens, interim superintendent of the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center, recently told the Juvenile Service Center Oversight Board that he has focused on hiring support staff, improving incarcerated teens' mental health and introducing educational and health programs during his first few months in office. Knox News looks at the changes being made following allegations of poor medical care and retaliatory firing of whistleblowers, as well as the departure of longtime superintendent Richard Bean. The changes come on the heels of others reported last month.

Suspended Rutherford County lawyer Jared Michael Streich has been arrested on charges he violated his bond conditions when he visited the apartment of his girlfriend Miranda Gray. During the visit, Streich called police and reported that Gray was unresponsive. After arriving, police confirmed she was dead. An autopsy revealed she had been strangled. Streich previously had faced charges of aggravated assault against Gray, which led to the bond condition that he stay away from her apartment complex. Most of the previous charges were dropped and police said that Gray repeatedly declined their offers of counseling, orders of protection, prosecution and shelter services. Streich was suspended by the Tennessee Supreme Court in June for failing to communicate with clients, expedite clients' litigation, act competently and return client property. The court also found that he charged unreasonable fees and provided false information to the Board of Professional Responsibility. The Tennessean reports on the case.

A three-judge panel of the Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled on Aug. 15 that certain inmates facing life sentences can be released early for good behavior. The unanimous decision applies to people sentenced for crimes committed before July 1, 1995, or for crimes committed as a juvenile, according to The Tennessean. It will not apply to those sentenced to life without parole. The decision came in the case of Howard Aktins. David Esquivel, attorney for Atkins, said if the ruling stands, it means dozens or hundreds of people sentenced to life should have already been released from state custody. The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office, which could appeal the decision, says it is "still reviewing next steps." In Tennessee, a life sentence is considered to be 60 years. The appeals court estimated that under the Department of Correction’s good time calculation formula, inmates could shave off about 20 years from their sentences.

The man accused of organizing the murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph in 2021 has been found not guilty, the Daily Memphian reports. A Memphis jury acquitted Hernandez Govan of charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder today after three hours of deliberation. Prosecutors alleged Govan hired the two men who shot the rapper and then worked with them to secure payment for the killing.