Knox County lawyer Ray Hal Jenkins was suspended from the practice of law on Aug. 18 for two years. The Tennessee Supreme Court found that Jenkins committed professional misconduct by consuming alcohol on several occasions while performing his duties as judicial magistrate for the county. His actions were determined to violate Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4.

On Aug. 15, Hamilton County lawyer Steven Michael Hodgen was suspended from the practice of law for six years, with five years to be serve on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The Tennessee Supreme Court conditioned probation on the appointment of a practice monitor. The action was taken after the court found that Hodgen indicated in court pleadings that he represented a party he had never spoken with, prejudiced the rights of a third party, and failed to reasonably communicate with the client, act in a diligent manner, expedite the client’s litigation, timely respond to dispositive motions, and discuss the case and filings with the complainant. His actions were determined to violate Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4(d) and 8.4(a), (c), and (d).

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett praised collegiality in the legal profession as essential to a well-functioning judicial system during remarks Monday at the Seventh Circuit Judicial Conference in Chicago. Barrett, a former Notre Dame law professor and Seventh Circuit judge appointed to the high court by President Donald Trump in 2020, said lawyers learn to argue without letting disagreement consume relationships. She also credited that professionalism with enabling the system to work, according to Bloomberg Law.

A federal appeals court has overturned a judge’s finding of probable cause to hold Trump administration officials in criminal contempt for sending accused Venezuelan gang members to a prison in El Salvador despite an order to halt the deportations, Bloomberg Law reports. In a 2-1 ruling, U.S. officials will no longer face a contempt investigation or possible prosecution. In April, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington said officials acted in “willful disregard” of his orders to turn around planes carrying Venezuelans. Judge Greg Katsas, writing in support of the appeals court’s decision, said there was ambiguity in Boasberg’s initial order and that the government reasonably believed the ruling applied only to migrants physically leaving the U.S., which had already occurred by the time the order was issued.

A federal judge has struck down two Trump administration actions aimed at eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at the nation's schools and universities. U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher in Maryland found that the Education Department violated the law when it threatened to cut federal funding from educational institutions that continued with DEI initiatives, National Public Radio reports. The guidance has been on hold since April when three federal judges blocked various portions. The ruling follows a motion for summary judgment from the American Federation of Teachers and the American Sociological Association, which argued the directives unlawfully expanded a 2023 Supreme Court decision restricting race-conscious decisions in admissions. The Associated Press reports on the initial actions.

A former Nashville police officer has been sentenced to one year of supervised probation after authorities said he participated in an adult video while on duty. Last week, Sean Herman entered a “best interest” plea in Nashville criminal court to one count of official misconduct, while a second count was dismissed, the Associated Press reports. The plea means he plead guilty while maintaining factual innocence. He also was granted judicial diversion. Herman was fired in May 2024 after detectives with the Specialized Investigations Division discovered the video and identified him by his police uniform. He was arrested the following month.

The Belonging Fund, a Nashville-based fundraising effort created in response to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, has expanded its mission to cover legal services for immigrants, Axios Nashville reports. The fund, administered by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, initially was designed to be a resource to help immigrant families with the cost of child care, housing, food and other needs. However, the fund’s website now states it will provide money for immigration-related representation and advocacy. Since its launch, the Belonging Fund has raised more than $525,000. To date it has distributed $98,000 through Conexión Américas to assist 132 families.

The Tennessee Judicial Conference Foundation will host the 26th Annual Dick Jerman Memorial Golf Tournament on Oct. 13 at Indian Hills Golf Club in Murfreesboro. The event honors the late Circuit Court Judge Dick Jerman Jr. of Alamo, who died in 1999, and supports the foundation’s mission of providing need-based scholarships to Tennessee law students. Founded in 1995 by trial and appellate judges, the foundation is funded through private contributions, memorials, merchandise sales and the annual golf tournament. View more information and register on the foundation's website.

A memorial service honoring retired Nashville General Sessions Judge William Higgins will take place this Thursday at 1 p.m. CDT in Courtroom 3B of the Justice A.A. Birch Building, 408 2nd Ave. N., Nashville 37201. Higgins died Aug. 11 at the age of 86. After earning his law degree from the Nashville School of Law, he went on to serve on the Metro Nashville Council for three terms and practiced law for 13 years before running for the Davidson County General Sessions Court in 1980. He won that race and subsequently was elected to five terms. He was named presiding judge of the court in 2013 and retired in 2022 to return to practicing law. View an invitation for the event.

Knoxville attorney Albert Joseph Harb died Aug. 14 at age 73. Harb earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee and began practicing law independently before joining the firm of Hodges, Doughty & Carson in 1984, where he practiced until 2024. Over the years, Harb developed a large construction law practice, represented clients in personal injury cases and maintained a diverse list of corporate and commercial litigation clients. A reception for friends will be held Aug. 20 from 4 to 7 p.m. EDT at Apostles Anglican Church, 1540 Robinson Rd. NW, Knoxville 37923. The funeral is scheduled for Aug. 21 at 11 a.m. EDT at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, 9132 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37923. A graveside service will take place at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery, 5315 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37919. Donations may be made in Harb’s honor to Apostles Anglican Church, the Dr. Wahid Hanna Educational Endowment at the University of Tennessee or FISH Hospitality Pantries.