Join moderator and TBA YLD President Judge Alex McVeagh and four Tennessee judges on Nov. 20 for a one-hour conversation about their paths from first-generation lawyers to serving on the bench. Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sarah Campbell, Davidson County General Sessions Judge Ana Escobar, Court of Appeals Judge John W. McClarty and 21st Judicial District Circuit Court Judge David Veile will share how they built their careers without direct ties to the legal profession, the challenges they faced and the lessons they learned along the way. Whether you are a first-generation attorney or simply interested in the journeys of those who serve in the judiciary, this program will offer practical insights, encouragement and a candid look at what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of the legal field. For more information and to register visit the TBA's website.

Members of the TBA Young Lawyers Division recently participated in Balancing the Scales: Voices of First-Gen Lawyers — a panel discussion designed to provide advice and insight to first-generation law students and young lawyers. The panel, moderated by TBA YLD Middle Tennessee Governor Alix Rogers, features YLD board members Raven Austin, Morgan Hanna, Cole Harrell-Morris, Lorne Hiller and Chicoya Smith as they share their journey to the legal profession. Topics discussed include: what it means to be a first-generation lawyer; what they wish they had known at the beginning of their careers; and what pitfalls need to be avoided. Check out their unique, yet relatable stories in this on-demand recording on TBA's YouTube account.

The state attorney general’s office has issued subpoenas seeking abortion-related information from four Tennessee hospitals as part of an ongoing lawsuit challenging the state’s abortion ban, The Tennessean reports. The subpoenas, filed earlier this year, request broad information including the number of abortions performed, policies and guidelines under the law, and documents and communications relating to abortion care. A protective order bars the information from being used outside of the lawsuits. The hospitals have objected to the subpoenas, citing patient privacy laws and other concerns. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by a group of Tennessee women, argues their lives were endangered after they were denied emergency abortions under the state's ban. They say the law is vague and that physicians are refusing to perform medically necessary abortions out of fear of legal repercussions. The case is scheduled for trial next year.

Federal Public Defender (PD) Kelley Henry said Byron Black’s defibrillator did not activate during his Aug. 4 execution by lethal injection, Nashville Banner reports. Witnesses to the lethal injection said Black lifted his head off the gurney during the execution, groaned and said, “Oh, it’s hurting so bad.” It will be eight to 12 weeks before Black’s autopsy and toxicology reports are available, but Henry warned that the question of what was causing pain may go unanswered. The lethal dose of pentobarbital administered to Black should have rendered him unresponsive within seconds. Her team plans to submit public records requests to gather more information but a state motion to stay all proceedings would prohibit such discovery into the pentobarbital used. A hearing on the state’s motion is set for Aug. 22.

The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) has filed a lawsuit in Davidson County Chancery Court seeking access to records from a May immigration sweep in Nashville that led to about 200 arrests, Axios Nashville reports. The group claims the Tennessee Highway Patrol, which worked with federal immigration and homeland security agents on the operation, failed to release all requested records, denied the existence of some documents, and delayed producing video footage. TIRRC argues the actions violate the Tennessee Public Records Act, which ensures public access to information about state government operations.

The Tennessee Bar Foundation has opened the 2026 Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) grant application. Established by the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1984, the IOLTA program generates funds that are used to provide civil legal services to the poor and/or improve the administration of justice. The deadline to apply is Sept. 29. Learn more about grant eligibility and guidelines, and access the application portal, at www.tnbarfoundation.org. The foundation was established in 1982. Since its inception, it has contributed more than $32 million to Tennessee nonprofit organizations. Read the full announcement.

Despite strains on the economy, the U.S. legal sector had its fifth straight month of employment growth in July, reaching just shy of the historical peak of 1.2 million jobs in December 2023, Reuters reports. Despite the recent growth, employment in the industry is only 1.7% higher than in May 2007, before the financial crisis and pandemic cut into years of gains. Large law firms have expanded substantially in recent decades, boosting lawyer headcounts and revenues, while technological advances and artificial intelligence have reduced reliance on support staff.

Gov. Bill Lee on Friday appointed Emily Abbott to the 6th Judicial District Criminal Court, which covers Knox County, and William Lane to the 32nd Judicial District Circuit and Chancery courts, which cover Hickman, Lewis and Perry counties, according to a press release. Abbott, an assistant district attorney in the 7th Judicial District, earned her bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. She fills a vacancy created by Judge Steven Sword’s appointment to the Court of Criminal Appeals. Lane, principal attorney at his own practice, earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and his law degree from the Nashville School of Law. He fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael Spitzer. Both appointments take effect immediately.

The organization that administers the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and coordinates law school admissions has been sued in federal court over claims it fixes law school application processing fees through a monopolistic platform. According to Bloomberg Law, the suit alleges the Law School Admission Council Inc. (LSAC) overcharged plaintiff Linvel Risner for application fees and that he would have paid much less in a competitive market. “LSAC has violated federal antitrust law and gouged law school applicants attempting to follow their dreams,” Risner said in the complaint. An LSAC spokesperson told Bloomberg that the organization strongly disagrees with the allegations. LSAC manages registration and test dates for the LSAT and is registered as a nonprofit organization.

The TBA, in partnership with the Tennessee Land Title Association, will host its annual Hot Topics in Real Estate program virtually on Nov. 7. The event, designed for attorneys practicing real estate law, will cover the latest developments in the field. Stay tuned for more details about speakers, topics and registration information.