A federal appeals court on Tuesday ruled in favor of the Trump administration’s efforts to fast-track deportations for undocumented immigrants across the country through an expedited process, The Hill reports. The Court of Appeals for ​the District of Columbia Circuit issued a 2-1 ruling, overturning a lower-court decision that blocked the effort last year. An advocacy group sued the U.S. Homeland Security Department after it expanded the expedited removal policy, making it applicable to all immigrants who could not prove they had been in the country for more than two years. The group said the actions violate due process rights. Two judges upheld the administration’s plan, saying it does not deprive aliens of a meaningful opportunity to be heard. A third judge dissented, arguing that immigration officers, acting under the expanded expedited removal policy, did not advise detainees of their rights and wrongfully deported multiple undocumented immigrants.

Patricia Cassidy has announced she will seek reelection as East Ridge city court clerk in the Nov. 3 election, Chattanoogan.com reports. Cassidy, who has served as court clerk for the past 12 years, said she has more than 30 years of experience in the legal field and has called East Ridge home for more than 25 years. In announcing her campaign, Cassidy highlighted the court clerk's role in supporting the city's justice system and said she is committed to continuing to provide experienced leadership and dependable service to the community.

Advocates are urging Gov. Bill Lee to intervene before a June 30 deadline requiring the Tennessee Department of Health to report the immigration status of certain children enrolled in the state's Children's Special Services program, the Tennessee Lookout reports. The policy affects about 400 immigrant children with serious illnesses and disabilities who rely on the program for specialized medical care. The department has warned parents that children will be reported to the Tennessee Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division — an agency established in 2025 to oversee collaboration with federal immigration agencies — after June 30 as a condition of continued care. During a Tuesday news conference, advocates said families are being forced to choose between continuing life-sustaining treatment and risking immigration enforcement. Sen. Ed Jackson, R-Jackson, a sponsor of the legislation cited by the department as the basis of its action, said he is exploring possible changes to the law, while the Tennessee Justice Center said it plans to file a legal challenge this week.

A Bradley County judge has approved a final order awarding $10,000 to former student Morgan Armstrong who sued Tennessee Christian Preparatory School, Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. The order, filed Monday and agreed to by both parties, resolves a May 2025 breach-of-contract lawsuit alleging the Cleveland private school disciplined Armstrong after she announced on social media that she was in a relationship with another woman. The suit alleged Armstrong was suspended because she publicly identified as gay. The school maintained the suspension was for separate social posts it said misrepresented the school. The final order dismisses the school's counterclaim, requires the school to pay court costs and prohibits it from disparaging Armstrong to colleges and universities. Attorneys Daniel Horwitz and Sarah Martin represented Armstrong and her family.

Kentucky lawyer and TBA senior counselor Richard "Barry" Benton died Oct. 21, 2025, at age 88. Benton practiced law from 1966 to 2012, focusing on taxation and estate planning. After graduating from Emory University School of Law, he passed six bar exams and was licensed to practice in eight Southeastern states, including Tennessee. He balanced his private practice with service as a prosecutor in Fayette County, Kentucky. A memorial service honoring Benton's life was held Nov. 9, 2025, at the Madison Campus Seventh-day Adventist Church. Memorial donations may be made to Abba's Work Inc., 109 Cottage Place, Nashville, TN 37214. Checks should be made payable to "Abba's Work Inc." Proceeds support the organization's efforts to help educate college students in Africa and develop Christian leaders.

Attorneys who attended the TBA’s Annual Convention are reminded to certify their attendance and complete program evaluations through the links on the Convention CLE page by Friday to receive CLE credit. Credits will be filed within 30 days. Visit cle.tba.org for upcoming webcasts, in-person and virtual CLE programs, and other TBA events.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Upper Cumberlands (LAS) and the TBA Young Lawyers Division will hold a name change clinic on July 9 from 4-6 p.m. CDT at LAS' Cookeville office, 9 S. Jefferson Ave., Suite 102, Cookeville 38501. Volunteers are asked to be present from 3:30-6:30 p.m. CDT. For more information and to volunteer, contact TBA YLD District Representative Amber Vargas.

Hamilton County lawyer Erin Vivian Wallin was reinstated to the practice of law on June 12 after being on inactive status for more than five years. Wallin was placed on inactive status on Oct. 6, 2020. The Board of Professional Responsibility reports that it has reviewed her petition and found it satisfactory. The Tennessee Supreme Court issued the reinstatement order on June 23.

It has been just over a month since executioners in Nashville abandoned the lethal injection of Tony Carruthers, who was granted a one-year reprieve by Gov. Bill Lee. Now, three other death row inmates facing execution dates this year are seeking reprieves. Federal public defenders representing Darrell Hines, who is scheduled to be executed Aug. 13, asked Lee on Monday to call off the execution because of the risk that it “will be yet another gruesome spectacle.” They note that Hines has suffered a series of strokes that have left him with neurological and cognitive impairments, according to the Memphis Flyer. Earlier this month, attorneys representing Christa Pike — who is set to be executed on Sept. 30 — filed a motion with the Tennessee Supreme Court arguing that a lethal injection would be prolonged and torturous given her health issues. And in the case of Gary Sutton — who is scheduled to be executed on Dec. 3 — legal counsel point to long-held innocence claims, questions about his prosecution and an alleged intellectual disability. Read more from the Nashville Banner.

The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority has filed a lawsuit in federal court to prevent the state from taking control of its board of commissioners, Tennessee Lookout reports. The move comes after it filed a suit last week in Hamilton County Chancery Court. The airport authority joined the city of Chattanooga in suing in a Washington, D.C. federal court, where it is asking the Federal Aviation Administration to recognize the current airport board. Without the legal challenge, the board would be vacated July 1.