The ACLU of Tennessee has filed a lawsuit challenging a new Tennessee law that makes it a felony for local officials to vote in favor of sanctuary city policies. The law, passed earlier this year as part of a broad immigration package, also created a new state immigration enforcement division, a separate driver’s license design for noncitizens and a grant program for local law enforcement agencies, WPLN reports. The ACLU filed the suit on behalf of seven members of Nashville’s Metro Council, arguing that it violates the First Amendment. The group called the measure "an unprecedented effort to criminalize legislative speech, debate and deliberation." The challenged provision makes it a Class E felony — punishable by up to six years in prison and a $3,000 fine — for local officials to support or enact sanctuary city measures. Officials also could be removed from office under the statute. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit include council members Clay Capp, Brenda Gadd, Delishia D. Porterfield, Sandra Sepulveda, Zulfat Suara, Terry Vo and Ginny Welsch. The case was filed in Davidson County Chancery Court.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) will host “The Rookie Series: Compassionate Lawyering” webcast on Aug. 27 from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. The program will introduce attorneys to the principles of trauma-informed legal practice and explore how lawyers can better serve clients — especially those from marginalized or vulnerable backgrounds — by incorporating empathy and awareness into their work. Mental health professionals will join the discussion to examine how legal systems can unintentionally retraumatize clients and offer strategies for compassionate advocacy across various practice areas. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee, TBA Young Lawyers Division and the Chattanooga Bar YLD are partnering on a virtual name change clinic serving clients in East Tennessee. The clinic will take place on July 24 at 4:30 p.m. EDT via zoom. View a flyer for the event or volunteer here.

Volunteers are needed for a virtual debt relief/bankruptcy clinic that will take place via zoom on July 16 at 3 p.m. CDT/4 p.m. EDT. This clinic will serve individuals in both East and West Tennessee. Attorneys may volunteer here. Legal Aid of East Tennessee, West Tennessee Legal Services, the TBA Young Lawyers Division, the Chattanooga Bar YLD and the Federal Bar are partnering for this event. View a flyer for the clinic.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to move forward with plans to deport immigrants to countries not specifically identified in their removal orders while the government appeals a lower court’s order. According to SCOTUSblog, the justices paused a ruling by Massachusetts-based Judge Brian Murphy, which had required the administration to engage in a process designed to address “reasonable fear” of being tortured. Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented in a lengthy opinion joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. The dispute stems from guidance issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) earlier this year, which instructed agents to take “all appropriate actions” to remove noncitizens still in the United States despite an order for deportation. Four undocumented immigrants with deportation orders sued over the policy.

K&L Gates recently announced Greg Parker as new managing partner of the firm's Nashville office, succeeding Lauren Patten. Parker earned his law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School. He focuses his practice on IP litigation and IP procurement and portfolio management. One of the lawyers who opened the firms's Nashville office, Parker told the Nashville Business Journal, "We're seeing most of these big national firms take a real close look at Nashville as a place where they want to compete and have a presence ... This is a booming market. I welcome that growth and welcome that competition."

Last week, Tennessee State University (TSU) reached an agreement with the state that allows the university to reallocate $96 million to support its operational needs over the next three years. Nashville Public Radio reports that the funds — which were previously allocated for deferred maintenance — make up a portion of the $250 million that the state allocated to TSU in April 2022 to make infrastructure upgrades and capital improvements. Interim President Dwayne Tucker thanked state officials for providing TSU with an opportunity for transformation, saying, “It not only provides crucial cash flow to ensure the university’s financial sustainability but also allows us to invest in enriching the student experience and strengthening our capacity to attract both students and qualified employees.” Last year, a state audit revealed that the school had mishandled millions of dollars in fiscal year 2023, and university leadership pledged to improve financial governance and staff training.

U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Amy St. Eve, chair of the Federal Judicial Conference’s Budget Committee, on Tuesday told a panel of the House Judiciary Committee that funds for the "Criminal Justice Act" (CJA) panel are set to expire on July 7 or 11, sooner than the conference's original estimate that funds could stretch until July 23. Bloomberg Law reports that the early expiration of funds will mean that CJA panel attorneys — who are appointed by courts to represent criminal defendants who can’t afford representation — will go nearly three months without pay for their work or reimbursement for case-related expenses. The delay also comes on top of a two-week prescheduled payment pause this month for unrelated systems updates.

A federal lawsuit has been filed challenging a new Tennessee law that criminalizes “harboring” undocumented immigrants. The Nashville Banner reports that the suit argues that the law, set to take effect July 1, is unconstitutionally vague, violates religious freedoms and infringes on federal immigration authority, potentially criminalizing landlords, families, churches and nonprofits for common acts of housing or helping undocumented people. Plaintiffs include the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a landlord and a legally present father with undocumented family members, all of whom say the law forces them to choose between their values and risking criminal prosecution. According to the Tennessee Lookout, the American Immigration Council, Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition and the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law Center also have joined the suit, which is seeking class action status.

The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear an appeal of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) as it tries to protect its constitutional rights in a case connected to an inquiry by the SBC Credentials Committee. According to a press release from Baptist Press, Preston Garner, a longtime worship pastor and school music teacher, and his wife Kellie filed suit in 2023 against the SBC, Guidepost Solutions and others alleging defamation/libel and slander, defamation by implication, invasion of privacy and loss of consortium. The Garners claim the SBC defamed them in conversations after a confidential report was made to the SBC’s abuse hotline. The SBC argued in court that it was protected by the church autonomy doctrine, a First Amendment right which keeps courts from interfering in disputes within religious bodies that involve religious faith, doctrine or governance. Two lower courts have rejected that argument.