Mason & Associates Law Firm, which focuses its practice on elder law and estate planning, has moved to 880 Greenlea Blvd., Suite B, Gallatin 37066 in the Greensboro Village Business Center. The firm can be reached at 615-989-7054 or info@planyourlegacy.com.

Twenty-seven attorneys general, including Tennessee Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti, signed onto a U.S. Supreme Court amicus brief filed March 18 by Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. The Nashville Banner reports in its newsletter that the brief calls for the reversal of U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg’s decision that deportation of Venezuelan immigrants to a prison in El Salvador is unconstitutional. The attorneys general argue in the brief that allowing the temporary restraining order to stand undermines public safety and national security. Read more in a press release from the Georgia AG's office. In imposing the temporary ban on March 15, Boasberg raised concerns over due process and reports of possible misidentification. The Trump administration today acknowledged that a Maryland man was wrongly deported to El Salvador due to an "administrative error," despite his protected status, The Hill reports. A split three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit kept the ban in place last week. On Friday, the administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on the case according to the Associated Press.

The TBA Access to Justice Committee is accepting nominations for the 2025 Public Service Awards. The annual awards recognize outstanding commitment to access to justice in three categories: work performed by an attorney employed by an organization primarily involved in providing legal representation to the indigent, pro bono work performed by a private or corporate attorney, and a strong commitment to pro bono service by a Tennessee law student or recent graduate. Nominations and supporting documents will be accepted through April 10. Awards will be presented during the TBA Annual Convention in June.

The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) and Tennessee’s American Inns of Court are accepting nominations for the 2025 Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award. The annual award is presented to a lawyer or judge whose life and practice display sterling character and unquestioned integrity, coupled with ongoing dedication to the highest standards of the rule of law and the highest standards of the legal profession in Tennessee. This year's award will be presented to a lawyer or judge residing in the Middle Grand Division. Nominees must be alive when nominations are submitted but they need not be an active member of an American Inn of Court or the TBA. The award will be presented at the TBA's Annual Convention, which will be held in Franklin June 11-14. The deadline for submitting nominations is April 7. Read about past recipients of the award.

The TBA will host its 29th Annual Labor and Employment Law Forum on May 2 at the Bradley L. Barrett Training Center in Nashville from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CDT. The forum will provide insights into current labor and employment law topics. Sessions include a case law update and presentations on values-based professionalism, arbitration for employment lawyers, workplace privacy and DEI. More information about the schedule and speakers now is available on the TBA website.

Tennessee lawmakers voted to advance a bill Wednesday that would allow public schools to check students' immigration status and charge tuition to students who cannot provide proof that they are in the country legally. According to Chalkbeat Tennessee, the House Education Committee voted 11-7 to clear the bill, bringing it a step closer to a floor vote. The language of the bill also changed to align more with its companion bill in the Senate. If passed, the legislation would give public schools and public charter schools the option to ask students for documents showing they are U.S. citizens, legal residents or in the process of obtaining citizenship. If a student cannot provide this documentation, the districts could charge the family tuition for enrollment. A Senate version of the bill is scheduled to be heard tomorrow in the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.

Do you have questions about how the proposed plan for indigent representation will work? Have you had experience as an appointed attorney that you would like to share? There are several ways to connect with TBA to share questions and experiences. Attorneys interested in learning more about TBA's grassroots advocacy efforts can sign up for TBA Grassroots Advocacy Updates, which will highlight related policy content. Attorneys with experience working with clients who are indigent or vulnerable are invited to complete this survey, which includes specific questions about court appointed representation. The TBA's continuing efforts to provide education and resources related to the state's system of appointed counsel also includes the Indigent Representation Primer series, which shares background and updates about indigent representation in Tennessee. More information is available on the TBA's Indigent Representation Resource page.

Gov. Bill Lee has included $20 million in his amended state budget for victim-serving agencies. According to the Tennessee Lookout, sexual assault centers, domestic violence shelters and child abuse counseling agencies — many of which play key roles in working with law enforcement to bring perpetrators to justice — have seen their share of federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding decrease from a peak of $68 million in 2018 to $16 million last year. A coalition of victim advocate groups had requested $25 million in recurring state funding but said the governor's additional funds were an important first step. Earlier this month, a domestic violence agency in Memphis closed its doors due to funding issues. VOCA funding relies on fees and fines collected from individuals prosecuted in federal courts. The fund has seen a drop in collections as prosecutors have made a concerted shift to accept more plea deals.

The FBI confirmed last week it has established a task force to investigate an increase of vandalism and arson incidents targeting Tesla in recent weeks. According to The Hill, the task force, consisting of 10 people, was launched as a joint effort between the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The task force seeks to counter the violent activity targeting Tesla vehicles and charging stations. The FBI has received reports of 48 incidents involving Tesla so far this month, including at least seven it is investigating with local law enforcement.

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Biden administration’s regulation of "ghost guns" in a 7-2 decision, rejecting a challenge from gun rights groups and manufacturers. The regulation, enforced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), requires ghost guns, sold as do-it-yourself kits, to be treated like other firearms, The Hill reports. “Future cases may present other and more difficult questions about ATF’s regulations. But we take cases as they come and today resolve only the question posed to us,” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented separately, saying they would have invalidated the rule. In 2022, the ATF began regulating ghost guns as any other firearm, subjecting the devices to requirements such as serial numbers and background checks.