Early voting at Casa Azafrán, a Nashville community center offering Spanish-language assistance, has seen significant turnout since early voting began on Oct. 16. According to the Nashville Banner, long lines have formed daily as voters seek assistance from Spanish-speaking staff. “A lot of people who recently became citizens and know one of our partners here [come to vote],” said Elizabeth Almaraz, an information and referral officer at the center. “They know staff in the building are able to speak Spanish and help them out.” In related news, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition Votes, a voter assistance group, says it has fielded over 3,200 calls statewide, with 125 requests for language interpretation at polling places. While roughly half of those were requests for Spanish language translation, the other half were for Korean, Amharic and Somali, among others.

A federal appeals court will hear arguments Dec. 10 over the future of a proposed pipeline supplying the planned Cumberland Gas Plant in Stewart County, the Tennessee Lookout reports. The 32-mile pipeline would cut through parts of Dickson, Houston and Stewart counties. Earlier this month in a 2-1 decision, a panel of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily froze two permits issued to Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company to begin construction of the pipeline. TVA’s plans to open more natural gas plants have brought opposition from advocates seeking a redirection from fossil fuels and into solar and other renewable energy.

The city of Memphis has launched a new initiative that will focus on investing in more environmental and sustainable urban development, according to ABC News 24. Green Bank aims to provide cleaner energy, lower costs and green infrastructure upgrades for small businesses. Memphis Mayor Paul Young told the paper that the initiative launched on Tuesday through a $150,000 investment from the Tennessee Valley Authority. "It's one of those things that has a triple bottom line. It benefits the families that are in the home, it benefits their pockets and it benefits the environment," Young said. The Green Bank plans to launch a capital campaign to establish a revolving loan fund and open the loan application process by early next year.

When it comes time to wind down a practice, legal and ethical obligations keep the client front-of-mind. Use this list as a guide to review your wind-down process and the many considerations involved. Learn more in the Winding Down a Firm section of TBA’s Law Firm in a Box.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has granted a German family in Morristown a reprieve from deportation for another year. The Romeike family moved to East Tennessee to homeschool their five children for religious reasons after being fined for doing so in Germany, reports the Tennessean. After pushback from the family's attorney Kevin Boden with the Home School Legal Defense Association and public outcry that included a bill being introduced in Congress, ICE in October 2023 delayed the family's deportation until October 2024. An ICE spokesperson said in a statement that the agency determined after a thorough review that the Romeike case "does not meet current enforcement priorities. Accordingly, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) has approved a one-year order of supervision for the Romeike family."

A federal judge in New York has blocked the pending $8.5 billion merger of Tapestry — which owns the brands Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman — and Capri, owner of the Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors and Versace brands. According to Reuters, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which sued to block the deal in April, argued the merger would eliminate fierce head-to-head competition between the top two U.S. handbag makers and create a massive company with the power to unfairly raise prices. The companies argued that "handbags are nonessential items whose price consumers can control by not buying them if they become too expensive," and that by consolidating the brands, they would have a stronger position in the competitive U.S. handbag industry as well as the European market.

A reception on Nov. 14 will benefit the Judge Dinkins Educational Center, a vocational program dedicated to providing career training and mentorship to adolescents who have been involved in the justice system. Named for the late Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Richard H. Dinkins, the center aims to equip young people with the skills and guidance they need to build a brighter future. The event will take place beginning at 4:30 p.m. CST with a presentation at 4:45 p.m. at the Law Offices of Spencer Fane, 511 Union St., #1000, Nashville 37219. RSVP by Nov. 7 to Tim Forbes, 615-571-9667. View the invitation.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has asked the Board of Professional Responsibility to review the actions of Kentucky lawyer Darren Craig Lamb and take whatever action the board may deem warranted. In August, Lamb entered a plea of nolo contendere to the Class A misdemeanors of stalking, harassment and violation of a No Contact Order in the case of State of Tennessee v. Darren Craig Lamb. The Davidson County General Sessions Court judge who heard the case granted judicial diversion pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. §40-35-313.

Legal Aid of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, the TBA Young Lawyers Division and the Upper Cumberland Young Lawyers Association are partnering for a pro bono clinic on Nov. 14 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. CST. This walk-in clinic for general advice will take place during Overton County's Recovery Rally at the Joe L. Evins Community Center, 312 W. Broad St., Livingston 38570. View a flyer for the event. Contact Amber Vargas with any questions or to volunteer.

The Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Knox County lawyer Gary Lee Anderson from the practice of law after finding that he failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility about a misconduct complaint. Anderson is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases and must cease representing existing clients by Nov. 28. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court.