If you missed the panel discussion with Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Holly Kirby and Justice Dwight Tarwater in Memphis last month, the video from the event is now available on demand. Moderated by attorneys Will Perry and Buck Wellford, the justices discussed their paths to the bench, the importance of mentors, the manner in which members of the court interact and the importance of the Rule of Law in our society. Watch it here and earn up to 1.5 general CLE credit hours.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division, in conjunction with the Williamson County Bar Association and the City of Brentwood, held a Wills Clinic for first responders in Brentwood. Fourteen volunteer attorneys helped 42 first responders and their spouses. Thank you to all who volunteered for your service.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled today that Meta Platforms cannot delay a U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) probe into alleged privacy failures by its Facebook unit while the company pursues a lawsuit challenging the agency's authority. Reuters reports that the court found that Meta had not shown its challenge was likely to be successful. The court said Meta has "not met its heavy burden of showing entitlement to an injunction pending appeal." The same appeals court panel on March 12 denied a separate request by Meta in a related case to pause the FTC’s probe, which was announced last year, despite Meta's objections that it already paid a $5 billion fine and agreed to a range of safeguards.

Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday signed off on the repeal of police traffic stop reforms made in Memphis after the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols by officers in January 2023, despite pleas from Nichols’ parents to give them a chance to find compromise, reports the Associated Press. The governor’s signature means the law immediately renders some of Memphis’ ordinances null and void, including one that outlawed so-called "pretextual" traffic stops, such as those for a broken taillight and other minor violations.

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) has announced that Maha Ayesh has been promoted to associate dean for academic affairs. Ayesh has served as LMU Law’s director of experiential learning since October 2020. During that time, she has overseen a growing externship program while developing clinical offerings to provide students with practical experience and meeting the law school’s mission to serve the underserved. These efforts have included a domestic violence clinic and mediation clinic in neighboring Sevier County and an immigration clinic with Catholic Charities of East Tennessee. Ayesh also has taught a variety of doctrinal and experiential courses and served on the law school’s Curriculum Committee, allowing her to gain an understanding of its curricular process and needs.

Belmont College of Law’s transactional and mock trial teams have experienced success this year, with teams and individuals earning regional and national recognition. Ally Bojczuk (3L), Kendall McMullen (2L) and Katelyn Watlington (3L) were declared national champions at the L. Edward Bryant Jr. National Health Law Transactional Competition. Nate Conder (3L), Garrison Luckett (3L) and Kaitlyn Phillips (3L) were regional finalists at the National Trial Competition (NTC) in Birmingham, Alabama. Belmont’s team of Zach Lambert (3L), Hunter Lindsey (3L), Taylor Patton (2L) and Alexis Phelps (3L) were regional semifinalists at the American Association of Justice Mock Trial Competition. And Torin Shanahan (3L) and Mary Kate Tumelty (2L) represented Belmont and advanced to the semifinal round of the Magnolia Cup Negotiation Competition, a new competition for the school.

The Tennessee House on Thursday voted to vacate the Tennessee State University (TSU) board in its entirety. The Tennessean reports that a $2-million external forensic audit, commissioned by legislators and released on Thursday, found no instances of fraud or malfeasance at the historically Black university in Nashville, though it noted that a 250% increase in scholarships between 2019 and 2023 was not sustainable. Gov. Bill Lee signed the legislation into law on Thursday evening and announced eight new appointees. They include TBA members Terica Smith, Charles Traughber and Dakasha Winton. All new appointees are TSU graduates.

Davidson County Circuit Judge Joe Binkley Jr. on Wednesday denied a petition from former state Rep. Scotty Campbell, R-Mountain City, to view records relating to a sexual harassment complaint filed against him, which led to his resignation in April 2023. The Tennessean reports that the judge ruled that the records are not subject to disclosure under the Tennessee Public Records Act and that separation of powers prohibits the court from reviewing the Tennessee House of Representatives' internal rules unless a constitutional violation has been alleged. In February, Campbell sued the General Assembly's Office of Legislative Administration Director Connie Ridley, alleging that the office, which serves as the legislature's human resources department, withheld the records to cover up a complaint against House Republican Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby. Faison has denied the allegations as well as the existence of any complaint filed against him.

The 2024 Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Initiative (CCPBI) Gala will be held April 20 in Nashville at the offices of Bass, Berry & Sims, located at the Pinnacle at Symphony Place. Individual tickets are available, and organizations are invited to support the initiative by becoming recognized sponsors. The gala will be a cocktail supper, with live music and a brief presentation, including awarding the inaugural Branham Grants. The CCPBI, a partnership between the TBA Access to Justice Committee, TBA Corporate Counsel Section and the Tennessee Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, established the grants in honor of long-time access to justice champion Andy Branham, who passed away in 2022. The Branham Grants support pro bono projects designed to provide civil legal resources and support for people with, affected by, or at risk for addiction in Tennessee as well as those in recovery. See photos from last year's event. 

TBA’s Legislative Updates podcast is out with a new episode featuring attorney and TBA lobbyist Berkley Schwarz and Adams and Reese attorneys and TBA lobbyists, Brad Lampley and Ashley Harbin. This week they discuss HB2710/SB2254, the TBA's conservatorship bill; HB2645, the adoption birth certificate bill; and HB2644, the adoption clean-up bill. They also discuss the TBA's testimony on Tuesday to the Senate Judiciary Committee. After testimony from TBA's Executive Director Sheree Wright and Williamson County attorney David Grimmett, the committee approved a motion in support of adding $26.145 million to the governor's budget for the purpose of increasing indigent representation funding. Legislative Updates airs each week on the TBA’s Facebook page. It is also released as a podcast on the same day and can be found on the TBA’s website or wherever you listen to podcasts.