Social justice activist, playwright, performer and lawyer Irma Herrera was the featured performer at the non-profit Tennessee Justice for our Neighbors' (TNJFON) fundraiser Thursday in Nashville. Her performance and interview will also be featured on the organization's Oye Vecino podcast, hosted by TNJFON staff attorney Alvaro Manrique Barrenechea. Since its founding in 2008, TNJFON has assisted thousands of low-income clients in a variety of immigration matters, with a focus on individuals who are eligible for humanitarian forms of relief. Herrera earlier this year performed her one-woman show, "Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name?" at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. 

It's time for #TeamTBA! Meet the people behind the scenes and learn more about the moving parts, projects and staffers of the Tennessee Bar Association. Seretta Maxwell is the TBA's newest continuing legal education (CLE) coordinator. She assists in the production of CLE programming and provides customer service for attorneys who are taking courses online or in-person. If you've called the TBA with a question about registering for a course or getting CLE credit, you have probably talked to Seretta! She says that helping someone who is having trouble purchasing or registering for a course is her favorite part of her job — solving problems is her jam! When she's not answering CLE questions, Seretta loves to cook. "I love to eat, pretty much anything, and my son and I cook together twice a week." The #TeamTBA series offers members a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the TBA and how each staff member makes the association run. Check back next week for a new staff profile in TBA Today and on the TBA's Facebook and Instagram accounts.

The Appalachian Public Interest and Environmental Law (APIEL) Conference is an annual gathering of lawyers, scientists, students and members of the general public to discuss environmental issues and happenings in Appalachia, public policy and grassroots initiatives. This will be the 14th Annual APIEL Conference, featuring topics such as the Kingston Coal Ash litigation and ethical considerations for environmental lawyers. The conference will run Oct. 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT at the University of Tennessee College of Law. There will be a pre-APIEL social event on Oct. 20, from 6-9 p.m. at Albright Grove Brewing Company for speakers and attendees to meet and connect. There will also be a post-APIEL social event on Oct. 21 from 6-9 p.m. at Hi-Wire Brewing. Click here for more information and to register.

Thirty law students from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law met with members of the TBA YLD Board today. Board members Brande Boyd, Patrick Morris and Jennifer Sneed joined YLD President Quinton Thompson in an interactive panel to discuss the many benefits of getting involved with the TBA. Students were encouraged to apply for the award-winning Diversity Leadership Institute which begins in January and to attend CLEs which are available to them at no cost with their free law school membership.

The Board of Judicial Conduct has issued a public reprimand for Putnam Country Judge R. Steven Randolph related to comments made in a video posted to the Putnam County School's Instagram page. Read the reprimand here.

Tennessee's Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson reported state revenues for August came in $39.4 million less than estimated and $1.7 million lower than the same month a year ago, reports Tennessee Lookout. The 0.11% drop was mostly due to a decrease in franchise and excise tax collections, according to Bryson. Sales taxes were $25.4 million higher than estimated for August. But the state also provided a break on grocery sales taxes and a weekend-long sales tax holiday, much of which was part of a $400 million tax reduction set to include business tax breaks scheduled to kick in permanently next year. 

Tennessee Attorney General Skrmetti announced today that a $44.5 million settlement has been reached with K-VA-T Food Stores, known as Food City, over the grocery store chain’s opioid-related misconduct. Most of the settlement will go to Tennessee’s Opioid Abatement Fund to support efforts in addressing the opioid epidemic. Food City has agreed to ensure future compliance by providing additional training to pharmacy staff, updating their prescription-validation process and monitoring and reporting suspicious activity. Read the full press release.

A federal trial has been set for May 2024 for five former Memphis police officers charged with violating Tyre Nichols' civil rights, reports the Commercial Appeal. The officers were indicted in federal court on Sept. 12. They each face charges of depriving Nichols of his right to be "free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer," deliberate indifference to Nichols' medical needs, tampering with evidence and intentionally providing false and misleading information. The maximum sentence the five former officers face is life in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee elected not to pursue the death penalty for the case.

The Athens City Council approved a motion earlier this week allowing its members to begin carrying concealed firearms during council meetings, reports the Tennessean. Vice Mayor Larry Eaton promoted the measure over concerns for his personal safety. The motion would only allow for council members to carry concealed weapons who have a permit and would not include city residents attending meetings. Athens, the county seat of McMinn County, is located 60 miles south of Knoxville and has 14,000 residents.

Registration is now open for the TBA's Law & Culture in Ireland CLE program scheduled for May 2024. Two travel options are available: a four-night trip to Dublin and a six-night trip to Dublin and Belfast. In conjunction with CLE Abroad, travelers will engage with local experts, academics, officials and change makers who will offer in-depth commentary on the EU and UK legal-political systems, economics, environmental justice, history and religion. In Dublin, the group also will explore ancient castles, visit landmarks, museums and notable legal institutions, and sample local cuisine. In Belfast, travelers will learn about the region's unique political history, Good Friday Agreement, ongoing reconciliation efforts and peace process. Add on trips to the West Coast and Cliffs of Moher also are available. View a brochure for the trip or learn more online.