The Tennessee Senate passed SB1731 — sponsored by Sen. John Stevens, R-Huntingdon — on Feb. 23 by a vote of 26-6. The House Judiciary Committee is set to consider its version of the bill — HB1791 sponsored by Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville — on March 4. The legislation would authorize the attorney general to make immediate appeals of initial trial court rulings in certain cases brought against the state. These include rulings (1) granting, continuing or modifying injunctions against the state; (2) denying sovereign or qualified immunity for state officials; and (3) denying motions to dismiss in cases challenging the constitutionality of state laws, executive orders or administrative rules. Normally, the state would have to wait for a final judgment from the trial court before appealing. Supporters of the bills argue that waiting for a final judgment can drag cases out for years. Opponents warn it gives the state an unfair advantage. The Nashville Post has more on the bill.

The number of judges in U.S. immigration courts has dropped by about a quarter in the last year due to firings and resignations — even when accounting for new hires, according to NPR. Twelve immigration courts have lost over half of their judges while two courts have no judges at all. Former judges and staff say the system’s ability to provide timely, fair hearings has been strained, while the U.S. Department of Justice maintains the changes are intended to improve efficiency and enforce immigration laws. New hiring efforts have focused on bringing in judges with law-enforcement or military backgrounds as the remaining courts face mounting backlogs.

Several newly designated sites will honor Black history in Nashville. The U.S. Civil Rights Trail has added two music museums to its roster. The Jefferson Street Sound Museum showcases how music, culture and activism intersected to energize Nashville's civil rights movement while the Museum of Christian and Gospel Music examines the powerful role gospel music and musicians played as a source of hope, unity and inspiration during the fight for civil rights. Read more about the new designations in news release from the trail. In addition, a new memorial is being planned for the some 6,000 enslaved people buried in the Nashville City Cemetery. The cemetery, which is raising money for the tribute, says the majority of graves have no marker at all. WKRN reports on the effort.

Canada is one of Tennessee’s largest international trading partners, and as trade and entry policies change through new agreements, tariffs, retaliatory measures or legislation, it is imperative to plan ahead, manage risk and compliance, and maintain competitiveness. This webcast, hosted by TBA's International Law Section on March 26, will address what Tennessee lawyers must know about cross-border tax issues, income tax and estate tax considerations, planning for purchases of real estate, crossing the U.S.-Canada border, traveling with criminal records and general best practices. Register on the TBA's website.

At its winter meeting last month, the TBA Board of Governors announced a vacancy in two board positions: West Tennessee Grand Division Governor (a one-year term) and 7th District Governor (a three-year term). The 7th District includes the counties of Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, McNairy, Madison, Obion, Tipton and Weakley. To be considered for either of these positions, email a statement of interest and resume to TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright at barED@tnbar.org by March 3. The board will consider nominees at its March meeting. Read more about the 2026-2027 election on the TBA website.

The 2026 Estate Planning & Probate Forum will take place at the Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin next week. The event on Friday will provide seven hours of CLE, including one hour of dual credit, and offers sessions on litigation and estate planning, public receivership, a probate panel and a legislative update. Speakers include Section Chair Robert Malin, Rebecca Blair, Chancellor William Cole, Arthur Cook, Jennifer Exum, Donald Farinato, General Sessions Court Judge Toby Gilley, Zachary Glaser, Lisa Helton, Robin Miller, David Parsons, Al Secor, Andrea Sinclair, Jared Smith and Ashley Stearns. Section members receive discounted registration. Get more information and register on the TBA's website.

Tennessee Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti has joined a coalition of state attorneys general urging the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct a thorough antitrust review of the proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Bros., warning that the deal could harm consumers, creators and the broader film industry. In a statement, Skrmetti emphasized the potential harm to creative professionals: “This merger threatens to devastate movie and television production and abandon America’s enduring legacy as the dominant force in global cinema. We are exploring options to protect Tennessee consumers and creators.”

On Feb. 24, the Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated Sullivan County lawyer Ricky A.W. Curtis to the active practice of law. Curtis was temporarily suspended on Jan. 22 for failing to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning a complaint of misconduct. The board confirmed that the petition for reinstatement was satisfactory.

Memphis lawyer Byrd Douglas Earthman died Feb. 19 at the age of 76. Originally from Kingsport, Earthman moved to Nashville as a child when his father, an attorney, took a job with the Gov. Frank Clement administration. After receiving his law degree in 1973 from Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis) Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Earthman began a 20-year career with the Waring Cox law firm. He later served as a senior vice president at ServiceMaster Diversified Health Services. He returned to private practice at Armstrong Allen and finished his legal career at Glankler Brown. Earthman focused his private practice on municipal bonds and real estate matters. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice or the Earthman-Lambeth Family Fund with the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly (choose "Make a Gift" at the bottom of the page and then click on "use this donation as a memorial gift" and specify the fund name in the special instructions field).

After more than a week of conflicting reports about whether the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was planning to open an immigration detention facility in Lebanon, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn announced yesterday that DHS will not move forward with the facility. Though supportive of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) mission, the Tennessee Lookout reports that Blackburn opposed the location for a proposed detention center. Local officials and at least one Republican state lawmaker also spoke against the location, citing the strains it would place on local safety and law enforcement resources. The Lookout also reports that Blackburn is working with state, local and federal leaders to “find a proper placement” for the detention center. In related news, ICE will open a new legal office in Nashville’s MetroCenter. The Nashville Business Journal has details on those plans.