U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen has asked President Donald Trump to commute the sentences of all federal inmates serving time for nonviolent marijuana-related offenses, according to a letter posted on social media and reported on by the Commercial Appeal. Cohen and eight other members of Congress wrote that approximately 3,000 people are federally incarcerated on nonviolent marijuana convictions and urged the administration to provide reentry services for those granted commutations. Cohen, a Democrat who has represented Memphis in the U.S. House of Representatives for 19 years, announced in May that he will not seek reelection. During his time in Congress, Cohen has co-sponsored multiple bills aimed at legalizing marijuana.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Friday vacated the second-degree murder convictions of Antonio Demetrius Adkisson, holding that his confession was involuntary and should not have been admitted at trial. In 2017, the 17-year-old was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in Milan, tried as an adult after a juvenile court transfer and ultimately convicted by a jury of two counts of second-degree murder. The court upheld the transfer decision and found that Adkisson had validly waived his Miranda rights, but ruled that his confession was nonetheless involuntary under the totality of the circumstances, constituting a violation of the Fifth and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and the Tennessee Constitution. As a result, the court vacated his convictions and remanded the case for further proceedings, over a partial dissent from Justice Sarah Campbell arguing that the confession was not unconstitutionally coercive. Read more in a press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker recently heard arguments over the constitutionality of Tennessee’s 2024 bail law, which prohibits judicial commissioners from considering a defendant’s ability to pay when setting bail, the Daily Memphian reports. The lawsuit, filed by Just City and the American Civil Liberties Union, argues the law unfairly keeps low-income defendants jailed before trial because they cannot afford release. Plaintiffs contend the law removes critical judicial discretion and creates wealth-based detention, while attorneys for the state and Shelby County argued the statute remains constitutional because judges may still consider a defendant’s financial condition when assessing bail. Parker did not immediately rule and said he would issue a written decision at a later date.

State Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville, launched his campaign Thursday for Tennessee’s newly drawn 7th Congressional District, according to NewsChannel 5. Dixie, who has represented House District 54 since 2018, said his campaign will focus on voting rights and issues affecting working families. The newly drawn district includes part of Nashville and extends farther east. Dixie will face fellow Democrats Darden Copeland, Saletta Holloway and Joshua Warren Sales in the Aug. 6 primary. Republican Matt Van Epps is running unopposed in the Republican primary. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.

The TBA YLD will host the webcast “Drug Court 101” in recognition of National Treatment Court Month. The program will provide an overview of Tennessee’s recovery courts, historically known as drug courts, and will cover recovery court practices, the Tennessee Drug Court Treatment Act, addiction and brain science, best practices for working with participants with substance use disorders, and the challenges and successes of the drug court model. The webcast is designed to help attorneys effectively represent clients and is open to all lawyers, particularly criminal defense attorneys, prosecutors, juvenile and family law attorneys, and general civil practitioners. The CLE will be moderated by Hamilton County Circuit Judge and TBA Young Lawyers Division President Alex McVeagh and will feature Shannon Morgan, director of Hamilton County Accountability Courts. More information and registration are available on the TBA website.

Frank Gibson, founder and former executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government (TCOG), died earlier this month. Gibson, a longtime Tennessee journalist and advocate for government transparency, founded the coalition in 2003 and served as its executive director until 2011, later remaining active on its board. During his career, he worked for more than four decades as a journalist at The Tennessean, serving as a reporter, city editor and political editor, and later became public policy director for the Tennessee Press Association. Gibson was widely recognized for his work advancing Tennessee’s public records and open meetings laws, including helping draft reforms to the Tennessee Public Records Act and co-authoring “Keys to Open Government,” a guide to the state’s sunshine laws.

The Tennessee Board of Law Examiners is seeking licensed Tennessee attorneys to serve as volunteers to conduct Character and Fitness interviews of applicants to the Tennessee bar. Eligible attorneys must be licensed and in good standing in Tennessee, have been admitted to practice for at least five years, reside in Tennessee and not teach in any capacity at a law school. Volunteers are appointed to a five-year term and may be reappointed for one additional five-year term. All appointments are subject to approval by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Those interested in serving or who would like to nominate an eligible attorney to serve, should complete and submit the Volunteer Interest Form by June 30.

Democratic state Sen. Charlane Oliver, D-Nashville, has been removed from the one committee that meets during the off-session as punishment for a protest mounted on the last day of the special session on redistricting. The Tennessean reports that the Oliver also has been informed by Senate Speaker Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, that she will not qualify for per diem payments for office work until next year. The move comes after House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, stripped committee assignments from every House Democrat in response to what he called disruptive behavior in the chamber during the special legislative session. Democrats will remain on the Government Operations Committee and the Calendar & Rules Committees though since House rules require that members of both parties serve on those panels. The Tennessean also reports that additional “punishments” may be coming when the legislature reconvenes in January. Local Memphis has responses from several Democratic members.

Gov. Bill Lee and legislative leaders have named their appointments to a nine-member oversight board that will review operations of Memphis schools. The move comes after the state legislature approved legislation establishing the board, which will operate through 2030. Lee named businessman Tyrone Burroughs, education professional Dorsey Hopson, UT Board of Trustees member Shanea McKinney, Tennessee Board of Regents member Nisha Powers and former National Civil Rights Museum President Beverly Robertson. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally appointed Memphis attorney Dedrick Brittenum Jr. and businessman Billy Orgel. House Speaker Cameron Sexton selected just one of his appointees: David Mansouri, the president and CEO of the education organization SCORE. The Daily Memphian reports on the selections.

Death row inmate Tony Carruthers’ attorneys are criticizing the qualifications of the doctor who participated in his failed execution on May 21 at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution. The Tennessean reports that Mark Walton Fowler is a family medicine doctor in Union City. He has an active Tennessee medical license but does not have hospital privileges. Fowler previously said he had not performed a central line procedure since 2013. Carruthers reportedly was pierced more than 12 times in an attempt to access his veins. Prison officials called off the procedure and Gov. Bill Lee granted Carruthers a one-year reprieve from execution. Fowler has participated in at least two other executions: Oscar Smith in May 2025 and Byron Black in August 2025. A lawsuit challenging the state’s execution protocols is scheduled to go to trial in February 2027.