A news item in yesterday’s issue of TBA Today contained an incorrect date for the upcoming retirement of District Attorney General James B. “Jimmy” Dunn. The 4th Judicial District prosecutor will retire on Aug. 31.

Crime in Nashville continued to decline during the first half of 2026, reflecting a broader national trend, according to the Tennessean. Metro Nashville Police Department data show overall violent crime decreased 16.7% and property crime fell 19.9% compared with the same period last year. Homicides dropped 29.4%, robberies declined 25.6%, aggravated assaults fell 17.6%, auto thefts decreased 39.7% and burglaries were down 7.3%, while reported rape cases increased 7.4%. Mayor Freddie O'Connell and Police Chief John Drake credited the decline to precision policing, community engagement initiatives, partnerships such as the department's Partners in Care program and the opening of the city's Southeast Police Precinct.

Ongoing repair work from a water-main break last month has forced the temporary closure of select courtrooms at the Walter L. Bailey Criminal Justice Center into a second day Tuesday, the Daily Memphian reports. The courtroom closures are a direct result of the flooding that initially shut down the building June 29. For individuals who are not in custody or in jail, cases scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in the affected divisions will not be heard. The ongoing construction traces back to late June when a ruptured water line left the complex without running water.

The offices of U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett and U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty have agreed to forward materials from the Knox County Sheriff's Office investigations into a teenager's death to the FBI, Knox News reports. Ruth Dolin, the mother of 15-year-old Conor Dolin, who died in a Knox County car crash in 2022, sent the elected officials investigative files, public records responses and internal affairs findings. Dolin's family filed a lawsuit in Knox County Circuit Court alleging the sheriff's office was negligent in its investigation of the accident. A hearing in the lawsuit is scheduled for July 17. The family's attorney said the lawsuit and any potential FBI investigation are separate matters.

Gov. Bill Lee has appointed Lawrence Scott Shults to the 1st Judicial District Criminal Court, filling a vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Stacy Street to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. The appointment takes effect immediately. Shults currently serves as an assistant district attorney for the 1st Judicial District. He earned a bachelor's degree from East Tennessee State University and a law degree from the Appalachian School of Law. “I am proud to announce the appointment of Scott Shults, and value the significant experience he will bring to the bench,” Lee said in a press release. The 1st Judicial District serves Carter, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties.

A classroom in East Tennessee is the setting of a new true crime docuseries, "Murder 101" on Amazon Prime, and the students are the stars. According to Knox News, the series follows teacher Alex Campbell's Elizabethton High School sociology class as students try to solve the "Redhead Murders." The unsolved murders date back to the late 1970s. Many of the victims were women and girls and were found abandoned along major highways in the South. Several of the women's bodies were discovered in Tennessee and remained unidentified for decades. The series highlights the students' work identifying previously unnamed victims and collaborating with law enforcement while documenting their classroom's unique, student-led approach to learning. Campbell said the production was designed to focus on both the victims and the student experience.

The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) has released the results of its 2026 member survey evaluating appellate judges standing for retention in Tennessee's Aug. 6 general election. According to a press release, a majority of respondents recommended retention for each candidate. Conducted electronically from June 18 to July 2, the survey drew responses from 335 KBA members and included two Tennessee Supreme Court justices and three Eastern Section appellate judges. According to the results, Justice Kyle A. Hixson received 93.41% support for retention, Justice Mary L. Wagner received 91%, Court of Appeals Judge William E. Phillips II received 90.45%, and Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Stacy L. Street received 93.26% while Judge Steven W. Sword received 95.85%. Early voting begins July 17 and runs through Aug. 1. The KBA said the survey is intended to help inform voters about judicial retention candidates. It has additional election resources and candidate information on its website.

Memphis attorney Gerald Patrick "Pat" Arnoult died this month at the age of 88. Arnoult earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University in 1966 and went on to build a legal career in Memphis that spanned nearly five decades. His practice focused on civil litigation, including both trial and appellate work, with an emphasis on business litigation and estate administration. Arnoult also served as president of the Memphis Bar Association and was a fellow of both the Tennessee Bar Foundation and the Memphis Bar Foundation. He retired in 2014. A visitation will be held July 18 at 10 a.m. CDT at St. Louis Catholic Church, 203 S. White Station Rd., Memphis 38117, followed by a funeral Mass. A reception celebrating Arnoult's life will follow at the church. Memorial donations may be made to Christian Brothers High School or St. Louis Catholic Church.

The TBA is offering two CLE programs next week focused on mentorship, leadership and professional development, emphasizing the role experienced attorneys play in fostering ethical practice and strengthening the legal profession. "Pathways & Perspectives — How Mentorship Shapes Professionalism and Legal Careers," — set for July 20 — will feature a panel discussion exploring how mentorship influences professionalism, ethical decision-making and career development across a variety of legal practice settings. A second program, "Mentorship as Leadership: Ethical Duties, Professional Growth and Practical Guidance" — set for July 22 — will examine mentorship as both a leadership responsibility and an ethical obligation, covering topics such as supervision, confidentiality, conflicts of interest and professional growth. Looking for something else? Visit the TBA website for all July offerings.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) will host its fourth Exploration CLE series on Sept. 25 at Long Hunter State Park in Hermitage from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT. The indoor/outdoor program offers three hours of dual CLE credit and features sessions including "Wrong Turn: Ethics Mistakes, Violations and Consequences" by Laura Chastain of the Board of Professional Responsibility; "Using Emotional Intelligence to Build Resilience" by Ryan Heinl, CEO of SIY Global; and in collaboration with the TBA Mentoring Committee, "You Can't Bill for Wisdom: Mentorship, Ethics and the Future of the Profession" by Chris Sloan of Baker Donelson. Attendees will also enjoy complimentary lunch and a nature hike. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.