Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, is facing potential legal action after the Southern Environmental Law Center and Earthjustice sent a 60-day notice of intent to sue the company and its affiliate MZX Tech LLC on behalf of the Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP and the national NAACP. The groups plan to allege violations of the Clean Air Act, according to the Commercial Appeal. The letter claims unpermitted turbines are being used to power xAI’s Colossus 2 data center in Memphis. The notice is a required first step before formal litigation can be filed. In June 2025, the Southern Environmental Law Center and the NAACP sent a similar notice of intent to sue over alleged violations at xAI’s Colossus data center on Paul R. Lowry Road.

The Washington County Bar Association has announced its 2026 officers and board members. Brady Smith will serve as president, followed by President-elect Akiah Highsmith, Vice President Hunter Shepard, Secretary Thomas J. Smith and Treasurer Jesse J. Campbell. New board members for 2026 are Jerome Cochran, Solange McDaniel and Sarah Larkin. In a message to members, the association expressed appreciation to incoming leaders for their willingness to serve.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) said building a new federal courthouse on Vine Street in Chattanooga could save taxpayers up to $117 million, the Chattanoogan.com reports. The agency confirmed it is moving forward with the site, citing security, expedited construction and overall risk considerations, as well as compliance with presidential memoranda, in selecting the location. The courthouse will total approximately 190,701 gross square feet and include seven secure courtrooms, nine chambers and 40 parking spaces. Design is underway, and construction-related activities are expected to begin soon. A declaration of taking was filed Friday. Read more from the GSA.

Nashville attorney Loren Kathryne Gower Kirkpatrick died Feb. 10 at age 81. Kirkpatrick earned her law degree from the Nashville School of Law and worked at Red Kap Industries and J.C. Bradford & Co. She ultimately spent most of her career with — and retired from — Sanders Manufacturing Company, a family-owned specialty advertising company founded by her maternal grandfather and his two brothers. Donations may be made in Kirkpatrick's memory to Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue or Breakthrough T1D. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

The TBA on Feb. 17 from noon to 1 p.m. CST will host a webcast replay focused on developing and sustaining a book of business, a key skill for lawyers seeking professional independence and long-term success. The program will feature a panel of attorneys sharing practical strategies for attracting and retaining clients, building professional relationships, and positioning oneself as a trusted resource in your practice areas. Panelists include Heidi A. Barcus of Lewis Thomason in Knoxville, Dixie W. Cooper of Cumberland Litigation PLLC in Brentwood and Johnika Everhart of Geeter Law Office PLLC in Chattanooga. The session also will address aligning business development efforts with personal values and career goals. Visit the TBA website for more information and to register.

The TBA YLD has selected six fellows for its Rural Judicial Fellowship (RJF) program. They are: Johnny Byrd, Rachel Carpenter, Laila Irigoyen and Alana Perez from Belmont University College of Law; Sarah Harper from Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law; and Savannah Beaty from University of Tennessee Winston College of Law. These law students will have the opportunity to spend six weeks of the summer as a judicial law clerk in a legal community in rural Tennessee. They also will attend the TBA's Annual Convention in June. Six judges will be paired with the students to help them gain practical legal experience and foster connections in underserved areas. Thank you to this year's participating judges: Circuit Court Judge Caleb Bayless in Columbia, Chancellor Jerri Bryant in Athens, General Sessions Judge Lee Bussart in Lewisburg, Circuit Court Judge Mark Hayes in Dyersburg, Circuit Court Judge Blake Neill in Somerville, and Criminal Court Judge Zachary Walden in Jacksboro. Thanks also to YLD Middle Tennessee Governor Alix Rogers and YLD Secretary Judge Zack Walden who co-chair the Rural Judicial Fellowship program.

The TBA Leadership Law (TBALL) Class of 2026 met in Memphis on Thursday and Friday this week for its “Issues in Community Leadership” program. The class toured St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and were welcomed by Sara Hall, chief legal officer and general counsel at ALSAC, the fundraising organization for St. Jude. University of Memphis School of Law Professor Daniel Kiel and members of the Memphis 13 — the African American first-graders who integrated four all-white Memphis elementary schools in 1961 — shared their experiences with the class. The group also heard from Bruce McMullen of Baker Donelson and Van Turner of Turner Field Law. Additional highlights included a welcome from TBALL co-chairs Geoffrey Lewis and John Wilks, a Myers-Briggs leadership assessment led by Linda Bailey, a “Lunch & Learn” with Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Holly Kirby and a caucus with Justice Mary Wagner. An optional tour of the National Civil Rights Museum was also offered. See photos from the events.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said Tuesday that the state owes the county millions for housing state inmates at the Shelby County Penal Farm, claiming the unpaid costs contributed to the county’s budget deficit, Action News 5 reports. Harris said it cost nearly $30 million last year to house inmates and that money had to be drawn from the county’s general fund. Shelby County Division of Corrections currently has 959 Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) inmates. “Shelby County taxpayers are being asked to pay a bill that is not theirs,” Harris said, adding that if the state does not pay, the county could face a tax increase. County attorneys said negotiations with the state broke down in July 2024, and the TDOC has not paid for any inmates since. The news outlet said TDOC could not be reached for comment.

TBA’s Legislative Updates podcast is new this week with TBA attorneys and lobbyists Brad Lampley and Ashley Harbin of Adams & Reese. In this episode, they discuss the state of the legislature after Winter Storm Fern, bills being assigned to committees and the timeline for this year's legislative session. Tune in to the podcast on the TBA website or through this link.

North Carolina lawyer John Charles Bircher III was reinstated to the practice of law in Tennessee on Feb. 9. Bircher was placed on inactive status more than five years ago on Sept. 5, 2018. The Board of Professional Responsibility reviewed his petition for reinstatement and found it be appropriate. The court issued the order on Feb. 12.