A lawsuit against freight railroad company CSX Transportation is set to go to trial in August. A jury could determine the company’s role in the deaths of Waverly flood victims in 2021, the Tennessean reports. The plaintiffs allege that a debris-filled culvert owned by CSX acted like a dam, creating a large pool of floodwater. When the bridge and culvert gave way, they say it formed a “deadly tidal wave” that hit the heart of the small town. CSX has denied liability for the deaths in legal filings. The company’s attorneys write that the flood was tragic, there is no evidence that CSX played any role in the disaster.

Robertson County Attorney Clyde Richert will retire effective July 1 after serving 27 years as county attorney and practicing law in Springfield for 37 years, according to Main Street Media TN. Richert informed county commissioners of his decision during the May 18 Robertson County Commission meeting, saying he plans to transition responsibilities while remaining available to assist with ongoing county matters. A Springfield native and senior partner at Richert & Dilliha, Richert has represented Robertson County's elected and appointed officials in legal matters for nearly three decades. Richert said his son, Jarod Richert — who also works at the firm — could serve as interim county attorney until the county commission appoints a permanent replacement.

A Davidson County Chancery Court judge has denied a request from death row inmate Tony Carruthers for an independent medical examination following Tennessee's failed attempt to execute him last month, WPLN reports. Carruthers' attorneys sought the examination after execution personnel were unable to establish an IV and a physician unsuccessfully attempted to gain access through other parts of his body before the execution was halted. They also have raised questions about the doctor who was on hand for the procedure. While denying the medical exam request, the court ordered the Tennessee Department of Correction to preserve all equipment, records, communications and other materials related to the execution attempt. Carruthers' legal team is arguing that the incident is relevant to ongoing litigation, which is challenging Tennessee's lethal injection protocol and alleging deficiencies in the training and oversight of execution personnel.

A detainee at the Shelby County Jail died early in the morning today, a spokesperson with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office confirmed. According to the Commercial Appeal, Coltral Pondexter, who was detained at the main jail at 201 Poplar, experienced a medical emergency. The Memphis Fire Department was called and transported the inmate to Regional One Health. Pondexter was pronounced dead at the hospital. The spokesperson said the sheriff's office was investigating Pondexter's death. Last year, 13 inmates reportedly died in custody at the jail.

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas A. Varlan with the Eastern District of Tennessee will be honored next week with the 2026 Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award from the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) and Tennessee’s American Inns of Court. The award will be presented at the TBA’s Lawyers Luncheon set for June 12 as part of the group’s Annual Convention in Knoxville.

Varlan will be honored for his long tenure on the bench, including handling many of East Tennessee’s most publicized and significant trials, and exhibiting the highest level of integrity and professionalism in his work. Presentation of the award this year is timely given that Varlan has announced he will take senior status this fall. In a letter supporting Varlan for the award, the other judges of the district court praised his judicial temperament and selflessness exhibited while serving as chief judge of the district. In particular, they point to his decision to end his term as chief judge six months early so his colleague, the late Judge Pamela Reeves, could become the first female chief judge in the history of the district. Had Varlan served his full term, Reeves would not have been age-eligible to succeed him.

In announcing this year’s recipient, TBA President Heidi Barcus said: “Throughout his judicial service, Judge Varlan has exhibited the ideals embodied in this award, demonstrating character and integrity as well as dedication to the highest standards of the rule of law and the legal profession. The fact that he served with Judge Reeves and sacrificed his own interests to see her rise to the position of chief judge makes presentation of an award named in her honor all the more poignant.” The professionalism award honors a lawyer or judge whose life and practice display sterling character and unquestioned integrity, coupled with ongoing dedication to the highest standards of the rule of law and the legal profession in Tennessee. It is named in honor of the late Judge Pamela L. Reeves, former chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee and the first recipient of the award. Reeves was an active leader in both the American Inns of Court and the TBA, where she was elected the first female president in 1988. Read more about Varlan's selection in a press release from the TBA.

A new study from Stanford Law School found that law professors preferred artificial intelligence-generated responses over answers written by fellow professors when evaluating common first-year law student questions. According to Reuters, professors from 14 law schools compared responses from faculty members and two AI platforms and selected the AI-generated answers as more beneficial to students 75% of the time. Researchers said the findings suggest AI is capable of sophisticated legal reasoning and could serve as an effective tutoring tool for law students. 

The Shelby County Election Commission will add a special election for criminal court judge to the Aug. 6 ballot following the decision by Criminal Court Judge Chris Craft to move up his retirement date from July to June 7, the Daily Memphian reports. Candidates may begin obtaining qualifying petitions on June 8 and must file them with the Election Commission by June 17. The withdrawal deadline for qualified candidates is June 20. The Division 8 race joins five other special judicial elections already on the August ballot: Chancery Part 2, Circuit Court Division 3, Criminal Court Division 1, General Sessions Civil Court Division 2 and General Sessions Criminal Court Division 7. See a list of all of candidates who have qualified with the Shelby County Election Commission for the August ballot.

The TBA's LGBT Section will host the 2026 LGBT Forum on June 26 in Nashville, kicking off Pride weekend with discussions on conversion therapy, the case of Chiles v. Salazar, constitutional rights and other issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. The program also will feature Nashville Metro Council Member-at-Large Olivia Hill, who will discuss her campaign to become the city's first transgender council member. Additional speakers include attorneys Maureen Holland and John Rice, as well as somatic psychotherapist Jeremy Lehmann. More information and link to register are available on the TBA website.

The 2026 Convention CLE lineup will offer 8.5 hours of credit, including a presentation from Livingston lawyers Emily and Evan Wright with Wright & Wright LLP. The pair will provide a practical overview of how attorneys can use AI tools effectively while maintaining independent judgment and meeting ethical obligations. Emily and Evan are managing partners of the firm. Emily handles civil, real estate, probate, criminal and juvenile law. Evan handles civil, real estate, probate, criminal and juvenile law. The firm also serves as counsel for Pickett County. Learn more about the convention and register here. Can’t make the full convention? Day passes for Thursday’s Tech Showcase are available and include access to this CLE session.

Cosby resident Sheila Grooms McMahan has announced her candidacy for Tennessee state representative in District 11. Newport Plain Talk reports that her campaign will focus on preserving the traditions and way of life that define East Tennessee while addressing the pressures facing rural families. McMahan has voiced strong opposition to private school voucher programs, arguing they divert critical funding from public schools and fail to benefit average families. She also said she will focus on property tax reform, the rising costs of utilities and everyday essentials, economic development, and reducing unnecessary government spending while prioritizing core services such as infrastructure, education and health care.