Jillian's Law — a Tennessee law enacted in response to the death of Jillian Ludwig, which requires mentally incompetent defendants to be committed for treatment — is raising concerns about the availability of hospital beds in state treatment centers. According to Fox Chattanooga, critics worry about potential waiting lists, especially at the Harold Jordan Center, the state's sole facility for intellectual disabilities. State officials, citing privacy laws, have not disclosed the number of patients awaiting treatment. They say they have taken steps to implement the law but challenges remain in ensuring adequate resources and capacity. Ludwig, a first-year Belmont University student was fatally shot in a park near campus. The alleged offender had been released  just six months earlier after a judge ruled he functioned at a kindergarten level, and was unable to stand trial on shooting charges.

Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee Reagan Fondren announced Tuesday that two Memphis organizations were awarded federal grants totaling more than $2 million. The Shelby County Office of Reentry received funds to provide safe, affordable housing and comprehensive services to formerly incarcerated individuals. Heal 901 will use the funds to implement an intensive program to reduce violent crime in Memphis. "These organizations have demonstrated their commitment to working with the Department of Justice to decrease crime, advance opportunities for ex-offenders, and protect our community," Fondren said in a press release.

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Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s office has released new information, highlighting resources available for communities impacted by Hurricane Helene and ways Tennesseans can serve. Information provided on the webpage includes instructions for donating items to the Northeast Tennessee Disaster Relief Center, now located at the Bristol Motor Speedway, links to First Lady Maria Lee’s Tennessee Serves website for volunteer opportunities, and specific information about helping in Cocke and Greene counties. For those who cannot travel to East Tennessee, the site also offers a range of ways to help virtually from a distance. Finally, the page has resources for storm survivors, including information about shelters, disaster and crisis clean-up hotlines, and links to relief agencies including Tennessee Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters and the American Red Cross.

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an order seeking comments on proposed changes to Rules 9 and 33, which would increase the annual registration fee from $170 to $270 and allocate the funds as follows: $225 to the Board of Professional Responsibility (up from $140), $15 to the Tennessee Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection (up from $10), and $30 to the Tennessee Lawyer Assistance Program (up from $20). The court says the proposal is based on its own comprehensive review of the sufficiency of the annual registration fee and the allocation of funds it generates. Comments should be submitted by Nov. 8 and mailed to Clerk James Hivner, RE: Proposed Amendments to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 9 & 33, 100 Supreme Court Building, 401 7th Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37219-1407 or by email to appellatecourtclerk@tncourts.gov. Comments should reference docket number ADM2024-01525.

A federal judge has ruled that Georgia failed to show it would be harmed by the Biden administration's plan to forgive $73 billion in student loan debt held by millions of Americans. "There is no indication that the rule is being implemented to attack the states or their income taxes, so any loss of ... tax revenue is incidental and insufficient to create standing for Georgia," U.S. District Judge J. Randal Hall wrote. The ruling removes Georgia from a lawsuit challenging the forgiveness plan and moves litigation to federal court in Missouri, one of the other seven states that is suing. Reuters reports that the states have asked the Missouri judge to rule on whether to continue blocking the proposal.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Oct. 4 suspended Williamson County lawyer Jason Scott Mangrum from the practice of law for six months, with one month to be served on active suspension and the remainder on probation. The court found that Mangrum failed to adequately communicate with a client, failed to expedite litigation, charged an unreasonable fee, failed to properly withdraw from representation, and disobeyed an obligation under the rules of a tribunal. He agreed to a conditional guilty plea acknowledging his conduct violated Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.16, 3.2, 3.4, and 8.4 (a) and(d).

Lincoln Memorial University's Duncan School of Law recently announced the addition of a new dean of admissions and several new faculty members. Dr. Stephen Adkins has been named director of admissions. He joins the law school after serving in other programs at the university. In addition, three other faculty members have joined the school. Laura Mott joins as an assistant professor of law from CUNY School of Law in New York. She served there as director of the Academic Skills Center for the Evening 1L Program. John Poore and Celsy Johnson join as visiting assistant professors of law for the 2024-2025 academic year. Poore has spent nearly 15 years as a prosecutor in Southern California. Johnson is a solo practitioner and previously an attorney at Held Law Firm in the areas of family law, juvenile law and estate planning.

Davidson County lawyer John Benneth Iwu received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on Oct. 7. The court found that Iwu agreed to the setting of a criminal court hearing on a particular date and then failed to attend the hearing. He also failed to advise his client of the date, which led to his client failing to attend the hearing. Iwu agreed to a conditional guilty plea acknowledging that his conduct violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4, 3.2, 3.4(c) and 8.4.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Oct. 7 suspended Knox County lawyer Loring Edwin Justice for one year. The court found that while he was representing a client in a workers’ compensation matter, Justice failed to communicate reasonably with his client and failed to act diligently to provide the legal services for which he was retained. His actions were determined to violate Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 and 1.4.