In a recent ruling, U.S. District Judge William Young determined that Caryn Strickland, a former public defender, had failed to establish during a non-jury trial in North Carolina that her right to equal protection under the law and due process were violated. Strickland had alleged her supervisor, J.P. Davis, engaged in inappropriate conduct and that the U.S. Judiciary's response was inadequate. Despite acknowledging flaws in the investigation, Young found no constitutional violations and noted that Strickland's career suffered as a result of her "good faith" claim of sexual harassment. Young emphasized the need for judicial reform in these cases. "If we judges are serious about sexual harassment, we must own the process." Reuters has the story.

The U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals extended its block on President Joe Biden's student debt relief plan, known as the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, which aims to reduce monthly payments and expedite loan forgiveness for borrowers. The extension follows a request from seven states, which argued that the plan exceeds the Education Department’s legal authority. Reuters reports that the court's ruling prevents the plan's full implementation, although it affirms that previously forgiven loans remain unaffected. The ongoing legal battle builds on prior challenges, including a broader $430 billion plan that was blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2023.

The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) Barristers will be visiting four Knox County elementary schools this year as part of its Constitution Day commemorations. The group is in need of attorney volunteers to present a 45-minute slide show on Sept. 13. Students then will spend the next week learning more about the Constitution from their classroom teachers and preparing presentations for members of the local judiciary. Attorney volunteers will return to the classroom on Sept. 20 to watch student presentations and serve as a liaison between the classroom teacher and the attending judge. Those interested in participating should register online. Constitution Day is celebrated each year on Sept. 17. See other in-person and virtual events being planned across the country.

The Nashville Banner’s podcast “Banner & Company” recently featured Nashville’s federal Public Defender Henry Martin, the longest serving federal defender in the country. Martin originally thought he would spend a few years in the role, and then return to private practice. That was almost 40 years ago. Over his long career, Martin has worked with some of Nashville's finest legal minds, represented fascinating clients and argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. This current term will be his last. Learn more about Martin’s career in the episode.

Recovery Court participants in the 23rd Judicial District have the opportunity to give back to their community in a big way, Director Doug Beecham writes in a news release. The program, serving five counties, requires residents to live and work in Dickson while in recovery. Participants are involved in various community service projects, from disaster relief to brightening the days of elderly residents. "We don't just live here," Beecham says. "We're a vital part of the community." Circuit Court and  Recovery Court Judge Suzanne Lockert-Mash added her support, emphasizing the program's focus on helping others as a crucial step in participants' own recovery journeys.

According to The Tennessean, a complaint filed against state Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds is headed to the Tennessee Ethics Commission. The complaint alleges that Reynolds accepted paid travel from her former employer ExcelinEd for two out-of-state trips after being named to the state position. Reynolds later reimbursed ExcelinEd with personal funds. In response to the complaint, Reynolds' lawyer, the governor's chief ethics counsel, says the repayment is not an admission of wrongdoing. The paper also reports that Reynolds ultimately was reimbursed for her out-of-pocket costs by the state. The complaint will likely be taken up at the commission's next meeting on Aug. 29.

Attorneys are needed to staff two upcoming legal clinics in Knoxville. The Veteran's Legal Advice Clinic is scheduled for Aug. 14 from noon-1 p.m. EDT. This is a general advice and referral clinic which serves between 20 and 30 veterans in the community. A Debt Relief Legal Advice Clinic will be held Aug. 17 from 9 a.m.-noon EDT. If a client qualifies for and desires to file a bankruptcy petition, during the clinic the volunteer attorney and client will schedule a follow-up appointment to move forward with a case. Both clinics will take place at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty Street.

In case you missed it, recordings from the recent TBA Business Law Forum are available on-demand as individual videos or in a convenient 1-Click CLE package. This package includes an interesting dual credit session for business lawyers that offers observations on professional responsibility and ethics using characters, transactions and business dealings from HBO Max's Succession. Another session features Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, who provides an overview of important cases and developments that effect the practice of law, consumers and private business in Tennessee. Two sessions take a deep dive into the much discussed Corporate Transparency Act. The last session looks at the nonprofit and for-profit legal entities comprising the business of OpenAI (the developer of ChatGPT). As always, Business Law Section members receive a section member discount on both the individual videos and the 1-click package.

A Nashville postal worker has been placed on leave after a viral TikTok video showed the employee dumping mail into a dumpster. The USPS is under fire following the incident, with the public demanding accountability. The video, which has garnered millions of views, shows the worker repeatedly tossing bins of mail into a dumpster. "This type of behavior within the Postal Service is not tolerated and is a rare occurrence," Public Information Officer Charlene Cerra told The Tennessean. The incident has raised concerns about mail security and service reliability and the USPS Office of the Inspector General is conducting an investigation into the matter.

Gov. Bill Lee has approved hiring Gilbert Dickey, a former associate White House counsel during the Trump administration, to represent state officials in a legal dispute over a mailing campaign that demanded proof of U.S. citizenship from voters. The campaign, which involved sending 14,375 letters, has been criticized as voter intimidation and potentially illegal, prompting the American Civil Liberties Union to threaten a lawsuit. Dickey, now a partner at Consovoy McCarthy, will be paid $450 per hour for his services, The Tennessean reports.