In an ongoing effort to halt construction of the new Memphis Art Museum, Friends for Our Riverfront and heirs of Memphis’ founders have filed an appeal seeking to reverse a June ruling by Chancellor Melanie Taylor Jefferson. The appeal claims that Taylor Jefferson did not distinguish between a temporary injunction and a temporary restraining order in the group's efforts to stop construction. The Daily Memphian reports that the chancellor denied the plaintiffs’ request for a temporary injunction sought nine months earlier because they did not post a $1 million bond for the restraining order. Attorneys for the plaintiffs say that a different bond for a longer period of time with the restraining order should have been at least argued by all sides before the court ruled.

Chattanooga attorney Hugh F. “Ken” Kendall III died July 23 at age 75. He graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law and in 1972 moved to Chattanooga where he began his law career at Shumacker and Thompson. After 16 years there, he opened a solo practice where he practiced until his death. During his career, Kendall was recognized with several awards and served in numerous leadership roles, including chair of the TBA's Tax, Probate and Trust Law section. A memorial service will take place in the sanctuary of Brainerd Baptist Church, 300 Brookfield Ave., Chattanooga 37411 at noon EDT on Aug. 10. The family will receive friends starting at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary prior to the service.

Davidson County Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway has been announced as the keynote speaker for the Nashville Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) Mediation Matters Luncheon, set for Sept. 26 at 11:30 a.m. CDT. The event will take place at Hillwood Country Club, 6201 Hickory Valley Rd., Nashville 37205. A brief program recognizing Sara Figal, recently retired executive director of NCRC, and Kathy Alspaugh, courtroom clerk with Metro Government, will begin at noon. Read a press release from the organization.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently extended its suspension of 97-year-old Judge Pauline Newman for another year. The court’s judicial council suspended Newman in 2023 saying she refused to cooperate with an investigation into her fitness after staff raised concerns about her mental health. The members of the council now say that Newman did not convince them that the suspension should be lifted given the “voluminous record” showing “serious concerns” about her cognitive state. Newman’s lawyer vowed to continuing fighting the suspension, Reuters reports.

A decision issued last week from the Tennessee Supreme Court Special Workers’ Compensation Panel found two significant provisions of The Reform Act to be constitutional. Though the case — Worrell v. Obion County School District — was not the first to challenge the law, the decision was the most substantive appellate opinion on the subject to date, the Tennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims writes in a blog post. The court details the specific provisions of the act that were challenged and upheld. It also notes that full Supreme Court declined to hear the case, so the panel decision is final. 

A 9th U.S. Circuit panel has ruled that seven states lack legal standing to impose restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone, such as bans on telemedicine prescriptions and mail dispensing. The court found that these states could not demonstrate harm from the Federal Drug Administration's removal of the in-person dispensing requirement. The decision follows a similar ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld access to mifepristone after a challenge was filed by a group of anti-abortion doctors. Reuters reports several states also are pursuing related claims in a Texas federal court to reinstate restrictions on the drug.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency action to restore parts of a new Title IX rule in states where the regulations have been blocked. According to The Hill, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar asked the court to limit the injunctions to only the gender identity discrimination provision, arguing that other elements of the rule — such as enhanced protections for pregnant and parenting students and updated procedures for sexual harassment and assault claims — should be allowed to take effect. In April, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined a multi-state lawsuit against the Department of Education, which challenged the new updates. That suit led to an injunction on implementation of the rule, which recently was upheld by a three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Nashville lawyer Ashley L. Upkins recently was elected president-elect of the National Bar Association (NBA) at the group’s annual meeting in Las Vegas. She will take over as president in 2025 and will be the first Tennessee woman to serve in the role. During her year as president-elect, Upkins will help plan the organization’s landmark 100th Annual Convention in Chicago next year, where she will be sworn in as president. Upkins has been an active NBA member since her days as a member of the inaugural Belmont University College of Law class and has held several leadership positions. She currently leads litigation at Silicon Ranch, an independent power producer. Founded in 1925, the NBA is the nation’s oldest and largest association of Black lawyers, judges, law professors and law students. Read more in a release from the group.

District Attorney General Robert Nash has asked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to examine the Millersville Police Department's child predator sting amid questions about whether the lead detective in the case committed perjury. The sting, conducted with the aid of the nonprofit Veterans for Child Rescue, led to one arrest. Discrepancies have now emerged regarding the nonprofit's involvement. Detective Todd Dorris claims that the nonprofit only provided advice, but recordings from a former member of the group suggest they were actively involved in the operation, including posing as a minor during the sting. News Channel 5 Nashville has more on the story.

With this program, TBA seeks to expand the group of legal advocates certified to serve Tennessee veterans, who are underrepresented in the Veterans Affairs Department’s (VA) claims and appeals processes. Introduction to the Practice of Veterans Law — a live virtual event on Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT — will cover information about claims procedures, basic benefits eligibility, right to appeal, disability compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, and pensions. Presenters will be James R. Drysdale with the VA Office of General Counsel in Washington, D.C., and VA certified lawyers Seth Ogden and Rita Gibson Rayford.