Shelby County Juvenile Court is now closed indefinitely while asbestos, mold and lead issues are abated, the Daily Memphian reports. County officials discovered the hazards last week, according to Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon. Although he has not viewed test results, Sugarmon said he was informed last week that asbestos was located in the building’s boiler room. Mold was also discovered and lead was located in a few stairwells. There is no timeline for opening the building. Court staff members are conducting most proceedings and administrative work virtually. Court proceedings that cannot be handled virtually have been rescheduled. In a separate report from the paper, Sugarmon said the court is looking for temporary space.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will host a free webinar on May 7 on Schedule G franchise tax refunds and the implications of Tennessee House Bill 1893. Revenue administrative staff will discuss how this legislation will remove the franchise tax property measure and create statutory provisions for taxpayer refunds. Learn more or register here. The webinar is one in a series of educational sessions held by the department each month.

Today is Law Day, a time set aside to reflect on and celebrate the rule of law as America’s founding principle. In a statement issued today, American Bar Association (ABA) President Mary Smith writes that Law Day has never been more important. “Today, we are at an inflection point regarding the rule of law. At home and around the globe, autocrats threaten its very existence. American democracy is under strain, and we must all use our voices to maintain our system of laws and ensure that our democracy — as conceived — endures.” She calls on lawyers to help promote a renewed nationwide focus on civics education, the principles of democracy, the rule of law and basic human rights.

The American Bar Association (ABA) has won its bid to toss a proposed class action over a 2023 data breach that exposed the personal information of about 1.5 million lawyers and others. Reuters reports that a New York federal judge granted the group's motion to dismiss the case, finding the plaintiffs did not provide enough evidence to support their claims. The ABA announced last year that an unauthorized third party penetrated its network and took user names and passwords for online accounts used to access an old ABA website and its career center prior to 2018.

Those arrested for aggravated domestic violence in Tennessee will now have to wear a GPS monitoring device until their court date, WPLN reports. SB1972/HB2692, which passed with bipartisan support, requires that victims be notified if their abuser is within a certain distance. The measure is named for Marie Varsos and her mother Debbie Sisco, who were murdered in 2021 by Varsos’ husband. He had been arrested for strangling Varsos until she lost consciousness but was released and returned to the home to attack again. Family members believe that a law like this one could have saved the women.

State funding has been approved to add another circuit judge in the 4th Judicial District, which serves Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties. WATE.com reports that the funding is included in the state budget. The funding was added to help reduce the caseload on the current six judges. “Public safety is one of our top priorities, and part of that is ensuring speedy trials and getting criminals off our streets. Another judge in the 4th judicial district will help expedite that process and ultimately make the community a safer place for everyone,” Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, said. The bill funding this new judge also reallocated another judgeship to the 19th Judicial District, which serves Montgomery and Robertson counties.

Bradley County Juvenile Court has been selected by the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts as a new site for a Safe Baby Court, Chattanoogan.com reports. The expansion of the concept is part of the state's ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of infants, toddlers and families, officials said. Safe Baby Courts focus on building a multidisciplinary team, including judges, attorneys, child welfare workers, mental health providers and early childhood specialists, that works collaboratively to develop individualized plans that address the needs of families involved in the court system. The program emphasizes trauma-informed care, early intervention and prevention strategies.

After 22 years of teaching judges, Tennessee Senior Judge Don Ash will retire as a regular faculty member at the National Judicial College, the Administrative Office of the Courts reports. Ash, who joined the judicial college faculty in 2001, has taught nearly 1,500 judges from around the country and world and 50 courses, including ethics, case management and managing self-represented litigants. He first attended the judicial college in 1995, later earning a master’s degree in judicial studies through the college and the University of Nevada. His thesis focused on custody issues. Based on that research, he worked with the General Assembly to change the laws in Tennessee. His legacy will continue on following his retirement as Ash has set up a scholarship to the college for Tennessee judges. Read tributes from his colleagues.

Environmental groups have filed suit against the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) over its approval of a pipeline that will supply methane gas to a new Tennessee Valley Authority power plant near Clarksville. Tennessee Lookout reports that the Sierra Club and Appalachian Voices are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to set aside the federal agency’s January order approving the 32-mile pipeline through Dickson, Houston and Stewart counties. The groups, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, argue that the pipeline poses avoidable risks to the communities and natural resources that lie in its path.

Disk encryption keeps client data safe even on lost or stolen devices. Find a comparison chart that shows features and benefits of top providers, in addition to other resources, in the Building a Firm section of TBA’s Law Practice Management Center.