The Memphis Bar Association (MBA) will host its annual memorial service on April 24, beginning at noon CDT, for members who have died over the past year. The in-person event will take place at Calvary Episcopal Church, 102 N. Second St., Memphis 38103. Learn more and see the list of attorneys being honored.

On Tuesday, Lee administration released its proposed budget amendment for FY 2025-2026, which includes an additional $17 million to fund the new plan for indigent representation in Tennessee. The TBA has worked closely with the Tennessee Supreme Court and the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) on securing funding for the new plan, and this issue was the top priority last week during attorneys’ meetings with legislators during TBA’s Day on the Hill.

TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr. reacted to the development saying, “The TBA applauds Gov. Bill Lee and his administration for prioritizing indigent representation by funding the AOC’s Indigent Representation Plan. I believe the AOC’s new and innovative plan will address the current shortage of attorneys willing to accept appointments to represent the indigent, by establishing more competitive and predictable attorney compensation structures. The TBA is especially grateful to Chief Justice Holly Kirby, the Tennessee Supreme Court and the Administrative Office of the Courts for their leadership and partnership in helping spotlight this critical issue, and we look forward to working with them and the Tennessee General Assembly to ensure this funding is in the final budget passed by the legislature.”

The budget process in Tennessee is a three part process: (1) in early February, the governor unveils his initial proposed budget in conjunction with the State of the State Address; (2) in late March/early April, the administration unveils a budget amendment, which compliments and makes adjustments to the initial budget; and (3) the Tennessee General Assembly works with the administration to finalize the budget, which must pass the House and Senate before they adjourn for the year. The TBA will continue working to ensure the new plan is funded. Learn more about the plan and indigent representation in Tennessee.

The Trump administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the firing of thousands of workers at six federal agencies after a judge ordered that they be reinstated. Bloomberg Law reports that the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) filed an emergency application today. The case involves 16,000 fired workers who had probationary status, meaning they had been in their roles for no more than two years. Departments impacted include Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, Treasury and Veterans Affairs. DOJ also asked the court for permission to keep the reinstated employees on paid administrative leave instead of taking steps to restore them to full active duty while the litigation process proceeds.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will host a free webinar on March 25 about business tax deductions. The session will focus on the Tennessee business tax statutes and regulations that allow taxpayers to make various deductions that ultimately reduce their tax liability. Register for the webinar or see all upcoming educational events.

The TBA Administrative Law Section is accepting submissions for its annual writing competition for law students. All students enrolled in a Tennessee law school during the 2024–2025 school year are eligible to enter. Submissions are due April 30. The section offers this yearly competition to promote an interest in and understanding of both state and federal administrative law, and to strengthen the relationship among administrative law professors, law students and practitioners in Tennessee. The winning submission will be published in the Administrative Law Section newsletter and the winner will be awarded $1,000. Get more information and competition rules in this handout.

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) on behalf of the Tennessee Supreme Court has proposed a new structure for handling the appointment of attorneys in indigent cases. One question that has been raised is whether attorneys currently taking appointed cases will be able to continue to do so under the new structure. In a recent interview with TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr., AOC staff explained that the plan assumes that all those currently taking cases will continue to do so. This proposal in no way is intended to exclude anyone. While the process for appointment will be different, the goal is to maintain the current roster of attorneys while also expanding the pool of available lawyers. AOC staff indicated they have been encouraged by interactions with lawyers who previously stopped accepting appointed cases but are interested in getting involved again. They also believe the new structure will be appealing to new lawyers and those interested in practicing in rural areas since the contract model will provide a “book of business” and more steady income. Watch the full interview or learn more about the plan and indigent representation in Tennessee.

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) on behalf of the Tennessee Supreme Court has proposed a new structure for handling the appointment of attorneys in indigent cases. One question that has been raised is how the current regulatory structure will change if the plan is enacted. In a recent interview with TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr., AOC staff explained that Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 13 will be amended to create the “Office of Indigent Conflicts and Civil Counsel” and the “Indigent Representation Commission,” which will oversee the office, as well as set out the details for their operations. The office is expected to employ one statewide executive director and three attorneys — one in each grand division — to manage the assignment of cases. No changes will be made to statutory language that sets out the qualifications for receiving free counsel, but the plan will put in place safeguards to ensure determinations of indigency meet that criteria. Watch the full interview or learn more about the plan and indigent representation in Tennessee.

Future TBA Presidents Attend Bar Leadership Institute TBA’s President-elect Heidi Barcus, who will become president of the association in June, and Vice President Charlotte Knight Griffin, who will become president in June 2026, recently attended the ABA’s Bar Leadership Institute. Former TBA President Sherie Edwards, who is now president-elect of the Nashville Bar Association (NBA), also attended. They were accompanied by TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright and NBA Executive Director Jeanne Heaton. For more than 45 years, the three-day Bar Leadership Institute has brought together bar association leaders from across the country to help them prepare for their year in office. Through keynote addresses, breakout sessions and networking events, attendees have the opportunity to engage with leaders from across the country and hear from speakers on topics designed to enhance their bar leadership. Programming at this year’s institute included sessions on motivational leadership, best practices in governance and effective communications. Learn more about the event or see photos.

Purdue Pharma's bankruptcy entered a new, possibly final phase this week when the bankrupt drugmaker filed a $7.4 billion plan to resolve thousands of lawsuits that alleged its OxyContin pain medication caused a widespread opioid addiction crisis. Reuters also reports on legal fees earned in the case. According to the news source, Purdue's lawyers at Davis Polk have received or requested more than a quarter of a billion dollars since the bankruptcy began in 2019.

U.S. Rep. John Rose, R-Cookeville, announced at the Wilson County Tennessee State Fairgrounds in Lebanon that he will seek the 2026 Republican nomination to run for governor. He is the first to formally announce a major campaign, according to the Tennessean. Rose said his priorities as governor would be to safeguard the state’s low taxes, low debt, low regulations and Christian values through strong conservative leadership. He said his years of experience as a private businessman and farmer set him apart in the race. Rose has served in Congress since 2018, when he was elected to fill the seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Diane Black. He previously was the state’s agriculture commissioner. He is expected to face U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn for the nomination. While she has not made an official announcement she told the Tennessee Journal this week that she intends to run.